06/01/1989 22030

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional work in the area of professional education certification.

An employee in this class is responsible for the review and evaluation of requests for certification in selected professional education categories. Work involves evaluating certification requests to determine whether applicants possess the minimum competencies required for certification as a professional employee in the public schools of the Commonwealth, or for pre-professional certification for other professions requiring state licensure. Work also involves developing guidelines for use in certification approval and participation in the preparation of competency based certification standards. Work may include the development of staffing standards for professional personnel in the public schools. Employees advise and work with educators, administrators, teachers, and others on certification policy and procedure interpretations and changes and on meeting certification requirements. Work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed through staff conferences and evaluation of results by a certification manager.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Reviews applications for certification submitted by individuals in positions of elementary or secondary teacher, school administrator, supervisor, or other professional school designation which involves evaluating completed coursework, credentials earned, and life experiences for appropriateness in fulfilling competency based certification requirements, and, when appropriate, prescribing course work needed to satisfy preparation program deficiencies.

Interprets and evaluates applications for certification in Pennsylvania submitted from out-of-state or foreign country institutions, colleges, or universities with specific programs which are not approved for certification purposes.

Serves as the specialist in the review of applications for certification and makes determinations to approve or disapprove.

Develops evaluative criteria for certification based upon the regulations, laws, and standards pertaining to certification, and upon indepth investigations of the competencies required for specific areas for use in the review of applications for certification of school personnel, other than graduates of Department of Education approved preparation programs.

Works with other departmental and outside staff in the preparation and development of competency based performance standards for the certification of professional school personnel.

Interprets and explains certification regulations and procedures of the School Code as it pertains to certification, and any changes in certification requirements to teachers, administrators, school professionals and others through personal contacts, correspondence and conferences.

Develops and recommends the adoption of staffing standards and procedures for professional personnel in the public schools.

Plans and conducts workshops, seminars, in-service programs and conferences pertaining to certification standards, guidelines and criteria and explains changes in regulations, standards, policies and procedures.

Provides advice and assistance to superintendents and principals concerning certification requirements associated with specific courses to be taught.

Cooperates jointly with the Auditor General's staff and local district administrators to resolve certification exceptions discovered during Auditor General audits of districts for subsidy reimbursement.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of course content and curriculum requirements in basic and higher education.

Knowledge of basic education administrative principles and methods used in elementary and secondary schools.

Knowledge of the concepts associated with credentials evaluation and certification as a professional school employee within the public schools of the Commonwealth.

Knowledge of the pre-professional requirements for professions for which a certificate is issued.

Ability to interpret and apply the laws, rules, and regulations which pertain to the certification of professional school personnel in the evaluation of applications for certification in the Commonwealth.

Ability to apply competency based certification standards in the review and evaluation of life experiences, formal course work completed, and credentials possessed for approval or disapproval for certification.

Ability to interpret and evaluate credentials and course work completed from institutions in foreign countries in meeting certification standards for professional school personnel in the public schools of the Commonwealth.

Ability to learn to develop evaluative criteria for use in the review of applications for certification in specific areas where no clear certification standards currently exist.

Ability to learn to advise educators, school administrators, professional school employees, and others on the policies, procedures, rules and regulations pertaining to certification of professional school personnel in the Commonwealth.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, school administrators, professional school personnel, students, prospective teachers, associates, and others interested in or concerned with certification as professional school personnel.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of experience as an Education Certification Evaluator;

                                                                                                                                                       or

Two years of professional experience in the field of education including six months working with curriculum and certification requirements;

                                                                                                                                                      or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.