Certification Guideline 46

SUBJECT
New and Emerging Occupations

GUIDELINE DEFINITION
Occupations may be designated as new and emerging via two different methodologies each of which must be approved by the State Certification Committee:

A district may submit a written request to the State Certification Consultant asking that a program be identified as providing instruction for a new and emerging occupation. The Wisconsin Technical College System Board (WTCSB) may designate a program as new and emerging. Those districts offering a program designated by the WTCSB as new and emerging do not need to submit a written request.

Individual District Methodology: A written request must include the following:

1. Description of the program.
   
2. Justification for the program to be declared new and emerging.
   
3. Identification of related occupational experience.
   

After review and feedback from the WTCSB program consultant and any other districts offering the same program, the request will be forwarded to the State Certification Committee. A decision by the Committee to recognize a program as new and emerging will remain valid for three years. A district may request continuation of the new and emerging status beyond the initial three years. Requests to change the related occupational experience may be submitted during the three-year period.

A request for certification for an instructor of a new and emerging program under this methodology must include the following:

• Verification of two years of related occupational experience or; A combination of a. and b. below:
  1. Verification of less than two years of related occupational experience with up to one year of education/non-credit training related to the instructional area. Forty hours of non-credit training will equal one credit. One credit of training will be recognized as 110 hours of occupational experience.
  2. Verification of achievement of a recognized rigorous post-secondary industry certification(s). The maximum allowance for industry certifications counting towards occupational experience is one year.
  
  
• Plus: A plan sufficient to allow renewal each certification period to ensure that the person acquires education and training for the occupation and 12 months of occupational experience specific to the area. This plan requiring approval of the State Director or designee shall be developed by the person for whom the certification is requested and the District Certification Officer. This certification may be renewed by completing two months of appropriate occupational experience each renewal period.
  

WTCS Methodology: A WTCS request for designation as a new and emerging program will also remain valid for three years.

A request for certification for an instructor of a new and emerging program under this methodology must include the following:

• Verification of two years of related occupational experience or; A combination of a. and b. below:
  1. Verification of less than two years of related occupational experience with up to one year of education/training related to the instructional area.
  2. Verification of achievement of a recognized rigorous post-secondary industry certification(s). The maximum allowance for industry certifications counting towards occupational experience is one year.
  
  


• Plus:A plan sufficient to allow renewal each certification period to ensure that the person acquires education and training for the occupation and 12 months of occupational experience specific to the area. This plan requiring approval of the State Director or designee shall be developed by the person for whom certification is requested and the District Certification Officer. This certification may be renewed by completing two months of appropriate occupational experience each renewal period.



• It is the responsibility of WTCS Program Consultants to develop the appropriate list of recognized industry certifications for each occupational program given this designation, and their weighted values.

EXAMPLE
None

RATIONALE
The certification code establishes the concept of new and emerging occupations. This guideline establishes two procedures for formal recognition of a program as providing instruction for a new and emerging occupation.

The 1981 certification code allowed certification to be renewed by completing two months of occupational experience when an individual had not completed all of the required occupational experience. The current code, under TCS 3.05(2)(e) for a situation where an individual would not have all the necessary occupational experience, also allows renewal by completing two months of occupational experience.

Implemented: September 20, 2000
Last Reviewed: May 2002

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