Introduction to
Wisconsin Technical College System Certification

Certification is an effort to insure quality education. The state has a responsibility to make certain that all citizens of the state, regardless of their area of residence, have the opportunity for quality education. Proper staffing is one of the most important considerations in delivering quality education.

The technical college system employs both occupational and academic instructors. An occupational instructor is a person employed by a district to teach one or more courses that are vocational or technical in nature. An academic instructor is a person teaching one or more courses in academic subjects such as mathematics, social science, English, communications, and science.

Occupational competence of occupational instructors in the technical college system is assured by requiring a specific amount of appropriate occupational experience. This occupational experience must be in a target job of the program in which the instructor is teaching. The assumption is the individual possesses the necessary occupational competence since the individual was able to function successfully in business and industry. The validity of this assumption is certain when individuals recognized for their excellence by business and industry are employed as instructors.

Completion of a college degree with a specific major or a required number of credits toward a major has been traditionally recognized as a measure of academic competence when certification is granted for academic instructors. This method is followed in the technical college system for certification of academic instructors.

Most educational systems, including the WTCS, require transcripts from individuals as part of the certification process. The WTCS places the same importance upon the value of occupational experience. WTCS certification requires written verification of occupational experience from present or previous employers.

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Unlike certification processes in other educational systems, the WTCS certification process begins after a district has hired an instructor or made an assignment. This serves to establish a very large pool of potential instructors. Many individuals employed by business and industry can be considered for employment as instructors. The recognition of occupational experience allows individuals to be employed as occupational instructors who have not completed college degrees. Instructors are not required to complete a teaching degree prior to employment. WTC districts have the ability to respond to training needs as rapidly as possible. The right to hire and assign an individual prior to certification is unique to the WTCS.

Much of the work involving certification is performed by WTC districts. Most of the initial decisions involving certification are also made at the district level. Great efforts have been made to insure that district staff have the understanding necessary to make those decisions in a manner that can be supported by state staff. Local district involvement provides for good communications with the individual for whom certification is being requested. District staff have the proximity to obtain the type of detailed information from the individual that is often necessary for certification.

There is a need to explain how certification works to both individuals holding certification and members of the public that would like to be employed in the technical college system. District staff greatly assist in this role.

Another very important part of certification is the emphasis on continued professional growth after obtaining employment. The technical college system recruits many instructors directly from employment in business and industry. It is not feasible for these individuals to complete the education requirements for five-year certification prior to employment as instructors. Certification in the technical college system recognizes the importance of instructors receiving training in sound educational principles and practices. The required courses insure that WTCS instructors become as well prepared as teachers in any other educational system.

After individuals have completed the education requirements and obtained five-year certification, the technical college system provides a number of options for continued professional growth. Individuals should be counseled by district staff to seek out courses, workshops, occupational experience, specialized industry training, and other allowable activities which will help to maintain competence and promote growth. Every individual seeking renewal of WTCS certification is expected to have a good reason for engaging in any activity which is to be counted for renewal.

The technical college system is dynamic and must constantly cope with change. Change is handled in an organized and effective manner with regard to certification. Major changes are dealt with by revisions of the certification code. This process allows input from all interested parties, including the public. The code changes must be acted upon by a legislative committee before they are adopted.

The certification code provides the foundation for the certification process. Many additional questions are faced in the implementation of the certification code. Major questions regarding implementation are first discussed with the State Certification Committee. Potential solutions developed at this level are then shared with all District Certification Officers, Technical College Presidents, and District Certification Committees. This insures that many points of view are considered before any proposed solution is implemented. The documents resulting from this process are issued as guidelines.

For more information contact: barbara.miller@wtcsystem.edu

Last modified: May 23, 2008

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