The technical college system is constantly examining the need for new programs. This can result in new instructional areas being added to the taxonomy. Some of the programs being added are to prepare individuals for occupations that are new or emerging in business and industry. This results in a situation where there is no ready source of instructors with the necessary occupational experience. A guideline has been established for handling certification of instructors in new and emerging areas. This procedure allows the technical college system to adequately handle any staffing problems it may face, while at the same time insuring adequate quality. Certification does not prevent the technical college system from meeting any new challenge, or developing any training for business and industry allowable under the system's mission statement.

At any point in time, a district may submit a request to the State Certification Officer asking that a program be identified as providing instruction for a new and emerging occupation. The written request must include the following:

• Description of the program
• Justification for the program to be declared new and emerging
• 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 VTAE 3.04(5) must include the following:

• Verification of two years of related occupational experience
• 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.

Certification for An Individual With Related Occupational Experience

Certification may be granted for an additional instructional area when an individual is currently certified and has two years of occupational experience related to that instructional area. The determination of the relatedness of the occupational experience will be made by the State Director or designee.

A request for certification for an individual with related occupational experience under WTCS 3.04(6) must include the following:

• Identification of the relationship between the occupational experience and the job titles and job duties shown on the appropriate occupational experience document for the additional instructional area
• Verification of two years of related occupational experience
• 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 individual for whom certification is requested and the District Certification Officer.
  

There are situations where shifting assignments make movement from approval status to provisional or part-time provisional certification appropriate. Changing assignments may increase the amount of occupational experience that an individual must have. Some individuals received approval under an earlier code when individuals only needed two thousand hours of appropriate occupational experience. For academic instructors it will also increase the required amount of academic preparation. District staff should be alert to these shifting assignments.

There will be situations where a district will employ an instructor that already holds certification as a result of employment in a different district. The second district should request the appropriate type of certification with the same expiration date the individual currently holds. Professional, educational and/or occupational activities completed for renewal of one certificate can also be used towards renewal of the certificate for the second district.

An individual holding part-time approval certification for two courses for one district cannot obtain part-time approval if hired to teach a different course in a second district during the same renewal period. This will result in a situation where the individual must be changed to part-time provisional certification.

Individuals moving from part-time approval to either part-time provisional or provisional certification during the certification period will be given a minimum of two full years to meet the new renewal requirements. Individuals moving from part-time provisional to provisional certification will be given a minimum of two full years to meet the new renewal requirements. Individuals moving from provisional certification to either part-time provisional or part-time approval will receive the existing expiration date.

A part-time approval certificate is issued for a maximum of two courses for a certification period. Courses are renumbered at various times when curriculum is modified. These curriculum changes can be verified at the state office. Districts will be allowed to add replacement courses when the changes occur during the certification period.

A situation may occur where an individual has been granted part-time approval for two courses, but has not taught one or both of the courses during the certification period. District management may have a legitimate need to utilize the individual for a course where certification has not been granted. State staff cannot readily determine whether the teacher has already taught one or both courses during the certification period. Certification will be considered for a third or fourth course when a statement is also submitted that the individual did not teach one or both of the certified courses. This statement must be signed by the District Certification Officer and the District Certification Committee Chairperson.

The intent of the code is to make certain a part-time approval instructor is not certified for more than two courses during a certification period. District management staff do not have a problem when hiring and assigning a new instructor that will hold part-time approval. The problem comes at the time of renewal. District management staff cannot always project teaching assignments two years into the future. Teaching assignments may need to change because of unexpected factors.

An instructor who returns to employment in a position requiring the same type of certification during the renewal period will receive the same expiration date as originally granted. Individuals receive WTCS certification for a specific period of time. A change in employment, including movement between districts, does not change the expiration date and the renewal requirements of the individual.

Activities pertaining to the certification audit must be completed and documented by October 1 for an audit of the prior school year. Certified individuals are expected to hold continuous certification while employed in the WTC system. The only gaps in an individual's certification must be the result of a bona fide termination of district employment, employment in a position that does not require certification, or be the result of an audit penalty. WTC districts assume the risk of an audit penalty when an individual is allowed to continue in a position requiring certification after the certification has expired.

An individual returning to employment within the WTCS after the expiration of his/her certification must provide evidence of completing certification renewal requirements. If documentation cannot be provided to the state, the individual will not be allowed certification for either a period of two years from the expiration date or until documentation supports renewal.

Within two years of the certification expiration date, an individual may receive renewal certification. Activities completed since the last official renewal period will be recognized. The certification period will begin with the date of rehire.

Two years after expiration of certification, an individual returning to WTCS employment may be granted reinstatement of certification. At this time the maximum length of the certification period will be two years regardless of type of certification granted, including five-year. Activities for renewal appropriate to the type of certification held must be completed within this certification period.

The concept of minimum standards does prevent some individuals from being considered for employment. It is more important to note that WTC districts often establish hiring requirements which exceed the minimums established by the state certification code. This practice appears to impact affirmative action more significantly than certification.

WTCS certification assists many individuals that would be subject to affirmative action. A college degree is not required to become an occupational subject instructor. The recognition of occupational experience towards a baccalaureate degree equivalence is significant for many individuals. This provision serves to greatly increase the applicant pool, if the provision is utilized by a WTC district.

The concept of appropriate occupational experience, namely working in a target job, greatly assists affirmative action at a time of layoff. Individuals subject to affirmative action, often the last hired, cannot be bumped by someone else from a different area without that individual having appropriate occupational experience. Without this protection, individuals in this category might possess little chance of maintaining employment.

The certification code also has an educational diversity course requirement. This is a significant attempt to assist WTCS educators in having a better understanding of the various groups of people that are served by the technical college system.

Last reviewed: March 22, 2002

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