Certification Guideline 41

SUBJECT
Return to or Continued Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Employment After Certification Has Expired

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

If a district continues to utilize an individual after certification has expired for a function where certification is required, that period of time will not be recognized as part of the two school year break in service.

Within two school 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. If the district has received an audit exception for an individual and the individual then renews, the certification period will begin with the date when the individual finally satisfied the renewal requirement.

Two school years after expiration of certification, an individual returning to WTCS employment without meeting renewal requirements may be granted reinstatement of certification. 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.

EXAMPLE
No 2 yr. break; Five-Year certification:
Randy held Five-Year certification as an instructor with an expiration date of 8/31/2000. He resigned from District A on January 1, 1999 and his certification was not renewed. Randy returned to District A as a part-time teacher on January 2, 2002. He must submit documentation of six credits of renewal activities completed between 8/31/95 and 1/2/2002 for his certification to be reinstated. A copy of this documentation must be provided to the state. His new expiration date will be 8/31/07.

EXAMPLE
Over 2 years; Five-Year certification:
John held Five-Year certification as an instructor with an expiration date of 8/31/2000. He retired from District A in May 1998 and his certification was not renewed. On September 5, 2003 he is hired by District C as a full-time teacher. If he documents 6 credits of renewal activity completed between 8/31/95 and 9/5/03, he will be granted a Five-Year certificate with an 8/31/08 expiration date. If he does not have adequate renewal activity, because more than two years have passed since his certification expiration, he is granted a Five-Year certificate with an expiration date of 8/31/05 (the maximum allowed under this guideline). He must submit documentation of six credits of renewal activities completed between 9/5/03 and 8/31/05 to renew past 8/31/05.

EXAMPLE
No 2 yr. break; Part-Time Approval/Part-Time Provisional/Provisional certification:
Roz held certification with an expiration date of 8/31/2000. She did not submit documentation to allow renewal of her certification when it expired. District management would like her to teach starting February 4, 2001. She must submit documentation of sufficient renewal activities, completed between 8/31/98 and 2/4/2001 for her certification to be reinstated. Her new expiration date will be 8/31/03.

EXAMPLE
Over 2 years; Part-Time Approval/Part-Time
Provisional/Provisional Certification:
Nona held certification as an instructor with an expiration date of 8/31/2000. She left District A for employment in private industry in December 1999 and her certification was not renewed. On September 15, 2002, she is hired as an instructor at District B. Because more than two years have passed since her certification expiration, she is certified with an expiration date of 8/31/04.

RATIONALE
A person holding certification is expected to meet the renewal requirements. Unless individuals terminating their employment have completed their renewal requirements, they cannot be certified for two years from the expiration date of their previously held certification.

Press to View Guideline 26: Return to WTCS Employment During The Certification Renewal Period http://systemattic.wtcsystem.edu/certification/cert/guide/guid26.htm

Press to View Guideline 30: Thirteen Month Window for Renewal of Individuals Whose Certification has Lapsed http://systemattic.wtcsystem.edu/certification/cert/guide/guid30.htm

Implemented: October 1, 1998
Last Reviewed/Revised: May 2002

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