HR - Certification Process

Certification is an effort to insure quality education in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) through a program of continuous participation in activities that will contribute to the professional growth of employees within the system. Certification of faculty, counselors, instructional specialists, and administration is governed by the Wisconsin Administrative Rule, Chapter TCS3, which identifies minimum requirements for initial certification and continued certification. Specific certification requirements for each of these positions can be found at the WTCS web site: http://systemattic.wtcsystem.org/certification/Cert/Become/become.htm

If an individual is interested in pursuing certification through the WTCS, they must first be employed at one of the technical colleges throughout the State. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) employs individuals in the positions as noted above.

If interested in either a full-time or adjunct faculty position at NWTC, an individual must be eligible for certification as an occupational or academic instructor. An occupational instructor is a person employed to teach one or more courses that are vocational or technical in nature. Examples of courses that an occupational instructor could be teaching are welding, accounting, nursing, marketing and agriculture. Occupational instructors are required to have a baccalaureate degree and two years (4,000 hours) of occupational experience in a target job of the program or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

An academic instructor is a person teaching one or more courses in academic subjects such as mathematics, social science, English, communications, and science. Academic instructors are required to hold a baccalaureate degree with a specific major or a required number of credits toward a major plus one year (2000 hours) of occupational experience outside of education.

Both occupational and academic instructors are required to provide written verification of occupational experience from present or previous employers and official transcripts.

Instructors that are delivering classes that are not part of or associated with state designated programs (non-credit courses) are referred to as Adult and Continuing Education instructors and are subject to the same educational and occupational requirements. Exceptions to these requirements are indicated in Certification Guideline #49, Process for Adult and Continuing Education, which can be found at web site: http://systemattic.wtcsystem.org/certification/Cert/Become/become.htm

Instructors delivering classes that are designated as community service, such as exercise, bridge, crafts, are exempt from these certification requirements. However, the College will continue to seek out individuals who are qualified to deliver these types of classes, i.e. recognized experts in the subject or possess license, certificate, or other similar recognition from a sponsoring body.

Since technical colleges recruit many instructors directly from employment in business and industry, certification in the technical college system recognizes the importance of instructors receiving training in sound educational principles and practices. Most instructors are certified at the provisional level upon entering the system. Instructors certified at the provisional level are ultimately working toward the standard five-year certification, which requires completion of seven education courses which are focused on educating faculty in the areas of teaching, learning, assessment, and curriculum.

The seven courses are:

1. Course Construction: Instructional curriculum design for effective teaching.
2. Technical and Adult Education in the WTCS: History and philosophy of Vocational, Technical and Adult education and analyze current issues impacting the system.
3. Teaching Methods: Learning environment, instructional methodologies.
4. Educational Psychology: Psychology of learning with an emphasis on the teaching and learning process of adult learners.
5. Educational Evaluation: Student assessment, instructor assessment, and institutional assessment.
6. Guidance and Counseling: Importance of guidance as an integral part of the teacher's role in relationship to the local community.
7. Educational Diversity: Learning environment that meets the needs of diverse student populations.

The Staff and Organizational Department at NWTC offers certification activities as a service to its instructional staff. Listings of certification activities offered through NWTC to meet the initial seven certification courses can be found here.

Upon completion of the initial seven education requirements and obtaining the five-year certification, renewal of the five-year certificate can be accomplished by completing six semester credits each five years or two months of appropriate occupational experience, or other professional activities identified in a district plan. The district plan would be developed at each individual technical college and renewal would be handled through the district where the individual is employed.

For complete information on certification in the Wisconsin Technical College System, refer to: http://systemattic.wtcsystem.org/certification/Cert/Become/become.htm

CONTACT PERSON FOR CERTIFICATION:

Kathy Gouin, 920-498-5405 or email the Human Resources department

Email: hr@nwtc.edu
Human Resources Receptionist 920-498-6286
or 1-800-422-6982, Ext. 6982