Clearinghouse
of Academic Advising Resources
Research
Related
Certification
Task Force study links
Handouts
from Task Force presentation to membership at 2003 National
Conference
Task Force
report to membership from 2003 newsletter
Certificate
Levels
American
Society of Association Executives (ASAE
) speaker Mickie Stivers
Rops, identifies three certificate levels:
Certificate of workshop completion (level 1), Certificate of component
knowledge and completion (level 2,) and Certification of skills
application (level 3).
Level
1 Workshop completion
(sometimes known as "seat time") certificates are awarded
when the participant completes a workshop. Therefore a participant
receives a certificate based upon attendance, often without completing
a test of acquired knowledge. This certificate cannot be
revoked and there is no designation.
Example:
NACADA Summer Institute
certificate.
Level
2 : Curriculum-based certificates
can be awarded when a company, agency, university or association
designates the essential components of a greater body of knowledge.
Based upon these components, courses or workshops are delivered.
Participants completing the workshops or courses are assessed
for acquisition of knowledge and skills. Those passing are issued
a certificate that cannot be revoked and there is no designation.
General
Example: Four courses within a graduate program are designated
as covering statistics, an essential component of the degree.
When a student passes all four courses, the student receives a
certificate designating the acquisition of the desired statistics
knowledge and completion of the statistics component.
Advising
Specific Example: A current example within advising can be
found in the Kansas State University Graduate
Certificate in Academic Advising.
Level
3 Certification (not
a certificate) is awarded to individuals who demonstrate
knowledge and apply skills within a field.
Level 3 certification is composed of eligibility requirements,
assessment, and ongoing requirements (CEU's). This certification
can be revoked and results in a designation.
Since
certification is the highest level of professionalism, associations
or agencies granting certification must be certified themselves
by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA ) who demand that certifying associations demonstrate compliance
with set accreditation
standards. Also see NCCA Standards summary listed below.
Example:
NBCC
certification of counselors. To receive certification,
an individual must complete a prescribed field of study (often
a master's degree in the area), demonstrate that s/he has
acquired knowledge (pass a test) and document that s/he can apply
that knowledge within the field (evaluations and letters of recommendation
from the practicing professionals). Continuing education
(CEU) is required.
Related
Information
Relevant definitions
from the mid-year report of the Certification
Task Force:
