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Postsecondary Credentialing FAQ
As secondary credentialing move from CCCS to CDE several questions have come in from teachers and administrators about the change. Below your questions are addressed. If something has not been covered please email Casey Sacks at casey.sacks@cccs.edu with your question so we can add it to the site.
Current Credentialing Questions | ||
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| 1. | Q: | Where are postsecondary continuing Education Courses offered? |
| A: |
Please check specific college course schedules for course time and format. | |
| 2. | Q: | Who is a Credentialing Officer? |
| A: | The individual who issues credentials for their postsecondary institution. | |
| 3. | Q: | What is an initial credential? |
| A: | This credential is available to applicants who have not completed all of the content required for a professional credential. This credential will only be issued one (1) time per applicant’s lifetime. The requirements to be completed for a professional credential include, but are not limited to:
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| 4. | Q: | Are there any non-transcripted courses that are allowable substitutions for instructors to move from an initial to a professional credential? |
| A: | Any non-transcripted experience that an institution wishes to count toward credentialing course requirements must be evaluated by the Board Designated Oversight Committee (BDOC). Non-transcripted courses/workshops that have been evaluated and approved are as follows:
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| 5. | Q: | What is the process for getting the BDOC to approve a non-credit course for replacement of EDU 222 or 266? |
| A: | Submit the course curriculum to your credentialing officer and they will submit that information to CCCS. CCCS acts as the clearing house to submit information to the board. The board will review the curriculum and decide if it is an acceptable substitution. | |
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| 6. | Q: | What is related occupational experience? |
| A: | Related occupational experience should be related to the functional area where the applicant is trying to attain or renew a credential. This should be experience outside of teaching. | |
| 7. | Q: | Who needs a part-time credential? |
| A: | Applicants having less that 450 student contact hours annually (July 1 to June 30) within Colorado. | |
| 8. | Q: | How do I reinstate a credential that expired? |
| A: | First complete the initial renewal requirements as stated on your expired credential. If the credential has been expired for more than two years, an additional 1,000 hours of occupational experience is required (if an instructor has been teaching full-time in their credential area for the past 7 years, then 3 school years of full-time instructional experience in the credential area can replace the 1,000 hours) . Then, submit an application to your credentialing officer. | |
| 9. | Q: | How do I move from a part-time to a full-time credential? |
| A: | Complete a new application and meet all of the criteria required for a full-time applicant. | |
| 10. | Q: | How do I move from a full-time to a part-time credential? |
| A: | If your full time credential is not expired, request the change from your credentialing officer. If your full time credential is expired then complete a new application for a part time credential in your area. | |
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| 11. | Q: | How do I count work experience and workshops for my renewal credits? |
| A: | If you have specific course renewal requirements then the course has to be completed, occupational experience would not count. But for full time professional renewal applicants who need 6 semester hours of coursework to renew, 40 hours of paid work experience is equal to 1 credit hour and 15 hours of workshop/seminar time is equal to 1 credit hour for renewal. On your renewal application indicate the number of hours you spent on each activity and be sure to attach appropriate documentation for your credentialing officer. | |
| 12. | Q: | Are there any exceptions to the occupational experience requirements for an initial credential? |
| A: | For a full time initial credential application if a person has been teaching in their credential area for the previous 3+ years full time this can substitute for the recent requirement of the occupational experience hours required. For a part time initial credential applicant if they have been teaching part time for the previous 6+ years in their credential area this can substitute for the recent requirement of the occupational experience hours required. For BOTH of these (full or part time applicants) they will still need to document they have had the required occupational experience at some point in their lives. However the recent teaching experience can allow a credentialing officer the discretion to allow old occupational experience. | |
| 13. | Q: | How do I apply for an exception? |
| A: | Please see the instructions on http://www.coloradostateplan.com/cred_Exceptions_PS.htm | |
| 14. | Q: | If someone has an MSN (Masters in Nursing) can they move directly to the Professional credential without the EDU courses and the initial credential? |
| A: | Yes. If someone has completed a masters degree in nursing and has the required occupational experience they can move directly to a professional Health Science Technology credential at the postsecondary level. Each college still has the discretion to require their own continuing education courses from every faculty member. | |
| 15. | Q: | I am not currently working at a postsecondary institution in Colorado, how do I obtain or renew a credential? |
| A: | Unfortunately, there is no way to apply for or renew a postsecondary credential if you are not working at a postsecondary institution. If you hold a credential and start working at a college again, you can renew a lapsed credential by fulfilling initial renewal requirements and providing documentation of 1,000 hours of current occupational experience. If you are a new applicant, after you are hired by one of the colleges you will work with your college credentialing officer to obtain a credential. | |
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