Certification
Maine School Administrative District 75

  
   
 
 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Certificate Holders: Course Work or Portfolio Work

Thinking of using the National Board Certification process for recertification?

There are two ways you can work towards renewing your certificate. One is to take courses and the other is to create a portfolio. Either way you go, there are a couple of things that are the same:

1. You must develop a Professional Renewal Plan, which describes the activities you will carry out to acquire the equivalent of six credits of approved study. Your Professional Renewal Plan may include six credit hours of academic study in the area of your endorsement or other activities designed to improve performance in that field.

2. Submit this plan to the Certification Council for prior approval of any courses or portfolio work you plan to use for recertification.

 


Course Work

Course work can mean more than just graduate level courses. If you take an adult education course, which is related to what you're teaching, that may be used. Also, workshops where contact hours or CEU's are given can be considered course work. Just make sure to get a signed document from the instructor, which includes the hours of participation.

Writing Goals: You need two goals per five year cycle. Each goal requires 45 hours of professional development . Keep you goals broad and your strategies open ended to allow more flexibility in your path to professional growth. That way, you may only need to do one blue form( Professional Renewal Plan) with two goals on it.

Click here to see an example of an elementary teacher's Renewal Plan.

Official transcripts of course(s) taken must be sent to the Certification Council once you complete your course work.

All your transcripts need to be submitted to the Certification Council by December 30, which is six month prior to your expiration date so as not to hold up the processing of your certification renewal. The certification chair can not sign your renewal until all transcripts are submitted.

 

  

Professional Renewal Portfolio


A portfolio is an organized means of recording continual professional growth. Its usefulness depends on it being kept up to date. All documents secured in the portfolio must provide evidence that professional growth has occurred.

Professional growth credits are earned in 15 hour units (1 credit). A maximum of 45 hours (3 credits) is recognized in any one area of concentration other than coursework. 90 hours (6 credits) is required for certification renewal.

For all work other than courses, a log must be submitted showing dates, time spent, description of the activity signed by the applicant and a committee chairperson, department head or principal. When recertification is sought by means other than course work, portfolio documentation must include the following:

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Recertification Portfolio Product Descriptor

This portfolio should be professionally presented in the following manner:

Parts

Attributes

Organization
  • Uses 3-ring binder
  • Uses dividers to separate goals
  • May include a table of contents

Cover Letter
  • States the purpose of the portfolio as it relates to professional growth

Goals
  • Copy of each included in pertinent section
  • Two separate goals for professional growth
  • Goals clearly stated and prior approval granted
  • 45 hours for each goal

Documentation of hours
  • Includes a log sheet validated by: supervisor, conference or workshop registrar, certificate of participation, and/or area specialist
  • All materials should be dated and have the proper signatures.

Artifacts: Evidence of completion of each goal and how it has influenced your teaching
  • Portfolios could include any of the following that apply: student work, sample lessons/units, educational certificates, experience, committee work, educational affiliations, special projects, action plans, resume, publications, travel, volunteer work, honors/awards.

Portfolios are due by September 30th prior to the date of your certificate's expiration.
For example, if your certificate expires in '07, you would need to submit your portfolio to the Certification Council by Sept. 30, 2006.

 

National Board Certification Process for Recertification

  • Prior approval must be obtained by submission of a professional renewal form to the Certification Council.
  • To use the National Board Certification process for recertification you may either register for credit hours through the university or you may submit a portfolio to the Certification Council.
  • National Board Certifciate recipients may forego artifacts if the National Board Certificate is included in the portfolio. Artifacts are necessary if you do not receive National Borad Certification prior to the state recertification deadline.