Certification renewal for previous holders of the College Faculty certificate.

Questions arise frequently regarding the current renewal policies of MTNA Professional Certification for holders of the College Faculty certificate. College/university music teachers have tenure, rank and their employer's standards that provide professional status for them. Since this is the situation, the question most often asked by college faculty members is this: Why should we hold and/or continue to hold the MTNA Professional Certification certificate? The reasons go beyond the practical to that of altruism. Music faculties are in a position to set an example of professionalism for the students they are educating, as well as for the practicing independent music teacher. Little effort is needed to recognize that independent music teachers provide the student enrollment for college and university music departments and schools of music faculty to teach.

The independent music teacher has a greater need for the Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) designation to provide them professional status than do college professionals. They have no access to tenure or rank, nor do many of them enjoy the support of an institution or educational system. MTNA Professional Certification Standard IV:

Professionalism and Partnerships, A. Contributing to the Profession says:

   "Competent music teachers contribute
   to the professional growth
   of their colleagues, their studios
   and schools, their professional associations,
   and to their profession at
   large. "

Fulfilling the above standard by contributing to the professional growth of our colleagues is a necessity for music teachers to reach a high level of professionalism and strength. Helping one another is the appropriate action. In a broad sense, all music teachers are dependent on one another.

Since the time College Faculty Certificates were issued, the MTNA Professional Certification Program has undergone major revisions and changes. Three key points provide the rationale for the MTNA Professional Certification Program's requirement of application, Documentation of Points and a renewal of certification fee from previous holders of the College Faculty Certificate who now hold, or will choose to hold, the Professional Certificate:

1) The MTNA Professional Certification Program now operates under a philosophy that was approved by the MTNA Board of Directors. Among other things the philosophy states:

   "The credential and designation
   are granted without bias, discrimination,
   or favoritism between
   MTNA members and/or non-members
   or any other arbitrary
   differentiation. In order to maintain
   the MTNA Professional
   Certification credential and designation,
   NCTM must continue fulfilling
   the program's standard
   through the renewal process. "

   "The MTNA Professional
   Certification Program is objectively
   administered in a uniform manner
   to ensure fairness, accuracy, validity,
   and integrity. Due process for
   reconsideration and reinstatement
   is included in the program for certification
   candidates, renewal candidates,
   and for those who already
   hold the MTNA Professional
   Certification credential."

The portion of the philosophy stated above speaks to the fact that all NCTMs must be treated without bias, discrimination or Favoritism. Further, to administer objectively the program with fairness, accuracy, validity and integrity to all candidates, they must fulfill the same initial certification standards, must fulfill the same renewal of certification standards and must pay the same fees.

2) The present program issues only one certificate, the MTNA Professional Certificate, as stated in the philosophy:

"The MTNA Professional Certification Program exists for teachers who teach music to students of any age level in private or group settings. The program is based upon a set of five standards defining what a competent music teacher should know and be able to do:

Standard I: Professional Preparation

Standard II: Professional Teaching Practices

Standard III: Professional Business Management

Standard IV: Professionalism and Partnerships

Standard V: Professional and Personal Renewal

Upon fulfillment of these standards, applicants are granted the MTNA Professional Certification credential with the designation, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM)."

In the past, College faculty could be awarded a certificate by simply verifying their full-time college faculty status with a fee. Rather than renewing every five years with application, Documentation of Points and a renewal fee, as does the Professional Certificate holder, the college faculty certificate holder re-verified their full-time faculty status every five years with no renewal fee or Documentation of Points. Presently, there are more than 400 College Faculty Certificate holders whose re-verification costs are absorbed by the Program.

The inequity of such a policy requires little explanation. Neither is it a sound business practice, especially when considering the rationale of number 3 below. Issuing only one certificate in a fair and equitable manner simplifies the program for certification candidates, NCTM and those responsible for its administration.

3) Another major change is that the Certification Program [501 (c)(6)] must now be self-sustaining in order to satisfy IRS regulations. This change became effective at the time MTNA obtained IRS tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) status. At the present time, current certification fees do not cover the total cost of doing certification business. They probably do cover the cost of envelopes, paper printing, postage and maybe even the toner for the office printer. Those costs are only the beginning of the cash flow needed to administer the MTNA Professional Certification Program. In the meantime, the seven members of the National Certification Commission volunteer their services to the program.

The National Certification Commission hopes the above rationale will help college faculty certificate holders understand that, after your college faculty certificate has been converted to a Professional Certificate, your next renewal in five years must be with application, Documentation of Points and a renewal fee. The current renewal fee of $50 (only $10 a year) is a good investment in your music teaching profession and symbolizes your commitment to raising its standards. Many College Faculty Certificate holders do continue to support MTNA Professional Certification as their certificates are gradually converted into Professional Certificates. Such action symbolizes professional magnanimity that benefits the music teaching profession en bloc.

--Pat Tuley, NCTM

Chair, National Certification

Commission