Professional certification: defining certification.

I may finally understand what it means to be a professionally certified music teacher. It has taken me much of my professional life to do so. Experience and intuition also lead me to say that there could remain much more to grasp.

Now, what is it that I at long last understand? The words "profession," "professional" and "professionalism" are tossed about profusely in MTNA literature and especially that of the MTNA Professional Certification Program. For example, some form of the word "profession" is used 13 times in the Certification Standards document alone. The Program issues one certificate, aptly called the "Professional Certificate." The MTNA Vision and Values and Code of Ethics make statements regarding a music teacher's professional commitment to students, colleagues and to society by using some form of the word 11 times. The current MTNA membership brochure defines the association as "A Community of Committed Music Professionals." What is the meaning of these words when used in the context of music teaching, music teachers and the association? What is a profession? Who is a professional? How do the answers to these questions connect or relate to MTNA Professional Certification? My answers are expressed at the risk of employing excessive use of selected verbiage.

The word profession may be defined as 1) a principal vocation, business or employment requiring knowledge of some area of learning, sometimes specialized learning or 2) a body of persons engaged in a vocation or business.

A professional engages in a profession as a means of earning a livelihood. Professionals practice professionalism by engaging in the conduct, purposes or qualities that characterize the profession. They are characterized as conforming to the standards of a profession. Certification is an attestation that a person has conformed to the standards of a profession.

In context, persons engaged in the profession of music teaching as a vocation or a business to earn a livelihood, can be considered professional music teachers. They may choose to become members of a professional music teachers association, a body of persons engaged in the teaching of music. Music teachers practice professionalism first and foremost by meeting the requirements for fulfilling standards set by and for the profession of music teaching.

The MTNA Professional Certification Program has defined standards for the profession of music teaching. The National Certification Commission, with the support of the MTNA Officers and Board of Directors, has worked diligently during the past six years developing and implementing a program based entirely on the standards that define what a competent music teacher should know and be able to do--Certification validates those standards.

Some common misconceptions about the meaning of certification, specifically MTNA Professional Certification, may exist among music teachers. It is not about having a college or university degree in music, although possessing one would surely help prepare a music teacher to meet certification requirements and standards. A degree validates a person as having met the requirements for a course of study as determined by a college or university. It does not signal that its holder is a professional; rather it signals that the holder is prepared to become a professional.

Certification is not about awarding certificates to only highly qualified music teachers. It is about helping music teachers raise their personal and professional standards through the certification process. Preparing for the proficiency examinations in music history/literature, music theory and pedagogy/teacher education, and for the certification examination or compiling a certification portfolio, all provide ways for music teachers to learn and grow. The program's renewal process provides yet another way for music teachers to continue learning and growing.

Certification is not about who is the best or worst music teacher. It is about helping every music teacher become the best they can be by meeting, maintaining and raising the standards for what a competent music teacher should know and be able to do.

Certification is not an honor or award bestowed upon a music teacher for excellence in teaching, but an attestation that the teacher has met the standards for becoming a professional. The music teaching profession, or any profession for that matter, is seriously lacking in validity when there are those practicing in the profession who have not met requirements for fulfilling its standards. A failure to practice the basic tenets and standards of a profession diminishes its strength, authority and integrity.

The challenge for our association is to become a stronger body of music teachers who have practiced professionalism by fulfilling defined standards established for the profession via MTNA Professional Certification.

My term as chair of the MTNA Professional Certification Program and the National Certification Commission is coming to a close and as it ends, I wish to thank the MTNA leadership for its steadfast support of the program, my fellow commissioners who performed their tasks untiringly and with exceptional competence, and the capable MTNA staff who graciously administer the program, along with the state and local association certification leadership who help promote the program. I also wish to thank every Nationally Certified Teacher of Music without whom there would be no MTNA Professional Certification Program.

Newly Certified

MTNA is proud to acknowledge the following newly certified music teachers: (As of December 8, 2005)</p> <pre> Alabama: Nina Xiaolian Li, Huntsville, Violin Arizona: Raymond T. Ryder, Tucson, Piano California: Karen Betisle Foreman, Lompoc, Piano Illinois:

Jennifer Im Cohen, Hawthorn Woods, Piano Indiana:

Linley Kay Baker, Yorktown, Viola Karen L. Thickstun, Nashville, Piano Krista Wallace-Boaz, Georgetown, Piano Iowa: Karen L. Bourne, Sioux City, Piano Louisiana: Nancy E. Baker, Baton Rouge, Piano Michelle G. Strain, Slidell, Piano

Donna H. Toney, Baton Rouge, Piano Mississippi:

Amber Shay Nicholson, Hattiesburg, Piano Nebraska:

Geraldine Tyrance, Omaha, Piano New Jersey: Ting Ting Lien, Monmouth Junction, Piano North Carolina: Vicki Todaro, Goldsboro, Piano Oklahoma: Farren L. Mayfield, Jenks, Piano Oregon: Carolyn C. Mayer, Pendleton, Piano

Susan M Todd, Hillsboro, Piano

Gloria G. Wiley, Portland, Piano Pennsylvania: Paula P. Bassett, State College, Piano Jill Cresswell, St. Clair, Piano Joann M. Kirchner, Flourtown, Piano Texas: Peter J. Jutras, Dallas, Piano

Shannon Loehrke, San Angelo, Piano

R. McDonald, Bridgeport, Piano </pre> <p>--Pat Tuley, NCTM 

MTNA Certification Chair

Pat Tuley, NCTM, was an inedependent music teacher for 36 years until her retirement in 1996. Since that time she has remained professionally involved in the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League, the Mississippi Music Teachers Association and MTNA. Currently she is chair of the MTNA National Certification Commission.