|
|
ALA-APA Certification Task Force
Guidelines
Participants |
Voluntary, post-Masters
The candidate must possess an ALA-recognized degree in library and information studies. [ALA Policy 54.2, 54.2.1, 54.2.2, 56.1]
Three kinds of credentials are recognized in ALA policy:
-
A master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association.
-
A master’s level program in library and information studies accredited or recognized by the appropriate national body of another country.
-
A master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (for school library media specialists only).
A candidate for first-time certification must have a minimum of three years experience in relevant professional practice.
Individuals may take 5 years to complete a certification program. If an individual does not complete the program within 5 years, the individual must begin the program again.
Both ALA members and nonmembers may participate in the certification program.
Applicants for certification and re-certification must sign a code of professional ethics. ALA-APA will not involve itself in the revocation of a certificate for violation of professional ethics.
Library Technical Assistants (LTAs) are not eligible to apply for certification in the first phase of this program. A process for researching and developing an LTA certification program is being investigated by the Council on Library/Media Technicians (COLT). ALA units that may want to support this effort include the ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT), the ALA Committee on Education, the ACRL/CJCLS/Library/Media Technician Training Committee, the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, and the LAMA Human Resources Section [see attached information].
|
| |
|
| Providers |
Providers must apply to and be approved by a Certification Review Committee established for review of each proposed certification specialty program. The approval will be based on the provider’s self-attestation that the provider’s program fulfills the guidelines established by the Certification Review Committee. ALA-APA will develop, with advice from legal counsel, a disclaimer that says that ALA-APA does not “endorse” a specific provider.
Continuing education programs and course-specific ancillary products may be provided by the ALA and its divisions and/or by other professional organizations (e.g., ALA Chapters, AASL Affiliates, LIS programs, other university programs, independent trainers or other organizations).
Support materials to prepare participants for the competency exams (e.g., study guides, CD ROMs, practice tests) will be provided solely by ALA-APA as a revenue-generating activity.
Providers will offer training through a variety of venues (e.g., workshops, printed materials, online courses, distance education, conference programming).
|
| |
|
| Certification |
The competencies and requirements for professional practice (e.g., the body of knowledge, required experience, mandated skills) in a specialty will be established by the appropriate ALA division, as authorized by the ALA Council [ALA Bylaws Article VI]. These competencies will be adopted as the competencies required for certification by the ALA-APA.
Initial certification will be based on a) demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and b) successful completion of a professionally validated examination covering the particular specialization. The examination process will be accessible in geographically dispersed locations.
Candidates for certification may take the exam without taking any course work if the candidate has prepared in other ways.
Certification will be for a three-year period, with re-certification based on demonstrated continuing professional development (e.g., demonstration of commitment to continuing education, demonstration of competence through portfolio), not re-examination. Applications for re-certification will be made to the Certification Review Committee for that program of certification. If re-certification is approved, the certification will be valid for five years. If the candidate fails to demonstrate continuing education and competence, the re-certification will be denied. The decision of the Certification Review Committee may be appealed to the ALA-APA Board under a process to be developed.
Certification, unlike licensure, should not be considered a statutory requirement for a particular job. Certification would, however, provide valuable information that the employer could use in determining the relative qualification of a candidate.
|
| |
|
Governance |
The ALA-APA Board will establish a Certification Review Committee, of three to five members, for each proposed certification specialty program. The sponsoring division(s) will be represented on the Committee. Each Certification Review Committee will include active practitioners and LIS educators. The primary purpose of a Certification Review Committee will be to oversee development and administration of a validated testing instrument, based on the competencies for professional practice developed by a division of the American Library Association. Appointments to a Certification Review Committee will be for four years, non-renewable. Initial appointments will be staggered. The Certification Review Committee will report to the ALA-APA Board of Directors.
The ALA Committee on Education has a significant role in bringing specialty certification proposals forward:
-
To ensure that the proposals include a consistent and adequate articulation of specialized competencies and requirements and that ALA members are informed about new standards for professional practice (e.g., knowledge base, specific experience);
-
To work with staff to ensure that new competencies for professional practice and certification areas become accessible to ALA-APA; and,
-
To report regularly to the ALA Council on competency development and certification activities.
|
| |
|
| Funding |
Funding for the certification program will be generated through two revenue streams—the cost charged to applicants for administering the exam and the sale of study and preparation materials for the exam.
Funding streams to be considered include: a charge to providers for the approval process; an initial application fee in addition to the exam fee; an annual certification fee.
|
|
|
