Foundation Certificate

Foundation Certificate

This certificate attests that the holder has attained proficiency in foundational knowledge of credential evaluation and assessment as demonstrated by evidence of skill in the core competencies developed by TAICEP Committee for Standards of evaluation, research, communication, and professional responsibility. Experience in credential evaluation is not required, but strongly encouraged. 

To earn a Foundation Certificate, a candidate must successfully complete three consecutive steps: professional development, an on-line assessment of knowledge, and a capstone evaluation. The Certificate must be earned within a three-year time frame.

FOUNDATION CERTIFICATE SEQUENCE

Step One is professional development.  A candidate must earn at least 60 professional development points in the following ways:

• Webinars: 5 points for each webinar (maximum 15 points)
• Conference sessions: 5 points per session (maximum 15 points)
• 1/2-day workshop: 10 points per workshop (maximum of 20 points for all workshops)
• Full-day workshop: 20 points per workshop (maximum of 20 points for all workshops)
• Publishing an article in a publication related to the profession: 20 points per article (maximum of 20 points)
• Shadow an experienced credential evaluator for half day: 5 points per occurrence (maximum of 10 points for all shadowing experiences)
• Shadow an experienced credential evaluator for full day: 10 points per occurrence (maximum of 10 points for all shadowing experiences)
• Professional reading: 5 points per occurrence (maximum of 10 points)

After each professional development experience, candidates must write a short essay on how the experience helped with learning and understanding the core competencies. Candidates can attend webinars, conference sessions, and workshops offered by any organization.  Proof of registration and attendance is required. To be considered, professional development must occur after the candidate has registered for the certificate. Candidates are encouraged to be strategic in considering professional development opportunities that will build their individual professional profile.

Step Two begins once at least 60 professional development points have been earned, and candidates will be enrolled in an on-line knowledge assessment. This is a web-based examination of 35 questions covering the TAICEP core competencies. A passing score is 80%. The questions are either true/false or multiple choice. There is no time limit for this examination; candidates can start and stop the examination whenever they choose. Candidates are free to use all resources they have available to answer the questions but should not ask others for assistance. Candidates are allowed two attempts at passing the on-line examination. For this reason, candidates must be confident they have sufficient knowledge to pass the examination in one or two attempts.

Step Three is the capstone examination. This requires an assessment of six credentials. The assessment includes providing a comparability decision and rationale. All assessments must be completed and submitted to TAICEP within one month of receipt. The evaluations will be reviewed by a TAICEP member who has significant experience in credential evaluation using our scoring rubric. At least five of the six evaluations must be considered passed according to the rubric. Two attempts at the capstone examination will be permitted. A second attempt will be based on a different set of credentials. The Capstone Evaluation is currently offered in English. If you are not comfortable writing in English, TAICEP Certificate Committee will make every effort to find a reviewer who is fluent or comfortable reading the primary language you use.

The Foundation Certificate has a fee of US$300 for TAICEP members and $400 for non-members.  TAICEP members will see the member price once they logon to the website.  This fee is non-refundable.