Answers:

1. If you have less than five years of school experience, you will want to fill out the letter of commitment (pdf). If you have over five years of school experience, please fill out the grandparenting application to determine if you can be grandparented. All certification tracks have an opportunity to grandparent except the Chief Financial Officer track.

2. Obtaining certification demonstrates a dedication to your profession and offers a base of useful information taught by seasoned practitioners. School districts are requiring certification before employment or within a year after employment because they believe certification matters.

3. Each year MSBO/MIEM provide a yearly schedule for certification classes (pdf). Each class will be offered at least once in a three-year period. Many classes are offered every year or every other year based on the need.

4. Each six-hour class is $105.00 for a MIEM member and $135.00 for a non-member. Three-hour classes are $75.00 for a MIEM member and $90.00 for a nonmember. Each certification track has different requirements. There is an initial certification fee of $60.00 and a renewal fee every five years of $30.00. You have to be an MSBO member and the cost of membership is $120.00 per year.

5. When you complete the letter of commitment (pdf) or the application for grandparenting (pdf), a confirmation letter will be sent to you with a tracking sheet to indicate the necessary classes to take to complete the certification program.

6. You are a candidate if you have over five years of school experience and satisfy the prerequisites of the certification track you wish to be certified in.

7. It depends on your current responsibilities and your long-term goal. If you have the prerequisites for a certification track, the recommendation would be to go for that certification.

8. Yes. Just remember that the certification is good for five years. Each certification track except for the Chief Financial Officer requires 90 hours of professional development to maintain the certification. The Chief Financial Officer certification track requires 180 hours.