Tennessee Certification Plan

Tennessee Music Teachers Association—Approved 2000

Introduction

TMTA Certification is a program, which provides for the recognition of a standardized minimum preparation for the profession of music teaching.  It seeks to raise the professional position of the private music teacher (in particular) by identifying those teachers who have reached its standards, while encouraging those who continue their training toward a specific goal.

Certification may be granted in the applied areas of music only.  Members presently certified in other areas might continue to renew in those areas.

Administration

A committee of four members administers TMTA Certification.  The TMTA president, with the approval of the executive board, appoints all.  In addition to the chairman, one committee member shall be selected from each of the three divisions for maintaining and when necessary, modifying the requirements and provisions of the program.

The chairman alone may handle routing applications.  Where the chairman feels the need of counsel, application will be brought to the entire committee.  Individual decisions of the chairman may be appealed to the committee.  The Decision of the committee will be final.  Recommendations regarding the provisions and procedure of TMTA Certification are invited.

Current TMTA certified members should refer to the TMTA certification plans, renewal, and the Certificate Renewal Process.

Members who desire certification should read the following sections. For more information about TMTA certification, you can contact the Certification Chair.

TMTA Certification Plans

TMTA Certification is available at six levels:  Associate Certificate, Standard Certificate, Certificate of Achievement, Certificate of Professional Advancement, Permanent Certificate, and Emeritus Certificate.  The requirements for these programs are outlined below.

Standard Certificate:

After MTNA certification has been granted,² newly certified TMTA member will automatically receive (without fee) the TMTA Standard Certificate unless they qualify for the Certificate of Achievement or Certificate of Professional Advancement.

The Standard Certificate is valid for five years and may be renewed by earning ten professional points (minimum of two points in continuing education and two points in professional activities) during the five-year period with a $15 fee. Points are explained with the information on renewal.

Certificate of Achievement:

The applicant must:

1. Meet all the requirements for the Standard Certificate.²
2. Have five years of full-time teaching experience.
3. Have earned ten professional points in the last five years.
4. Submit evidence that his/her students received Excellent or Superior ratings in the local chapter’s auditions during the year of application (or five different students in the last three years.)

Certificate of Professional Advancement

The applicant must:

1. Meet all the requirements for the Certificate of Achievement.²
2. Have ten years of full-time teaching experience.
3. Submit evidence that three of his/her students received Excellent or Superior ratings in the local chapter’s auditions during the year of renewal (or five different students in the last three years).  One of the above students must be at the early-advanced level.³
4. Have earned ten professional points in the last five years
5. EITHER

• Have a master’s degree in the area of music for which certification is sought^{4 ,}  and submit one project of professional competence as outlined below.
• Submit three projects of professional competence as outlined below.

Projects of Professional Competence

NOTE: Projects are due December 1 of the year prior to the year in which the certificate is expected to be granted.

1. Performance: Present before specified examiners a recital of professional caliber.
2. Authorship: The publication of a treatise, in book or pamphlet form, or in any of the national journals devoted to music, which are acceptable to the certification committee.
3. Composition and or editing of teaching materials: Such materials must be submitted to the certification committee.
4. Research: A research paper acceptable to the certification committee on a problem or phase of music or music education.  The applicant will submit three copies with the application.

Permanent TMTA Certificate

Permanent TMTA certification is available at three levels: Standard, Achievement, and Professional Advancement.  Three renewals are required .  For the Permanent Certificate of Achievement or Professional Advancement the last two renewals must be at that level.  No additional renewal points are required.  Application may be made at the time of the third renewal.  The certification is valid as long as TMTA membership is maintained.  The fee for the TMTA Permanent Certificate is $45, payable to TMTA.

Emeritus Certificate

Certified members who are age 65 or older may apply for the Emeritus Certificate.  No renewal points or fees are required, and applications for this certificate may be made when the holder’s present certificate expires.  This certificate is not automatically issued but is granted upon request.  Recipients of the Emeritus Certificate will be listed in the Directory of Certified Teachers along with all other certified teachers.  This certificate is valid as long as membership in MTNA is maintained.

Lapsed Membership

1. No points will be counted toward renewal for any activities during any year in which the applicant was not a dues paying member of TMTA.
2. Certification can be renewed as soon as requirements for regular renewal are obtained while membership is in force.
3. Names of those who are no longer members will be dropped for the directory of certified teachers
4. Since certificates will all be dated as of July first, certificates will not be sent before membership is verified for the year in which the starting date of the certificate occurs.
5. Late applications will be dated as of the previous July first.

FOOTNOTES:

1. Special consideration will be given if the applicant lacks one term in meeting the specified length of study due to student teaching, illness, injury , or advanced placement.
2. TMTA members certified prior to July 1, 1994 who renew the Standard Certificate or desire to apply for the Certificate of Achievement or Certificate of Professional Advancement have the national certification requirement waived.
3. Students performing standard literature comparable to Grade VI Musicianship as found in the TMTA Auditions Syllabus (1996) will satisfy the early advanced level.
4. In lieu of a master’s degree, the applicants may submit a record of a combination of school, private study, festival or concert participation, and other educational experiences to be evaluated by the certification committee.
5. Effective July 1, 1998, renewal for the Certificate of Professional Advancement will include submitted evidence that three of the applicant’s students received Excellent or Superior rating in the local chapter’s auditions during the year of renewal (or five different students in the last three years).

Reciprocity

TMTA extends the privilege of transferring certification from other states.  The applicant must:

1. Be a member in good standing of MTNA, TMTA and of the local chapter if there is one in the teacher’s locality.
2. Request and application for state certification from the TMTA Certification Chairman and enclose a copy of the present state certificate or a copy of the original state application, which had been approved.
3. Notify the Certification Chairman in the old state of the intention to transfer to the new state and request verification of the  validity of the current certification.
4. The TMTA Certification Chairman will evaluate the old certificate and issue a new one that is comparable.
5. The applicant should study the renewal requirements for TMTA certification before the current certificate expires.

National Certification

National Certification handbooks applications forms, and syllabi for preparing for the examinations are all available from the state certification chairman or from the MTNA national headquarters. 

Procedure for Renewal of National Certificates

1. Membership in MTNA, TMTA, and the local chapter is there is one in the teacher’s locality is a pre-requisite for all certificates.
2. Application and reminder letter is sent in the spring prior to renewal date of July 1.
3. Acquire necessary documentation (Official transcripts, recital programs, audition rating sheets, cancelled checks, etc.).
4. MTNA Certification: Submit the renewal form, documentation and enclose a check to MTNA for $75 and send this to the national office.  If the application is for TMTA certification, submit the renewal form, documentation and enclose a check to TMTA for $15 and send this to the State Certification Chairman.
5. The MTNA and TMTA Chairman and/or committee will review the MTNA and TMTA application.

• If satisfactory, chairman will issue the certificate.
• If unsatisfactory, the chairman will contact the applicant explaining the reason for denial.

Certificates that have lapsed more the five years cannot be renewed. Holders of such certificates must reapply for certification.

Note: All renewable certificates expire July 1st of the fifth year of issuance.

Permanent Professional Certification

Upon the third successful renewal, an NCTM receives the Permanent Professional Certificate. Teachers holding the Permanent Professional Certificate must renew this certificate every five years with application and payment of the renewal fee, but will not be required to submit Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points, a Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (materials and documents) or Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities from a college/university administrator.

MTNA Professional Certification will become permanent upon the third successful renewal with a completed application form, payment of renewal fees and either:

• A validated Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form
• A Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (materials and documents) 
• A completed and signed Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities form.

Permanent Certification recognizes that these NCTMs have met and maintained the MTNA Professional Certification Standards for a minimum of fifteen (15) years.

Renewal of the Permanent Professional Certificate will be on the fifth (5th) year following the year the Permanent Professional Certificate was granted. There will be a payment of a renewal fee with a completed application form; however, no Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form or Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (documents and materials) or Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities Form will be required.

Certificate Renewal Process

Assigned Point Values for Professional Activites

Continuing Education

Minimum of 2 points

1. University/College course in music or related field for credit or CEU. One point per credit hour or per one CEU.
2. National or State Convention.  One point per convention.
3. Music/Education workshop or seminar-3 hours or longer.  One point per workshop/seminar hour
4. Music/Education Workshop or seminar—1-3 hour.  1/2 point per workshop/seminar.
5. Certificate course of study, such as Kindermusik, Yamaha, Orff, Suzuki and the like-   One point per course of study.
6. Private (applied study).  One point per every eight one-hour lessons.

Professional Involvment

Minimum of 2 points

1. Serve as an elected or appointed officer in a professional music association such as MTNA< MEWNC, ASTA and the like, at the national state or local level.  Committee chairmen are also included.  One point per year of term
2. Publication of music, music article, music text, music software or other audio/visual material.  Two points per each different publication.
3. Adjudication of a national, division, or state event.  One point per event.
4. Presentation of a music/education lecture, or lecture-recital.  One point per different presentation.
5. Receiving a promotion, tenure or teacher recognition award from an academic institution or professional music organization.  One point per award.
6. Solos or ensemble recital performance (minimum of six individuals in ensemble), minimum length 45-60 minutes).  Two point per different performance.
7. Mentoring new MTNA Professional Certificate candidates.  One point per successful candidate.

Students' Activities

1. Five different students’ signed and dated test scores or evaluations in adjudicated performance/composition festivals or competitions in solo or ensemble performance, syllabus exams, written theory, keyboard theory and /or technique, and sight-reading.  One point per each five different students.
2. Student solo or ensemble recital of significance, such as a senior recital (maximum of six individuals in ensemble).  One point per different recital.
3. Students named a winner, runner-up, alternate or honorable mention in performance or composition competition at the state or national level.  One point per each different student in competition.
4. Five different students participation in non-adjudicated festivals, jams, musical marathons, master classes, Quick Recall Theory, musical Olympics, monster concerts, composer festivals, and so on.  One point per five different students in different non-adjudicated events.