In accordance with WAC 131-16-093:
- All full-time professional-technical faculty, and adjunct faculty teaching more than 2/3 workload (10 credits per term) for one academic year, are required to meet initial and ongoing requirements for vocational certification as a condition of employment.
- Each faculty member must have a Teaching Effectiveness Plan (TEP), which is also sometimes referred to as a Professional Development Plan (PDP), that addresses the WA State Skill Standards.
Link to interactive 2024 standards: https://www.skillstandardswa.org/
At a minimum, the TEP must include:
- A self-assessment
- Five goals (major activities)
- Address at least Skills Standards A, B and D. It is encouraged that faculty include additional Skill Standards as relevant to their position, professional growth, and to ensure enough categories and mix of activities to make meaningful and measurable progress toward achieving the required number of Professional Development Units (PDUs) during each cycle.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, new skill standards were launched following a comprehensive process led by the SBCTC.
Based on SBCTC guidance, all faculty must update their TEPs to align with the new 2024 Skill Standards Effective June 30th, 2025.
Required PDUs
- LCC faculty on an initial certification must complete 6 PDUs in three years*.
- LCC faculty on an ongoing certification must complete 12 PDUS in five years.
*Note: An initial certification is not renewable, per the WAC. It is important to achieve all required PDUs within the initial three years.
LCC Faculty Contract:
Appendix A of the LCC Faculty Contract, outlines the types of activities that count for PDUs.
CPR/First-Aid:
CPR and First Aid are required for most areas by the second quarter of employment per WAC 131-16-093 (d).
Required Documents for Certification:
- Skill Standard Self-Assessment Form (To be completed by the faculty and reviewed with the supervisor along with the TEP during annual meetings).
- TEP: Professional-Technical Faculty Template (Recommended)
Resources:
Annual meetings:
During annual meetings, faculty complete the Annual/Triennial meeting form, which includes both the instructor’s and administrator’s assessment of strengths and opportunities for growth and timeline for completing outlined activities. This portion of the review process is also part of the vocational certification requirements pursuant to WAC 131-16-094.
Professional-Technical Adjunct faculty who are required to be certified will meet with their supervisor at least every three years or as needed to ensure the plan requirements are being met.
Tracking and Submitting PDUs:
Please submit Professional Technical PDUs using the PDU application.
Required Orientation and Support: All new professional-technical faculty, and adjunct who have met the workload threshold, must attend a required orientation at the time of initial certification. Please contact Kalisha Harris, Administrative Assistant, kharris@lowercolumbia.edu to schedule an orientation or if you have any questions regarding the PDU tracking process or need additional assistance.
Additional Resources (Local and SBCTC):
- Adjunct Faculty Certification - Policy Guidance (2024)
- LCC Presentation: Professional-Technical Faculty Vocational Certification: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1B-eMYMhwNS452Ezn07FY_RS-kyFhQmSB/edit?slide=id.p5#slide=id.p5
- SBCTC: Professional Technical Faculty Certification and Skill Standards for College Instructors: https://www.sbctc.edu/colleges-staff/programs-services/professional-technical/faculty-certification
- Pro-Cert: You may see this listed on the SBCTC page. Some colleges use a program called Pro-Cert to track professional development certifications and PDUs.