departments & programs academic departments mathematics, science & technology education technology education licensure options in technology education Licensure Options in
Technology Education
Thank you for your inquiry expressing interest in licensure (formerly termed certification) to teach Technology. We receive frequent requests for information about licensure and have therefore assembled the enclosed information to assist you in assessing your own potential to receive licensure through any of our program options (graduate or undergraduate). A background in engineering, design, architecture, industry, military, or other areas of education can be excellent preparation for licensure in technology education. People with no previous BA or BS degree have only one option to receive licensure in technology education at NCSU, and that is to enroll as undergraduate students and complete the full BS degree in Technology Education. They may be able to transfer in courses from other universities and community colleges as part of their degree program. The remainder of this document addresses the concerns of people who have a previous degree and seek licensure without completing a second Baccalaureate degree.
Technology Education: A Description
First, realize that Technology Education is teaching about technology in a very broad sense. It evolved from industrial arts education. It uses computers along with other equipment as topics of study and means to incorporate learning activities. It is NOT "Educational Technology" which is essentially the most recent development in audio-visual media and aids (use of computers to teach other subjects such as history or biology). However, due to the high level of computer skills that technology education teachers possess, licensure in technology education is one possible route to become the school computer consultant and expert or CIC (Curriculum Integration Coordinator). Another area of confusion is the relationship of "Technology Education" to "Vocational Trade and Industrial Education". Though there are some similarities, Vocational T&I is more specialized and leads to direct job entry or advanced training in areas such as auto mechanics, carpentry, etc. Technology Education is much broader and is intended to meet the needs of all students rather than just those of trades persons. Licensure in Vocational T&I is entirely separate and requires appropriate full-time work experience in the selected trade area. NCSU does not have an approved complete licensure program in Vocational T&I, but some of the courses we offer may be applied to licensure plans in this area. Contact DPI for more information about Vocational T&I. Finally, licensure in Technology Education in NC and neighboring states is a blanket certification to teach all of the four clusters of technology (Manufacturing, Construction, Communication, and Transportation) in middle school and high school. Technology teachers are qualified and may teach computer courses, but all candidates for this license must possess the broad array of technical knowledge and skills outlined in this document (including the traditional shop/laboratory skills). We do not offer any exclusive computer technology licensure.
How Can I become Licensed to Teach Technology Education?
Due to the wide range of backgrounds and entering skill levels of people who request information about technology education licensure, and the large number of inquiries we receive, it is important for you to assess your own potential to qualify for licensure and develop a realistic understanding of how much coursework will likely be required before you invest your money and our time in reviewing your records. The information herein is designed to help you make this pre-assessment. However, you must understand that you do not have a viable and approved licensure plan until you have:
• Formally applied,
• Paid the required $50.00 transcript review fee, and
• Received a formal copy of your licensure plan signed by us.
Once you have determined through your self pre-assessment that a viable program may be available for you, contact Grant Holley (the Coordinator of Lateral Entry Studies) at grant_holley@ncsu.edu or 515-1065 to initiate the application process.
Developing A Draft Licensure Plan
Please complete a draft licensure plan and submit it with your application.
Draft Licensure Plan (word format)
Eligible Candidates
You must have a four-year degree with a minimum GPA of 2.50 in all course work. If you have already been hired by a school system in a technology teaching position, you have 2 options: Become a Lateral Entry student in our program or secure a PVA (Provisional Vocational license) directly from the state Department of Public Instruction. The differences are explained below --
1) Lateral Entry -- Potentially, any person with any 4-year degree and a minimum 2.50 GPA can qualify for the NCSU Lateral Entry program in Technology Education. However, the amount of course work will vary greatly from one candidate to the next due to differences in their backgrounds. Use the information enclosed to see if you truly are a viable candidate for this approach.
Application for Lateral Entry/Licensure Only (pdf format)
2) PVA -- To qualify for a PVA, you must already have current teaching licensure in one of the following areas: mathematics (200), science (300), trade and industrial education (740).
-- OR --
You must have a bachelor's degree in an engineering or technology area including the following fields: construction, architecture, communications, manufacturing, or transportation.
People who feel that they meet these PVA requirements may contact the State Department of Public Instruction directly to obtain the latest information about PVA guidelines and to have their records assessed. Their programs will not be tied to any specific institution, and they will be given a list of courses to complete in order to "clear" their provisional licensure. NC State University has no responsibility for their credentials except allowing them to take classes here as a PBS (Post Baccalaureate Studies) student. However, only a limited few courses taken under this program may be later transferred to a graduate degree program, so if you intend to complete a graduate degree or to transfer your license to another state (possibly at a later date), this is not the best option. Additionally, faculty at NCSU are not allowed to give advice to or monitor the programs of PVA candidates who do not choose to enroll as Lateral Entry students in our program--those who select this option simply take courses identified by SDPI.
Licensure Only Students -- If you do not already hold a technology teaching position, you will be classified as a Licensure Only student in the NCSU Technology Education Program. Your program will be very similar to that for a Lateral Entry student, except that you will be required to complete student teaching or an internship in teaching technology.
Application for Lateral Entry/Licensure Only (pdf format)
Master's Program
Both Lateral Entry and Licensure Only candidates should consider seeking admission to the Master's Program in Technology Education. Though completion of a licensure program and a Master's program are not exactly the same, there is enough overlap that many candidates will find that the addition of only a few more courses could lead to the benefits of holding a graduate degree. Those who wish to enter a graduate program should contact the Graduate School directly to initiate the admissions process. A licensure plan may be completed while in the graduate program.
Course Availability
The graduate courses in education and pedagogy are generally easily available in evenings and summers, but most of our lab-based technology and skills courses are only offered during the daytime. Thus, if you need large numbers of the skills courses, you may need to find some of them at other institutions. Sometimes, however, candidates will have significant work skills, military training, SDPI workshops, or community college work which cannot be directly transferred for university credit but which might be a basis for "testing out" of a few courses. Independent study courses can sometimes help reduce the on-campus course load burden for those with strong technical backgrounds as well. These arrangements will need to be negotiated with the faculty in charge of the specific courses to be challenged.
LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
1) Technology Education Content and Skills -- 24 hours of lab-based skills classes.
Competency must be demonstrated in two (2) or more of the following Technical Areas - Communication, Construction, Manufacturing, or Transportation.
Communication:
GC 120 Foundations of Graphics 03
GC 210, or 211 Engineering Graphics 03
GC 250 Engineering Graphics II 03
GC 350 Applied CAD 03
Other Graphics courses considered
TED 161 Imaging Technology 04
TED 246 Graphic Arts Technology 04
TED 261/461 Communication Technology 03
TED 359 Electronics Technology 03Construction:
TED 110 Materials & Processing Technology 04
GC 250, Engineering Graphics II 03
TED 115 Wood Processing 04
TED 221 Construction Technology 03
TED 610 Sp Tpcs: Construction * 03
Courses in Architecture, Construction, and Civil Engineering consideredManufacturing:
TED 110 Materials and Processing Technology 04
TED 371 Emerging Issues In Technology 03
TED 384 Computer Applications in Industry 03
TED 330/430 Manufacturing Technology 03
TED 481 Research and Development in Technology 03
TED/EOE 610 Sp Tpcs: Manufacturing * 03
Courses in Industrial Engineering and similar areas consideredTransportation:
TED 276/376 Transportation: Energy/Power Tech. 03
TED 490 Independent Study 03
Courses in Engineering considered
* Courses frequently available in summer sessions
2) Education Requirements -- 20 hours minimum
A. Curriculum, Methods, and Philosophy -- 9 hours of coursework related to methods of teaching technology education, lab management and safety, and the history and philosophy of technology education.
Select From:
TED 530 Foundations in Teaching Technology 03
TED 551/751 Technology: A Discipline 03
TED 552/752 Curricula for Emerging Technology 03
TED 555/755 Developing and Implementing TED 03
TED 558/758 Teaching Creative Problem Solving 03
TED 452 Lab Planning in TED 03
TED 456 Curriculum & Methods in TED 03
TED 495 Senior Seminar in TED 03
TED 556 Lab Management & Safety in TED 03
B. Educational Foundations -- 11/12 hours of education related courses required for licensure.Select From:
EDP 304 Educational Psychology 03
PSY 376 Developmental Psychology 03
ELP 344 School and Society 03
ECI 416 Teaching Exceptional Students 03
ECI 451 Improving Reading in Sec Schools 02ECI 500 Teaching Diverse Populations 03
ECI 501 Foundations of Curriculum 03
ECI 541 Reading in the Content Areas 03
ECI 550 Foundations of Middle Years Educ 03
ECI 551 Teach/Learn Emerging Adolescents 03
PSY 582 Adolescent Development 03
Other courses considered
3) Required for Licensure Only students: Student Teaching or Internship in TED teaching: EOE 457 (08), EOE 307 (06), or TED/EOE 651/851. Graduate level internships may also be included as part of graduate programs.
4) Successfully pass required PRAXIS examinations.
Other Sources of Helpful Information and Courses
Here are two websites that offer additional information about lateral entry and PVA licensure. Both of these sites are located at NCA&T University. Some candidates will find that they need to take some courses at the other institutions identified in these sites or the SDPI workshops.
The first site below includes some pages from DPI regulations on PVA licensure and the second one lists information about all three NC institutions offering programs in Technology Education.
http://www.ncat.edu/~childres/gc02001.html
http://www.ncat.edu/~childres/gc01019.html
