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- Workplace Specialist I
- Eligibility & Application
- Workplace Specialist I Training
- Mentors
- Convert WSI to WSII
- PDP for WSII
- WSII Renewal
I. Initial Workplace Specialist I License
- Allows individuals with occupational work experience in a specific vocational area to be qualified to teach in that specific vocational area in a career center, high school or within the Department of Corrections.
- This license is valid for two years.
- After successfully completing the Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training, passing the TABE exam, and completing a PDP (Professional Development Plan), the initial Workplace Specialist I License is converted to a Workplace Specialist II License, which is valid for five years.
II. Eligibility and Application
Eligibility for the Workplace Specialist I License
Workplace Specialist I: Initial (Two-year license)
- Minimum requirement: High School Diploma. A first applicant must send in a photocopy.
- Must be twenty-one (21) years of age
- Employment in an accredited educational program to teach in a specific vocational area. If working through the Department of Corrections, the applicant must submit a letter on DOC letterhead indicating that employment will occur if license is obtained.
- Occupational experience** (Select one):
- 5,000 hours (about 2.5 years of experience) in the last five (5) years.
- 4,000 hours (about 2 years) in the past ten (10) years and demonstration of occupational competency test.
- 4,000 hours (about 2 years) in the past ten (10) years and evidence of occupational licensure or occupational proficiency based on approved regional, state, or national board training and evaluation.
- 4,000 hours (about 2 years) in the past ten (10) years and completion of an accredited 2-year or higher degree in the specific certification area
- 4,000 hours (about 2 years) in the past ten (10) years and completion of an apprenticeship or internship program.
**Note: All occupational experience must be verified by submitting letters from current or former employers specifying and considering the following:
- job titles and duties;
- hours worked per week;
- starting/ ending dates;
- the name and title of the employer;
- must be on company letterhead;
- only work experience in the certification area will be accepted;
- verification for self-employed: Submit the Profit/Loss statements from the federal income tax returns.
Applying for Initial Workplace Specialist I License in LVIS
Required Documents:
- Valid CPR card from IDOE approved provider
- Verification of Work Experience
- Proof of Suicide Prevention Training
- Human Trafficking Training
- Child Abuse and Neglect Training
III. Workplace Specialist I Training
Register for the Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training
Registration is available the middle of June through the beginning of August annually via http://workplacespecialists.com The teacher is expected to complete the training during the first year, unless the teacher is hired after registration closes in early August. In this case, the teacher must register for the training the following year even though the teacher may be working under the Initial Workplace Specialist I License.
IV. Mentors and Director Information
- The director will appoint a mentor to work with the Workplace Specialist teacher.
- Mentor compensation will be at the discretion of the director. The director may compensate the mentor if funding is available. The director is responsible for maintaining copies of all mentor documents available on the mentors’ page of the https://indianaacte.org/course/for-mentors/ website, which the mentor will be responsible to complete. For any questions on mentors please contact Shelley Rust at focusedmanager@indianaacte.org.
- The mentor must be a practicing educator with five years of teaching experience.
- The mentor must work in the same building as the teacher.
- Mentors are not required to have been through the Indiana Mentor Training.
- The mentor does not have to teach in the same occupational area as the teacher.
- Directors and other administrators are not allowed to serve as mentors.
Directors:
An up-to-date list of Career and Technical Area Centers and Director contact information can be found at: http://www.iacted.org/index.php/directors
Renewal of Initial Workplace Specialist I License:
The initial Workplace Specialist I License is valid for two years, and it may be renewed/extended for one (1) year only at the request of the director.
Download the PDF file Workplace Specialist I (WSI)
Renew Workplace Specialist I
V. Workplace Specialist I Convert to Workplace Specialist II
Upon successful completion of the Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training and all three content areas of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) exam at the passing levels noted below, the teacher is ready to convert the Workplace Specialist I (two-year) license to a Workplace Specialist II (five-year) License. IDOE has a record of these teachers. In the event the teacher was deficient in one or more content areas of the TABE exam after multiple attempts, the teacher may enroll in an IDOE approved university course and earn a "B" or higher before converting the Workplace Specialist I License to a Workplace Specialist II License. Evidence of successful completion of the IDOE approved university course with a "B" or higher must be uploaded into the LVIS system during the conversion process. Information about the IDOE approved university courses can be found in the section below titled “University Courses to Satisfy TABE Requirements."
Download the PDF file Conversions of Workplace Specialist I to Workplace Specialist II. The teacher must work with the CTE director to create a PDP. The PDP will be kept in-house and will be used as a working document to track the teacher's professional development growth. Please see the Workplace Specialist homepage for PDP Guidelines and Forms for information and guidance.
Required Documents:
- Valid CPR card from IDOE approved provider
- Child Abuse and Neglect Training
- Approved PDP
- Passing TABE scores, official transcripts of the approved university course with a grade of a "B" or higher or PPST or CASA scores, or an official transcript of a conferred bachelor’s degree or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
- Completion of the Workplace Specialist I Training
- NOTE: The Workplace Specialist I training coordinator will notify the IDOE regarding the teacher’s successful completion of the training. The teacher will need to wait one month prior to applying for the Workplace Specialist II conversion in LVIS to give IDOE adequate time for processing.
Teachers who are EXEMPT from Completing the TABE:
Workplace Specialist I licensed teachers who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university will not need to complete the approved version of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), since they have already proven an acceptable level of competency in the basic skills of reading, mathematics, and language arts as part of the earned degree. After completing the academic year-long Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training (from August to April), teachers will upload a single PDF document containing all pages of the official academic transcript for the highest degree earned in the IDOE LVIS system at time of license conversion (not before June) from a Workplace Specialist I (WSI) license to a Workplace Specialist II (WSII) license instead of uploading a TABE score sheet.
Teachers who are REQUIRED to Complete the TABE:
Teachers who have not earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university will need to complete the approved version of the TABE listed below by the due date(s) specified on the Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training calendar, which can be found by visiting http://www.workplacespecialists.com. Teachers who complete the approved version of the TABE during the academic year-long Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training (from August to April), will upload a single PDF document containing all pages of the TABE score sheet in the Ball State University Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) course site by the due date(s) specified on the calendar mentioned above. After the Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training concludes in April, the project coordinator will send all TABE scores to the IDOE, allowing the staff to enter them into the LVIS system before June. Teachers will be able to convert their WSI licenses to WSII licenses beginning in June.
TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) Requirements
Workplace Specialist I licensed teachers will be required to personally pay for and complete the following approved version of the TABE (NOTE: The content areas of Reading, Mathematics, and Language are required) at an approved testing center and earn a proficient scale score on all three exams:
- Form 13-14, Level D: Reading—NRS Level 4 - Proficient Scale Score 536 or Higher
- Form 13-14, Level D: Mathematics—NRS Level 4 - Proficient Scale Score 537 or Higher
- Form 13-14, Level D: Language—NRS Level 4 - Proficient Scale Score 547 or Higher
Workplace Specialist I licensed teachers may attempt the approved version of the TABE as many times as needed during the academic year-long Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training (from August to April) until a proficient scale score is earned for all three content areas. Teachers are encouraged to seek remediation through their career center and/or adult education center in areas of deficiency before attempting the future TABE exam.
The testing center must provide the Workplace Specialist I licensed teacher with evidence of TABE completion, listing the scale scores. This evidence will be scanned, converted to a single PDF file, and uploaded into the Canvas LMS used by Ball State University by the due date(s) specified on the Workplace Specialist I Teacher Training calendar, which can be found by visiting http://www.workplacespecialists.com
For Workplace Specialist I, licensed teachers who are unable to earn a proficient scale score in one or more content areas of the TABE exam after multiple attempts must personally pay for and complete an approved university course in each deficient content area, earning a grade of B or higher.
Approved College and University Courses to Satisfy TABE Requirements
If, after multiple TABE attempts, the teacher is still deficient in one or more content areas, the teacher may complete the following approved college and university course(s) in each deficient area and earn a grade of B or higher. Teachers will upload a single PDF document containing all pages of the approved college or university transcript into the IDOE LVIS system at the time of license conversion (not before June) from a Workplace Specialist I (WSI) license to a Workplace Specialist II (WSII) license, instead of submitting a TABE score sheet.
Ivy Tech:
- Mathematics: MATH 023 - offered virtually and on campus at some locations - NOT online
- Mathematics: MATH 080 - MUST take it with MATH 123; meets on campus at some locations - NOT online
- Reading and/or Writing: ENGL 095 - offered virtually and on campus at some locations - NOT online
Vincennes:
- Mathematics: MATH 011
- Reading and/or Writing: ENGL 007
Other Universities:
- A 100 - level or higher course from a regionally accredited college or university
PPST (Praxis 1) Scores to Satisfy TABE Requirements
PPST (Praxis 1) Minimum scores for the TABE are:
- PPST Reading 10710=176
- PPST Writing 20720=172
- PPST Mathematics 10730=175
- CASA Minimum equivalent scores for the TABE: 220 for all 3 batteries
*The PPST or CASA can be used to meet TABE requirements, regardless of whether they were taken before or after the TABE. If taken beforehand and the required scores are achieved, they may replace the TABE. PPST scores will be sent directly from ETS Praxis to IDOE and uploaded to your LVIS account.
If you do not see your scores within your LVIS account after 60 days, or if you took the CASA exams before the transition to Praxis - please submit a test score request under “My Profile” in your LVIS account.
VI. Workplace Specialist II PDP
Along with the CTE director, the teacher will create a PDP. The PDP will be stored "in-house" and will be utilized as a working document to track the professional development growth. Please see the Workplace Specialist homepage for PDP Guidelines and Forms for information and guidance.
Workplace Specialist PDP Guidelines and Forms
Both old and new PDP's should be provided to the WS teacher's CTE director for authorization. Both forms must have the appropriate authorization lines signed by both the teacher and the director (not another administrator). All supporting documentation (verifying activities completed) as indicated by the PDP point chart must be provided to the CTE director prior to review and authorization of completed PDP's. Only listing the activities without official verifying documents will not be sufficient. Do not send any PDP's to the former university representatives!
Point Chart and License Application Information
Download the PDF file PointChart
Point Conversions:
1 contact hour = 1 point
1 CRU = 2 contact hours = 1 point
1 CEU = 1 contact hour = 1 point
1 Semester credit hour = 15 contact hours = 15 points
1 Quarter credit hour = 10 contact hours = 10 points
Alternative conversion for the above established policies will require supporting documentation.
PDP Forms and Helpful Information Links
The items below are acceptable for help with PDP and are to be used as guidelines.
*If the electronic signature on the above documents fails in your Adobe Reader, please print and sign it manually. Then you may turn it in to your CTE Director.