At the School of Education, we are committed to producing education leaders and to providing timely, relevant and rigorous programs of study based on the latest trends and developments in the field of education. The School of Education offers a number of programs with education certifications that acknowledges the completion of a series of courses leading to a body of knowledge in a specific area and a university recommendation to the state of choice.

Most of the certification programs in education are an outgrowth of our master’s degrees with all courses bearing graduate credits. A certificate student may consider, therefore, matriculation into the graduate program upon the successful completion of the education certificate courses and all other graduate admissions requirements.

How​ ​to​ ​Apply​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​Program

The School of Education's certification programs are taught exclusively online. To apply, follow the instructions on each of the certification pages.

The ISA Automation Project Management (APM) Specialist certificate program was developed by leading automation project managers from around the world. By leveraging their combined experience, this program offers real-world, practical lessons that you can apply to your job today.

This program was designed to specially address the unique and complex challenges of automation and process control projects, including:

• Integration of multiple engineering disciplines (software, computer systems, networks, and instrumentation)
• High dependency on user requirements of disciplines outside of automation
• Integration of requirements from many areas (business, engineering, safety, environmental)
• Delays in other project areas that propagate over to the automation area
• New technology or technology constraints

The program is well-suited for project managers who need to understand how to execute automation projects effectively. It is also ideal for automation professionals who need to gain an understanding of core project management principles.

There are no required prerequisites or applications for this program. To earn the APM Specialist certificate, you must successfully complete the Automation Project Management course and pass the multiple-choice exam. Choose one of the following formats:

The​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist​ ​Certification​ ​program​ at​ ​Drexel​ ​University’s​ ​School​ ​of Education​ ​in​ ​Philadelphia,​ ​Pennsylvania​ aims​ ​to​ ​prepare​ graduate​ students​ ​to​ ​work with​ ​individuals​ ​with​ ​a​ ​range​ ​of​ ​reading​ ​abilities​ ​and​ ​needs​ ​by​ ​introducing​ ​them​ ​to multisensory​ ​approaches​ ​to​ ​reading​ ​instruction,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​diagnostic​ ​tools for​ ​planning​ ​and​ ​evaluation​ ​purposes,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​to​ ​monitor​ ​student​ ​performance​ ​and growth.​ ​Students​ enrolled​ ​in​ ​the​ ​online​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist​ ​Certification​ ​program​ will learn​ ​effective​ ​reading​ ​strategies,​ ​and​ ​become​ ​exceptionally​ ​skilled​ ​and​ ​qualified​ ​to support​ ​students​ ​with​ ​reading​ ​needs​ ​and​ ​provide​ ​literacy​ ​leadership​ ​and​ ​coaching​ ​to teachers​ ​and​ ​schools.

How ​to ​Become ​a ​Reading ​Specialist  

Drexel's reading Specialist Certification program is a 31-credit program that can be completed in about 15 months. In addition to completing the 8 core courses that meet PA Department of Education’s requirements for professional competencies for reading specialists in training, the program also requires 5 core courses from the Wilson reading System® program, providing our students with in-depth knowledge of language structure, multisensory, and diagnostic instructional techniques for 2nd through 12 grade students and adults who need more intensive support in reading or have language-based disabilities.

For PA reading Specialist certification, students must complete the PA Praxis test reading Specialist (Test Code #5301/0301) with passing score of 164. Graduates​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist​ ​Certificate​ ​program​ ​who​ ​have​ ​passed​ ​the appropriate​ ​Praxis​ ​exam​ ​and​ ​received​ ​the​ ​PA​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist​ ​add-on​ ​state certification​ ​will​ ​have​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​become​ ​reading​ ​specialists,​ ​reading interventionists,​ ​literacy​ ​coaches,​ ​literacy​ ​mentors,​ ​literacy​ ​program​ ​directors, reading​ ​teachers,​ and​ ​literacy​ ​specialists​ ​working​ ​in​ ​a​ ​community-based​ ​literacy center.

Reading ​Specialist ​Certification ​Eligibility ​and ​Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the reading Specialist program, students must possess​ ​an Instructional​ ​I​ ​certificate​ ​in​ ​PA​ ​or​ ​another​ ​state.​ The​ online​ Reading​ ​Specialist program​ ​aims​ ​to​ ​help​ ​graduate​ ​students​:

• Understand​ ​how​ ​literacy​ ​is​ ​a​ ​meaning​ ​making​ ​process
• Offer​ ​different​ ​ways​ ​of​ ​exploring​ ​children's​ ​responses​ ​to​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​texts
• Enrich​ ​reading​ ​and​ ​writing​ ​in​ ​content​ ​area​ ​classrooms;​ ​and​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​them​ ​how to​ ​incorporate​ ​research-based​ ​approaches

Students​ ​will​ ​graduate​ ​with​ ​a​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist​ ​Certification,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a WILSON®​ ​Level​ ​I​ ​certificate.​ ​The​ ​WILSON®​ ​Level​ ​I​ ​certificate​ ​will​ ​allow​ students:

• To​ ​learn​ ​the​ ​intricacies​ ​of​ ​the​ ​English​ ​language
• To​ ​teach​ ​a​ ​direct​ ​instruction​ ​multisensory​ ​language-based​ ​program
• To​ ​support​ ​students​ ​who​ ​need​ ​extra​ ​reading​ ​assistance

Reading ​Specialist ​Certification ​Features ​& Program ​Benefits

Drexel​ ​University​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​a​ ​few​ ​select​ ​universities​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​WILSON®​ ​Level​ ​I courses​ ​as​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​core​ ​requirements.​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​a​ ​Level​ ​I certificate​ ​from​ ​WILSON®​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​a​ Pennsylvania​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist Certification.

• Learn​ ​from​ ​highly​ ​qualified​ ​faculty​ ​who​ ​have​ ​expertise​ ​in​ ​online​ ​teaching​ ​and are​ ​practitioner-scholars​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field​ ​of​ ​literacy.
• Fully​ ​accredited​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Middle​ ​States​ ​Commission​ ​on​ ​Higher​ ​Education. Drexel​ ​University's​ ​teacher​ ​education​ and​ ​reading​ ​specialist​ programs​ ​are approved​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Education.
• Flexible,​ ​completely​ ​online​ reading​ ​specialist​ degree​ ​program​ ​that​ ​fits​ ​easily into​ ​your​ ​busy​ ​work​ ​and​ ​personal​ ​schedule.
• The​ ​Reading​ ​Specialist​ ​program​ ​is​ ​financial​ ​aid​ ​eligible.
• Credits​ ​are​ ​eligible​ ​for​ ​transfer​ ​into​ ​the​ MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning,​ ​and Curriculum​ ​program​.
• Course​ ​descriptions​ ​may​ ​be​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ Drexel​ ​University​ ​Course​ ​Catalog​.

How ​to ​Apply ​to ​the ​Reading ​Specialist ​Certification Program

The reading Specialist certification program is offered 100% online. You can get started by filling out the Drexel Online application.

Obtaining a CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification implies that an individual has met competencies in the field of medical billing and coding. Certification is invaluable to the student's career goals. Students have an opportunity to make confident, informed decisions about the national certification they prefer.

The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) test is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It is the gold standard entry-level coding certification for physician, or professional fee, coders.

The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It is an entry-level medical coding certification across all settings--physician practices and inpatient hospital.

The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and is currently an entry-level medical billing certification for physician practices. In the summer of 2021, the test will transition to an entry-level billing and coding certification, with the inclusion of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II testing.

Health care apprenticeship students show off the personal support specialist certification they earned in July as part of their training at Lewiston Adult Education. In front from left are Vivaldo Fernando, Gisele Linyonga and Gerda Tuffour. In back from left are Isabel Marques, Maria Nlangu, Verita Silvia Mba Eyang, Jeannette Tsumbi and Lina Matondo. Submitted photo

LEWISTON — A new health care pathways apprenticeship class is scheduled to begin at Lewiston Adult Education this month.

English language learners will receive health care certification along with English language immersion.

The Health Care Pathway program is divided into three sections, beginning with Health Care Foundations, continuing with Personal Support Specialist training and ending with Certified Nursing Assistant training.

All include English language immersion as part of the curriculum. Successful students can apply and become apprentices at local healthcare facilities.

Earlier in July, students in class celebrated earning their personal support specialist certification.

To register for the August session — scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 21 — students must be 18 years old, take the CASAS test and have started the process to receive their work permit in order to be considered for the class.

For more information, email Josee Castonguay at jcastonguay@lewistonpublicschools.org.

For more information about the fall workforce classes, email Mike Reagan at mreagan@lewistonpublicschools.org.

Check out upcoming area events!

LESSON 5: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Understand all the things that must be considered when designing a compensation and benefits package.

LESSON 6: EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY

Learn the ins and outs of complying with OSHA, protecting against workplace hazards, and investigating, recording, and preventing accidents and employee illnesses.

LESSON 7: THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT

Gain knowledge of employment law as well as an understanding of equal employment opportunity, avoiding discrimination, and what happens when an employee files an EEOC claim.

LESSON 8: MAKING HR DECISIONS

Learn how to make decisions based on various company growth strategies and how to use HRIS Software as well as job analysis as a tool for decision-making.

LESSON 9: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Learn the full spectrum of affirmative action, how to create an affirmative action plan, and information on the AAP you will need to know.

LESSON 10: DIVERSITY

Understand what diversity is and why it is a good thing in an organization as you learn to manage it and handle conflict.

LESSON 11: EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND DISCIPLINE

Learn the laws that protect employee rights and privacy and how to properly monitor and document behavior and discipline employees.

LESSON 12: TERMINATION

Understand the alternatives to firing as well as how to prepare for termination including proper separation agreements as well as what to do in the event of wrongful discharge.

LESSON 13: INVESTIGATIONS

Learn why it is so important to investigate problems as well as the steps of an effective investigation including preparing, conducting, and wrapping it up.

LESSON 14: MANAGING LABOR RELATIONS

Get a quick overview of the history of unions as you learn how they work and why employees join them.

LESSON 15: CREATING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE WORKPLACE

Learn how to ask employees for input and act on it, delegate authority, keep communication open, and continuously ask for feedback as you strive to develop a high-performance workplace.

LESSON 16: GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES

Understand the basics of staffing strategy, cultural differences, HR in other countries, choosing global employees, and issues faced by expatriates.

LESSON 17: RETENTION

Learn the top reasons employees leave a company and how you can encourage them to stay as well as the importance of succession planning.

LESSON 18: MOTIVATION, REWARDS, AND RECOGNITION

Find out fun ways to motivate workers and gain nine strategies for creating a great rewards program.

LESSON 19: PREPARING FOR THE PHR EXAM

Gain information on externships and internships as you review the basics of the PHR test and begin to study.

Program Highlights

Tuition & Aid

Tuition for graduate programs in education for the 2023-24 academic year is $554 per credit, or $1,662 per course. Deferment is available for employers who reimburse tuition and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Careers & Outcomes

Those with master’s degrees in literacy can pursue a variety of career paths in supporting students with their reading and writing skills. Graduates often hold positions as reading specialists within K-12 districts. Other career paths include working in adult education, academic publishing and assessment, or within writing centers in higher education.

Job Titles: Literacy Specialist, reading Specialist, Adult Education Instructor, Literacy Coach, Education Writer, Literacy Assessment Specialist, Literacy Curriculum Developer, Writing Center Coordinator, Educational Consultant

Pennsylvania reading Specialist Certification

Upon successful completion of the master's degree curriculum, students may apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for reading Specialist certification. Candidates interested in the certification must hold a valid Pennsylvania Instructional I or II teaching certificate.