Testing Process

These exams can be taken at Bethel or through an external authorized Certiport testing center.  Certiport.com/locator can help you find an external site.  If you would like to take the exams at Bethel, please email our testing coordinator at whiste@bethel.edu.

Study Resources

• The MOS Exams are currently only supported in a Windows environment. The testing at Bethel will occur on Windows computers. If you are used to MS Office on a Mac you should spend time ensuring you are familiar with the objectives below on a Windows computer.
• Bethel provides student access to Lynda.com through lynda.bethel.edu. This is a great resource on a wide variety of topics. There are Lynda courses for Microsoft Office Specialist test preparation including a Word 2016 course, PowerPoint 2016 course, and Excel 2016 course.
• Microsoft Office Specialist Study materials can also be located at bookstores or some libraries.
• You can also find material on:
• For individual test Objectives:

Fees

• The MOS Exams are currently only supported in a Windows environment. The testing at Bethel will occur on Windows computers. If you are used to MS Office on a Mac you should spend time ensuring you are familiar with the objectives below on a Windows computer.
• Bethel provides student access to LinkedIn Learning. This is a great resource on a wide variety of topics. There are LinkedIn Learning courses for Microsoft Office Specialist test preparation including a Word 2019 course, PowerPoint 2019 course, and Excel 2019 course.
• Microsoft Office Specialist Study materials can also be located at bookstores or some libraries.

Fees

The test fee is $25 per test ($75 required for all 3 tests). Payment of the test fee must be made when registering for the test. No test can be taken unless this fee is paid. Payment must be made with a credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express only). Sorry, no personal checks or cash.

Test Requirements

Current & valid picture ID: driver's license, passport, or Bethel identification card. Confirmation email sent to your bethel.edu email address showing payment for the assessment(s). You must be a Bethel Student, Faculty or Staff to take this assessment.

Accommodations

Bethel University is committed to creating access to all students. For test accommodations see the procedure and submit your request.   

Cancellation Policy

Exam cancellations less than 48 hours before the test or lack of attendance at exams are considered non-refundable. To cancel or re-schedule prior to 48 hours please contact the testing coordinator at whiste@bethel.edu or 651.638.6573.

Questions?

Contact our testing coordinator at 651.638.6573.

Registration

Register Now

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 memorizing 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 memorizing specialists in training, the program also requires 5 core courses from the Wilson memorizing 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 memorizing or have language-based disabilities.

For PA memorizing Specialist certification, students must complete the PA Praxis test memorizing 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 memorizing 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 memorizing Specialist certification program is offered 100% online. You can get started by filling out the Drexel Online application.

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:

What Is A memorizing Specialist?

A memorizing specialist is an educational professional who works with individuals that struggle to gain or Improve literacy skills. Working primarily with children at the grade school level, memorizing specialists use a variety of diagnostic tools to identify literacy challenges and to determine the types of instruction that will be needed to help young students become confident readers and writers. These professionals work with teachers and school systems to develop literacy curricula and tools for teaching memorizing in the classroom setting. memorizing specialists may also work with older children and adolescents, as well as students learning English as a second language (ESL) or those with learning disabilities. Becoming a memorizing specialist requires a specialized advanced degree or certificate and the development of specific skills to help students at all levels become proficient in memorizing and provide other literacy interventions.

What Does a memorizing Specialist Do?

Reading specialists are responsible for several tasks that support student success in memorizing and writing. Responsibilities include working one-on-one with students on phonetics, word identification, and memorizing comprehension, with small groups of students who experience similar needs, and with those experiencing memorizing challenges, like dyslexia. memorizing specialists also collaborate with classroom teachers to develop literacy curricula, partner in the creation of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and conduct ongoing assessments of students’ progress.

There are five common roles memorizing specialists play within educational systems:

• Specialist – A memorizing specialist will evaluate students who are having difficulty memorizing and writing and will plan and implement targeted strategies for improving those skills.
• Interventionist – Many memorizing specialists work one-on-one with specific students who require more support than can be offered in a classroom setting. They develop tailored literacy strategies for individual students and provide a learning environment for students who may feel lost in group instruction.
• Coach – memorizing specialists often coach teachers on effective tools for teaching memorizing and writing, along with strategies for supporting students who struggle in those areas.
• Professional Development Lead – memorizing specialists may conduct professional development sessions designed to enhance school- or district-wide literacy programs and Improve literacy outcomes at all grade levels.
• Curriculum Reviewer – As schools adopt new curricula or update existing curricula, memorizing specialists often participate in curriculum committees to ensure that curricula meet the literacy needs and goals of the school.

What Is the Difference Between a memorizing Teacher and memorizing Specialist?

Reading teachers and memorizing specialists have many of the same responsibilities. Both types of professionals work with students to Improve memorizing fluency and comprehension and assist students with grammar, spelling, and phonetics. memorizing teachers work with students at all grade and skill levels. In contrast, certified memorizing specialists usually work with students in grade schools and are specially trained to work with students with learning disabilities and those struggling with memorizing at their grade level.

What Skills Do You Need to Be a memorizing Specialist?

To become a successful memorizing specialist, individuals must possess and be able to demonstrate a passion for memorizing and teaching, and other key skills that lead to effective strategies for improving students’ memorizing and writing. Beyond direct service to students, memorizing specialists must also have the skills to work with parents, schools, and school districts to develop and sustain meaningful literacy programs.

• Critical Thinking – it’s important for memorizing specialists to have a deep understanding of literacy theories and practices and be able to think critically about what theories and practices might be relevant to an individual student’s intervention strategy.
• Assessment – Successful memorizing specialists should have an intricate knowledge of evaluation methodologies in order to assess literacy programs and to implement program improvements.
• Instruction – Many memorizing specialists have teaching experience, and strong instructional skills are critical in providing seamless support as students transition between the regular classroom and a specialized literacy program.
• Leadership – memorizing specialists must be able to lead literacy programs and professional development activities for schools and districts and serve as lead resources for parents and school communities.
• Communication – memorizing specialists must be able to effectively communicate intervention strategies to the students with whom they work and be able to clearly articulate challenges and successes with parents, teachers, and other members of the learning community.
• Patience and compassion – When working with students with learning disabilities and those struggling with memorizing and writing, patience and compassion are critical qualities, as the journey to improving literacy skills may take time.

How Long Does It Take to Become a memorizing Specialist?

If an individual does not have a state teaching certificate already then an aspiring memorizing specialists should expect to devote several years earning the required degrees and certification. For example, the first four years are spent earning a bachelor’s degree in education, literacy, reading, or another relevant field to become certified as a classroom teacher. Once an individual is a certified teacher, a memorizing specialist certification can be accomplished within 1-2 years. The length of certification programs varies; Drexel’s 31-credit reading specialist certification program can be completed in about 15 months.

How to Become a memorizing Specialist in 7 Steps

In most cases, memorizing specialists need a bachelor’s degree in education, teaching experience (is often preferable), and a memorizing specialist certificate. Considering all levels of required education, training, and field experience, individuals can expect to become certified memorizing specialists in six or seven steps.

1. Bachelor’s degree – Aspiring memorizing specialists must earn a bachelor’s degree in education, literacy, reading, or a related field that prepares individuals for certification in teaching.
2. Student teaching experience – While pursuing a bachelor’s degree, individuals can complete a student teaching field placement and gain critical real-world experience in the classroom. Standards and requirements for student teaching positions vary by state and school district.
3. Certification test and teaching license – Each state conducts its own teacher certification examination and has its own requirements for obtaining a teaching license. Individuals should consult with their state’s board of education for specific requirements. Generally, individuals must meet minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements and complete a series of background checks.
4. Classroom teaching experience – Aspiring memorizing specialists may pursue a postgraduate certificate or advanced graduate degree while gaining important teaching experience at the same time.
5. Master’s degree (state by state) – Some states require a master’s degree for memorizing specialist certification, so individuals should consult with their state’s board of education. Master’s degree programs offer additional, in-depth instruction on literacy theories, application of theories in the classroom, student assessment, and evaluation of curricula.
6. Complete reading specialist certification program and exam – Each state conducts its own memorizing specialist certification examination. In Pennsylvania, to become a certified memorizing specialist, individuals must complete a certification program and complete the PA Praxis test memorizing Specialist (Test Code #5301/0301) with passing score of 164. In many instances, credit hours accrued through a memorizing specialist certification program can be counted towards a master’s degree.
7. Apply for memorizing specialist jobs – Open positions may also be listed as Literacy Coach, memorizing Coach, memorizing Intervention Teacher/Specialist, or memorizing Instructor/Teacher. Individuals may also choose to remain in their teaching positions but use their training as memorizing specialists to enhance their classroom instruction.

Are memorizing specialists in Demand?

Reading specialists are in demand within the overall job market, because literacy is a critical component of academic success, and most K-12 schools will need the support of memorizing specialists to meet specific literacy benchmarks. The job outlook for memorizing specialists is positive. For instructional coordinators and special education teachers, roles similar to memorizing specialists, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 4-7% job growth between 2021-2031.

How Much Does a memorizing Specialist Make?

The average annual salary for a memorizing specialist is $55,248 according to Payscale.com. memorizing specialists typically have a salary similar to that of special education teachers and instructional coordinators, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary is $61,820 for special education teachers and $63,740 for instructional coordinators. Annual salaries for this profession will vary based on location, educational level, and years of experience. And because memorizing specialists can pursue a range of careers – from working in schools and with school districts to develop curricula to consulting for the private sector and textbook publishing companies – salaries will be as equally varied.

Become A memorizing Specialist with Drexel University’s School of Education

The School of Education’s Reading Specialist Certification program at Drexel prepares students to work with individuals with a range of memorizing abilities and needs. The program’s coursework enables students to meet Pennsylvania’s requirements for professional competencies for memorizing specialists, and it’s one of the few select programs in the region that offers courses from the Wilson memorizing System®, a pioneer and leader in the science of memorizing and literacy education. Students will learn effective memorizing strategies, and become exceptionally skilled and qualified to support students with memorizing needs and provide literacy leadership and coaching to teachers and schools.

Drexel’s memorizing Specialist Certification program is offered 100% online. Get started by requesting more information or by completing the Drexel Online application.

Location: online

The Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) endorsement qualifies already licensed teachers to teach in a special education setting for students in kindergarten through age 22.

This endorsement is offered through the WIU School of Education for undergraduate students, graduate students, and non-degree seeking graduate students.

The LBS1 endorsement at WIU, approved by ISBE, consists of four courses (13 semester hours).

• SPED 510 The Exceptional Individual (3 s.h.). Most applicants have already taken such a course at the undergraduate level, which could transfer. A review of your transcripts will determine if you need to take WIU's introductory course in exceptional learners.
• SPED 551 Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities (3 credit hours)
• SPED 515 Diagnostic Assessment for Individuals with Exceptionalities (4 credit hours)
• SPED 552 Instructional Methods for K-6 Learners with Disabilities (3 credit hours), or  SPED 553 Instructional Methods for Secondary Learners with Disabilities (3 credit hours).

An LBS1 endorsement can be added to any Professional Educator License. Further questions on any endorsements and grade levels should be directed to Tammy Wilson, WIU's Licensure Officer, TS-Wilson@wiu.edu.

After taking the courses, you must pass the state content exam, Learning Behavior Specialist Test # 290. http://www.il.nesinc.com/Home.aspx

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the School of Graduate Studies
• The transcript from your highest degree granting institution, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. This can be uploaded this during the only application process, emailed to Grad-Office@wiu.edu, or mailed to the School of Graduate Studies, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455
• A valid U.S. teaching certificate

Quick Facts

• All classes are online
• Designed to meet individual educational needs and goals
• Addresses Illinois and Iowa special education endorsement requirements. Other states will need approval from a local state education agency.
• Can be completed in 2-3 semesters

Photo posed by model: Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock

Three councils have been selected to test giving responsibility for child protection cases to specialist social workers over the next two years.

Dorset, Lincolnshire and Wolverhampton will also trial merging targeted early help with child in need teams within a new family help service, as part of the Department for Education (DfE’s) proposed children’s social care reforms.

The three authorities are the first group of an expected 12 “pathfinders” testing out the families first for children model set out in the DfE’s draft strategy, Stable Homes, Built on Love, issued in February.

Based on the proposals of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, this would involve:

• Establishing family help services to provide families in need with multidisciplinary support designed to resolve the issues they face without the need for more intervention, reduce stigma and remove the bureaucracy of stepping cases up and down between targeted early help and child in need.
• Enabling practitioners other than social workers to hold child in need cases – as defined by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 – removing the prohibition on them doing so set by statutory safeguarding guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.
• Having specialist child protection lead practitioners co-work cases with family help teams from the point a local authority initiates a child protection enquiry.

Concerns over safeguarding risks and retention

The reforms are controversial, with the British Association of Social Workers and Ofsted having raised concerns about the safeguarding risks arising from removing the requirement for social workers to hold child in need cases.

Meanwhile, both Ofsted and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services have voiced misgivings about the impact of the lead child protection practitioner role on social work retention, in the context of mounting vacancy rates in local authority children’s services.

In its response to Stable Homes, Built on Love, the ADCS said social workers had shared concerns about “the high stakes nature of such a role, particularly if a tragedy sadly occurs”.

“High end child protection work is hard to sustain over long periods of time, it is emotionally taxing and there are few guarantees it will result in practitioners staying in frontline practice,” it added.

The three pathfinder authorities are all rated good (Dorset and Wolverhampton) or outstanding (Lincolnshire) by Ofsted and all have social work vacancy rates below the national average of 20%, as of September 2022, with Dorset’s being 13.8%, Lincolnshire’s 15.6% and Wolverhampton’s 17.6%.

In relation to the number of child protection plans per 10,000 children, as of March 2022, Lincolnshire’s (25.6) was well below the national average of 42.1, Wolverhampton’s was around the England-wide figure (42.3) and Dorset’s was above it (47.7).

Family network pilots

The DfE has also selected seven councils to pilot the use of so-called family network support packages to enable wider family members to step in to prevent children entering the care system when there are risks to them at home. This was also proposed by the care review.

Brighton and Hove, Sunderland, Gateshead and Telford and Wrekin will start their family network pilots this month (July), and Staffordshire, Hartlepool and Hammersmith and Fulham will do so in spring 2024.

The news comes with a recent evaluation having found that using family group conferences (FGCs) – a form of family network decision making – reduced the risk of children going into care 12 months after families entered pre-proceedings.

Meanwhile, councils would be encouraged to refer families to FGCs from early help onwards, under proposed changes to Working Together, which are currently out to consultation.

The 12 families first for children pathfinders and seven family network pilots will receive £45m in funding overall up to March 2025, with £7.8m of this allocated to the latter.

ADCS president John Pearce said the announcement was a “positive step”, but said it was imperative for the learning from the pilots and pathfinders to be shared with the rest of the sector as quickly as possible.

“The earlier we work with, and provide support to, vulnerable children and families to help them overcome the issues they face, and to stay together safely where possible the less impact these challenges will have on their lives but also on society,” said Pearce. “While the investment announced today is welcome, we continue to need a long-term equitable funding solution for children’s services so that all children and families can thrive, wherever they live.”

DfE still looking for regions to test care co-operatives

The department is still looking for two regions to test its plan to regionalise the commissioning of care placements within so-called regional care co-operatives, which would be collectives of local authorities.

RCCs are designed to overcome the challenge of individual councils being too small – and having too few children – to be able to meaningfully shape the services providers offer and ensure that they meet need and are value for money.

The DfE has said that, by operating at much greater scale than councils, RCCs would be much better able to forecast need, and commission sufficient placements, in the right places, to meet it.

It would also be much easier to share learning, good practice and information about the cost and quality of providers between 20 RCCs, compared with 153 councils, improving the quality of commissioning.

However, the ADCS said last month that, while there were “varying degrees of interest in taking up a RCC pathfinder opportunity”, at present, “no region seems to be interested in adopting the approach as outlined by DfE”.

In a separate paper, the association voiced “significant reservations” about the proposal’s capacity to address the challenge of there being insufficient placements of the right kind and quality for children in care.

The association said creating RCCs would be “costly and time consuming” and “may result in a mass exist of providers”, such was the current fragility of the care placements market.

The DfE said the RCC pathfinders would “enable a test and learn approach to find the most effective way of implementing this reform, doing so in conjunction with local government and the children’s social care sector”.