The CETL® program is the only practice-based accredited certification program available to education technology leaders that bridges technical knowledge, understanding of the educational environment, leadership and vision, and the management of technology and support resources needed to integrate technology across the curriculum to advance student outcomes.
The CETL® credential is a true measure of today’s education technology leaders, identifying those who have mastered the framework skills and knowledge needed to bring 21st-Century skills to schools. The CETL® program is also a professional development tool that can be used to guide edtech leaders' study of learning technologies. This certification requires satisfaction of eligibility criteria, passage of a rigorous multiple-choice exam, adherence to a Code of Conduct, and a recertification process every three (3) years.
To date, over 800 education technology leaders, in school systems and other education organizations around the world, and in companies serving those education organizations, have passed this rigorous program and earned their certification. More than half of CETL® certified educational technology leaders hold cabinet-level positions within their education organizations.
CoSN has been actively promoting the value of the CETL® to state departments of education and education service agencies in the USA through the State Partnership Program. CETL® Partnerships allow states to provide scholarships to their educational technology leaders for preparing for and taking the CETL® exam. In exchange, these states show their commitment to 21st-Century learning in their districts and are recognized for this forward-thinking commitment. CoSN also partners with educational service agencies to offer professional development and CETL® certification exam fees at reduced rates. In sum, the CETL® provides independent validation of the competencies necessary for success as an education technology leader, empowering employers to make informed decisions between candidates with diverse backgrounds.
A Review of State Licensure Models
A toolkit prepared for CoSN State Chapter Leaders
Executive Summary
School System Technology Leaders have a variety of responsibilities that are critical to the
everyday function of the school and student learning. The purpose of this research project is to
explore the edtech certification landscape in 50 states to discover what certification states have
already adopted, their legal process for adding certifications and attitudes toward certification
at the Department of Education level. The methodology used was a study of state Department
of Education websites and short conversations with certification staff in those Departments of
Education. This report and toolkit was made possible with the support of the Blaschke Fund.
