Certification FAQs

With the CETL^® certification, district technology leaders validate their skills and qualifications in building transformative learning environments. Want to start heading down the CETL^® path?

Still have unanswered questions? Contact certification@cosn.org.

Tabs Group

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What is a CETL?

What is the CETL® Certification Exam?
CETL® stands for Certified Education Technology Leader and represents the highest standards of excellence in the education technology industry. The CETL® certification exam is based on The Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO—representing the skill areas critical to today’s education technology leaders. The Framework, which was created and is kept up-to-date by two volunteer panels of education technology leaders, is divided into three primary areas:

Leadership and Vision
Understanding the Educational Environment
Managing Technology and Support Resources

Who are CETL® candidates?

K-12 district technology leaders who are or aspire to become key members of their organizations’ leadership teams. View a directory of CETL certified ed tech leaders here.

What are the skills and experiences of CETL® candidates?

Our candidates reflect the evolving role of CTOs in K-12 education; the responsibilities of the CIO or CTO have moved from being largely technical to being largely strategic, and CTOs must demonstrate skills in leadership and management, fiscal management, organization and culture, and business.

Education technology leaders come from diverse backgrounds, including instructional, technical, and the business sector. While each path fosters strengths, experience, and expertise to the role, it is rare that a CTO possesses the full range of knowledge and skills needed, as identified in the Framework, to help the district succeed and realize its mission and goals.

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Why get certified?

Why should I take the CETL®?

There are many reasons to be certified in your chosen career. For K-12 education technology leaders, earning the CETL certification demonstrates to your staff, superintendent, and other stakeholders that you have mastered the knowledge and skills needed to define the vision for and successfully build 21st-century learning environments in your school district.

Certification also helps keep you current in your field. Once certified, CETL® recipients are required to continue their education, ensuring that they stay up to date on new technologies and regulations affecting the K-12 Education technology space.

Further, certification can help you earn a promotion, a new job, and even a higher salary.*

What is the value in earning the CETL®?

In a 2013 survey by CoSN of CETL® earners, almost all (96%) of expected to re-certify, and 94% would recommend certification to colleagues within the K-12 industry.

The survey also showed that most (80%) of CETL® earners took the exam for added professional development. Almost 61% expected to advance their careers. They believe it will enhance their performance and ability to advance in the job or change jobs. Almost 85% of CETL® earners have used the Framework to determine additional professional development, and 64% have also used it to decide professional development for their departments (and 44% for their districts).

Learn more about why certification is valuable in employing certified technology leaders for school superintendents and industry leaders.

* A 2019 analysis of salary data demonstrated that on average those individuals with the CETL credential earn more than their counterparts without the credential.

Test

How do I get certified?

Eligibility

To apply for the CETL® exam, applicants must, at a minimum, have a bachelor’s degree plus four years of education technology experience. Education technology experience is defined as demonstrable experience in the three primary professional categories of the Framework, which are: Leadership & Vision; Understanding the Educational Environment; and Managing Technology & Support Services.

If the candidate does not have a bachelor’s degree, s/he must have at least seven years of demonstrable experience in education technology and appeal to the Certification Governance Committee, in writing, with an explanation of this experience and a signed recommendation from the candidate’s supervisor.

Exam Administration

How is the CETL® exam structured?

There are two parts to the exam, both based on the Framework. Part I of the exam is multiple choice, administered at Prometric Testing Centers located throughout the world. Part II of the exam is essay-based and graded by expert CTOs trained for consistency. Only those who pass Part I will be eligible to take Part II.

What does it cost to take the exam?
CoSN Member: $299 ($150 nonrefundable); retake fee: $200 for each exam part per retake. Nonmember: $499 ($180 nonrefundable); retake fee: $200 for each exam part per retake.

The initial $299/$499 dollar exam fees cover the entire exam (Parts I and II). A candidate must pass Part I to become eligible for Part II. If the candidate fails Part I, the retake fee will apply each time Part I is retaken. When a candidate passes Part I, s/he may take Part II at no additional cost. If the candidate fails Part II, the retake fee will apply for each retake.

Where is the CETL® exam administered?

Exams are administered throughout the United States at Prometric Testing Centers.

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How do I prepare?

How can I prepare effectively?

Review the Framework and take our online self-assessment and sample exam; all of these resources can be found on our exam preparation page.

We also encourage you to join a study group; these groups help candidates stay on a schedule and will help you tap into your colleagues’ expertise and support.

How long does preparation take, and are the study materials aligned to the test?

It varies; some individuals took the exam immediately after reviewing our prep materials, and some prepared for a year. Study groups, and most individual candidates, typically complete preparation in two to three months.

The Framework is the basis of both the exam content and our study materials; while no one resource will “teach to the test,” all materials are aligned.

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Recertification

The CETL® certification will expire three years after the date of issue. To remain certified, a CETL® is required to stay current in the CTO field by completing 60 hours of CoSN-defined continuing education activities (CEAs) or prepare to retake and pass the CETL® exam before the expiration of the certification. All CEAs must be tied to one or more of the 10 skill areas identified in the Framework. In addition, recertification activities must take place within the three-year certification cycle.