CoSN today announced that its Certified Education Technology Leader™ (CETL®) program has earned accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), making it the first program of its kind to do so.
 
The CETL® program is the only practice-based certification program that assists edtech leaders in integrating technology across their school districts by bridging technical knowledge, understanding of the educational environment, leadership and vision, and the management of technology and support resources. This designation serves as a symbol to colleagues and the public that a professional has voluntarily met the highest national standards for edtech leadership and has mastered the framework, skills, and knowledge needed to create 21st-century learning environments.
 
“We are pleased that the NCCA has recognized what the CoSN community has known all along: The CETL® program is the gold standard for identifying top-notch technology leaders in K-12 education,” said Pete Just, CETL, CoSN Board Chair, and Chief Technology Officer, MSD of Wayne Township (IN).
 
 
“CoSN has continued to review and enhance the CETL® program. Working to achieve accreditation by the NCCA exemplifies CoSN’s commitment to excellence,” said Jennifer Miller, CETL — Chair of the CoSN Certification Governance Committee and Director, Technology Support Services – Performance Excellence, Cypress Fairbanks ISD (TX). “Once again, CoSN staff and volunteers have worked hand in hand to ensure that the program consistently evolves to signify the highest level of achievement.”
 
Almost 750 edtech professionals in both the corporate and education communities have achieved the CETL® certification. In the process, the program has helped these individuals learn how to best manage the challenges of today’s everchanging technology landscape — including resilience to crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The program also serves as a professional development tool that can be used to guide edtech professionals’ study of new learning technologies: CETLs must demonstrate relevant continuing education activities every three years to maintain the credential.
 
“Edtech leaders who have successfully earned their CETL® designation have completed a rigorous, yet rewarding, process,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “We are thrilled that the NCCA recognizes the program’s high standards and these professionals’ hard work,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN.
 
 
To earn the five-year NCCA accreditation, CoSN demonstrated the CETL® program’s compliance with the Commission’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. CoSN joins an elite group of more than 130 organizations representing over 315 programs that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation.
Learn more about CoSN’s CETL® program at cosn.org/certification.