Professional certification: defining certification.(Association News)

I may finally understand what it means to be a professionally certified music teacher. It has taken me much of my professional life to do so. Experience and intuition also lead me to say that there could remain much more to grasp.

Now, what is it that I at long last understand? The words "profession," "professional" and "professionalism" are tossed about profusely in MTNA literature and especially that of the MTNA Professional Certification Program. For example, some form of the word "profession" is used 13 times in the Certification Standards document alone. The Program issues one certificate, aptly called the "Professional Certificate." The MTNA Vision and Values and Code of Ethics make statements regarding a music teacher's professional commitment to students, colleagues and to society by using some form of the word 11 times. The current MTNA membership brochure defines the association as "A Community of Committed Music Professionals." What is the meaning of these words when used in the context of music teaching, music teachers and the association? What is a profession? Who is a professional? How do the answers to these questions connect or relate to MTNA Professional Certification? My answers are expressed at the risk of employing excessive use of selected verbiage.

The word profession may be defined as 1) a principal vocation, business or employment requiring knowledge of some area of learning, sometimes specialized learning or 2) a body of persons engaged in a vocation or business.

A professional engages in a profession as a means of earning a livelihood. Professionals practice professionalism by engaging in the conduct, purposes or qualities that characterize the profession. They are characterized as conforming to the standards of a profession. Certification is an attestation that a person has conformed to the standards of a profession.

In context, persons engaged in the profession of music teaching as a vocation or a business to earn a livelihood, can be considered professional music teachers. They may choose to become members of a professional music teachers association, a body of persons engaged in the teaching of music. Music teachers practice professionalism first and foremost by meeting the requirements for fulfilling standards set by and for the profession of music teaching.

The MTNA Professional Certification Program has defined standards for the profession of music teaching. The National Certification Commission, with the support of the MTNA Officers and Board of Directors, has worked diligently during the past six years developing and implementing a program based entirely on the standards that define what a competent music teacher should know and be able to do--Certification validates those standards.

Some common misconceptions about the meaning of certification, specifically MTNA Professional Certification, may exist among music teachers. It is not about having a college or university degree in music, although possessing one would surely help prepare a music teacher to meet certification requirements and standards. A degree validates a person as having met the requirements for a course of study as determined by a college or university. It does not signal that its holder is a professional; rather it signals that the holder is prepared to become a professional.