Home> Instructional Technology Programs > Library Media Certification Only >Certification Information for Media Specialists

Certification Information for Media SpecialistS

Introduction

 This information is for individuals expressing interest in the Media Specialist Certification Program in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology. This program is designed for individuals who have obtained a Master’s Degree or Education Specialist Degree in another program area and are now interested in becoming eligible for Media Specialist Certification. Initial certification in this area is generally at the Master’s level (S-5); there is no certification at the baccalaureate level. Individuals who hold an Education Specialist degree who complete all of the requirements for initial Media Specialist certification will be eligible to be certified at the S-6 level.

Certification Evaluation

The program of study required for the Professional Service Media Specialist certification varies depending upon what courses have been completed in previous programs. A review of all previous coursework will be compared with the required courses as listed on the attached pages to determine an individualized certification plan leading to the Media Specialist Professional Service certificate. Relevant work experiences, similar courses, or other substantive professional activities may be considered by the evaluator to satisfy the areas of competency required by the Professional Standards Commission. Students are expected to provide all college transcripts and any other documentation needed to verify which expectations have been met and which have not.

In order to begin the process of transcript evaluation, students should contact the Office of Field Placement and Certification in the College of Education (229.249.2786 or email  brwhitmer@valdosta.edu ) and request a Certification Evaluation Form. The office will begin the process of transcript/record review for certification requirements; there is a $35 filing fee for this service. The process of review will take place in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology and will be completed by a designated Media Specialist Certification Advisor.

Advising

A Media Specialist Certification Advisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology will examine the transcripts and records of each student and write an individualized program of study (POS). The POS will list courses needed, indication of any past courses or professional experiences applied to PSC requirements, indication of Georgia Technology Proficiency Requirement status, and Level of Certification currently held. Non-certified candidates must demonstrate proof of liability insurance, a criminal background check, and a passing score on GACE Basic Skills Test (or proof of exemption). This program of study is valid for three years. The Media Specialist Certification Advisor will communicate the plan to the student through a letter that addresses all of the above requirements. 

The student should review the plan and communicate the intention to pursue the certification to the Media Specialist Certification Advisor. The student should then work with the advisor to develop a long-range schedule for completing the required courses. The student should maintain regular contact with the advisor throughout the program so that correct course registration is completed and course schedule changes may be communicated in a timely manner.

Certification Test Requirements

The Library Media certificate requires successful completion of the GACE Media Specialist Content Assessment Tests 101 and 102. Students should take the test at or toward the end of coursework. Registration materials and information about the test is available at the Georgia Professional Standards Commission web site: www.gapsc.com.

Required Areas of Competency

The Library Media Option of the Instructional Technology program offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology is an approved program for preparation of Media Specialists by the authority of the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Certification-only students are not required to complete all of the courses in the program; however, they must take courses that address all of the following areas of competency required by the PSC. If no such courses appear on the transcript, those courses will be included in the POS.

  • Coursework (undergraduate or graduate) addressing the needs of diverse learners is required.
  • Coursework (undergraduate or graduate) in children’s and adolescent literature is required. Since Media Specialist certification is at the K-12 level, knowledge of literature in that full range is required.
  • Coursework (graduate) in P-12 curriculum is required. Since Media Specialist certification is at the P-12 level, knowledge of curriculum in that full range is required. 
  • Coursework (graduate) in instructional design is required.
  • Coursework (graduate) in information resources and services (i.e., P-12 media center reference, collection development, information retrieval, evaluation of information, information literacy, copyright and ethics) is required. 
  • Coursework (graduate) in bibliographic organization (i.e., P-12 media center cataloging, classification, resource sharing, database maintenance) is required. 
  • Coursework (graduate) in computer and network technology (i.e., P-12 media center standards, software and hardware selection, maintenance, repair, implementation) is required.
  • Coursework (graduate) in administering school media centers (i.e., professionalism, P­12
  • Internship (graduate) consisting of supervised field experiences in administering P-12 media centers is required. 
  • Evidence that the Georgia Technology Proficiency requirement has been met. If no such evidence exists, the student will be advised to take a course that has been approved to address the requirement, or to take the test-out option available online.
  • If not certified, evidence of liability insurance, criminal background check and GACE Basic Skills text or exemption is required before beginning coursework.

Library Media Certification Only Program of Study

Certification Steps

  1. Student satisfactorily completes all coursework and internship designated by program of study.
  2. Student takes an passes the GACE Library Media Content Assessment Tests 101 and 102.
  3. Student contacts Office of Field Placement and Certification (OFPC) in the VSU College of Education (229.249.2786; email brwhitmer@valdosta.edu) to request paperwork for certification application.
  4. Student returns completed paperwork to OFPC along with a copy of GACE Library Media Content Assessment Tests 101 and 102 results.
  5. Student notifies Advisor of intent to apply for certification.
  6. Advisor prepares two copies of a packet including Certification Requirements Completion form and completed copy of the program of study.
  7. Advisor sends one copy of the packet to the Office of Field Placement and Certification and files the other packet in the advising folder.
  8. Advisor turns in advising folder to department secretary for placement in the inactive file.
  9. OFPC assembles the certification package including paperwork, GACE Library Media Content Assessment Tests 101 and 102 results, official transcript printed from Banner.
  10. OFPC submits the certification package to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC)
  11. PSC sends student notification and documentation of certification.