OVERVIEW

Renewal of MTNA Professional Certification means the Nationally Certified Teacher of Music maintains Standards I, II and III of the original certification and continues to fulfill and validate Standards IV and V. Standards IV and V are:

Standard IV: Professionalism and Partnerships

A. Contributing to the Profession
Competent music teachers contribute to the professional growth of their colleagues, their studios and schools, their professional associations and their profession at large.

B. Building Partnerships
Competent music teachers understand and appreciate the unique position that the family unit, colleagues and the community play in the musical education of students. They actively seek opportunities to build and nurture partnerships with them.


Standard V: Professional and Personal Renewal

A. Evaluating Professional Growth
Evaluating Professional Growth
Competent music teachers continually evaluate their personal teaching philosophy. They regularly assess their teaching and their professional growth to expand their knowledge and improve their teaching.

B. Continuing Education
Competent music teachers enhance their understanding of current pedagogical materials and methods, technology and business management through continuing education.

Certification renewal is the most important and dynamic element in continued professional development, education and leadership. Renewal candidates should be involved in professional activities related to music performance, teaching, educational development of students and promotion of music in the community. The following renewal Options 1 and 2 are for all candidates; renewal Option 3 is for full- or part-time college or university faculty.

• Option 1: Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points
• Option 2: Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities
• Option 3: Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities

Four categories of professional renewal activities for fulfilling Standards IV and V provide the basis for the three renewal options. Categories 1 and 2 fulfill Standard IV; Categories 3 and 4 fulfill Standard V.

• Category 1: Contributing to the Profession
• Category 2: Building Partnerships
• Category 3: Evaluating Professional Growth
• Category 4: Continuing Education

The categories of renewal activities listed above are meant to outline acceptable renewal activities. For a detailed list of activities that meet each standard, click here. A minimum of five (5) professional renewal activities or points must be obtained from renewal activities listed in Categories 1 and 2 (Standard IV) and a minimum of five (5) activities or points from renewal activities listed in Categories 3 and 4 (Standard V).

Renewal candidates with other music- or education-related activities may submit to the National Certification Commission those activities for consideration. Requests for these types of activities should be sent to MTNA for pre-approval to simplify the process.


PROFESSIONAL RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS

• Option 1: Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points
  Fifteen (15) points must be earned during the five-year period preceding the renewal expiration date, with a minimum of five (5) renewal activities points in Standard IV (Categories 1 and 2, Renewal Activities) and five (5) points in Standard V (Categories 3 and 4, Renewal Activities). Use the Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form to document and track professional renewal activities points. Professional renewal activities points must reflect the area of music performance and teaching in which certification is held. You may validate professional renewal points by using transcripts imprinted with an official college/university seal of authenticity, official letters, rosters of officers, printed programs, receipts, and signed and dated adjudicator evaluations.
• Option 2: Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities
  Submit documents and materials in portfolio form that validate a minimum of fifteen (15) renewal activities in which you were involved during the five-year period preceding the renewal expiration date, with a minimum of five (5) renewal activities in Standard IV (Categories 1 and 2, Renewal Activities) and five (5) renewal activities in Standard V (Categories 3 and 4, Renewal Activities). Materials and documents included in the portfolio must reflect the area of music performance and teaching in which certification is held. You may validate professional renewal activities in your portfolio by using transcripts imprinted with an official college/university seal of authenticity, official letters, rosters of officers, printed programs, brochures, and signed and dated adjudicator evaluations and so forth.
• Option 3: Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities
  Submit an Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities Form, signed and verified by a college/university administrator, that your faculty evaluation credentials and professional renewal activities have met the requirements for fulfilling Standards IV and Standard V during the five-year period preceding the renewal expiration date. Professional renewal activities must reflect the areas of music performance and teaching in which certification is held.

PROFESSIONAL RENEWAL PROCEDURE

Maintain a file of professional renewal activities. Keep certificates, transcripts, official letters, rosters of officers, printed programs, receipts and signed and dated adjudicator evaluations to validate those activities or points.

Record renewal activities points for Option 1 on a Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form. Use only those renewal activities for which you have evidence of completing. Record activity, date and acquire the necessary signatures.

Notice of renewal from MTNA will be sent during the fifth year to renewal candidates along with the Guidelines for the Renewal of MTNA Professional Certification that includes a renewal application form and a Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form and/or an Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities Form.

Send a completed renewal application form and a non-refundable renewal fee (See Certification Fee Schedule) with one of the following three options:

• Option 1. Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form with validation of points
• Option 2. A Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (materials and documents
• Option 3. A completed and signed Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities Form from a college/university administrator to MTNA Professional Certification, 441 Vine Street, Suite 3100, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3004.

Renewal of the MTNA Professional Certification certificate is required by July 1 of the fifth year following the year of certification or renewal. Postmark must be on or before July 1 of the year in which renewal is due to avoid a delinquent fee. Certification renewal expires sixty days beyond July 1 of the renewal year after which time the NCTM is not in good standing or entitled to any of the privileges of certification.
NCTMs not in good standing may be reinstated by submitting a letter requesting reinstatement, a completed renewal application form, the renewal fee, and a delinquent fee for each year of delinquency with one of the following three options:

• Option 1. A validated Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form for the five years preceding the delinquency.
• Option 2. A Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (documents and materials) for the five years preceding the delinquency.
• Option 3. A completed and signed Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities Form for the five years preceding the delinquency.

Upon the third successful renewal, an NCTM receives the Permanent Professional Certificate. Teachers holding the Permanent Professional Certificate must renew this certificate every five years with application and payment of the renewal fee, but will not be required to submit Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points, a Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (materials and documents) or Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities from a college/university administrator.


Permanent Professional Certificate


MTNA Professional Certification will become permanent upon the third successful renewal with a completed application form, payment of renewal fees and either:

1. A validated Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form
2. A Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (materials and documents) 
3. A completed and signed Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities form.

Permanent Certification recognizes that these NCTMs have met and maintained the MTNA Professional Certification Standards for a minimum of fifteen (15) years.

Renewal of the Permanent Professional Certificate will be on the fifth (5th) year following the year the Permanent Professional Certificate was granted. There will be a payment of a renewal fee with a completed application form; however, no Documentation of Professional Renewal Activities Points Form or Portfolio of Professional Renewal Activities (documents and materials) or Administrative Verification of Professional Renewal Activities Form will be required.