Principal Training Center courses worth it?
-
TeacherGal
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 8:51 am
Principal Training Center courses worth it?
Are getting the Principal Training Center courses and eventually the certificate really worth the time, expense and travel? What about for people who don't have any principal licensing from anywhere? Thoughts?
Response
Absolutely not, not by any reasonable metric.
First, you earn the certificate after taking 4 courses, each course is about a week long, so there is certainly a time saving element.
Second, the certificate isnt worth anything. No more than anyone with a printer can print a principals certificate out themselves. The PTC isnt a regulating authority their certificate doesnt license you to do anything or provide any type of service in either the US or the UK (or anywhere else).
Third, the cost is grossly over priced. The cheapest cost is about USD$1200 (without any type of accommodation) for each course. If you want the graduate credit (up to 12 hours or the four courses needed for the PTC certificate) you pay an additional USD$450/course. For the same coin you could do an actual Masters (such as Portsmouth) in Ed.Ld, and receive actual credits and a degree. Then for about $500 you could take the SLLA (USD$450) and then apply for a DC administration license (USD$50). This doesnt include the cost of travel.
Fourth, the PTC has no field experience requirement. It also has no real assessment. If you attend and participate you complete the course.
The only way the PTC courses and certificate make any sense is for a leader in DE who is transitioning to IE and has someone else absorb the costs, than the courses would give you some insight into the differing challenges in IE.
First, you earn the certificate after taking 4 courses, each course is about a week long, so there is certainly a time saving element.
Second, the certificate isnt worth anything. No more than anyone with a printer can print a principals certificate out themselves. The PTC isnt a regulating authority their certificate doesnt license you to do anything or provide any type of service in either the US or the UK (or anywhere else).
Third, the cost is grossly over priced. The cheapest cost is about USD$1200 (without any type of accommodation) for each course. If you want the graduate credit (up to 12 hours or the four courses needed for the PTC certificate) you pay an additional USD$450/course. For the same coin you could do an actual Masters (such as Portsmouth) in Ed.Ld, and receive actual credits and a degree. Then for about $500 you could take the SLLA (USD$450) and then apply for a DC administration license (USD$50). This doesnt include the cost of travel.
Fourth, the PTC has no field experience requirement. It also has no real assessment. If you attend and participate you complete the course.
The only way the PTC courses and certificate make any sense is for a leader in DE who is transitioning to IE and has someone else absorb the costs, than the courses would give you some insight into the differing challenges in IE.
-
TeacherGal
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 8:51 am
Re: Principal Training Center courses worth it?
Any other good options to get principal certification without having to take time off work to complete it? If it could be completed in one year would be convenient. Or, start asap and finish spring of 2018.
Re: Principal Training Center courses worth it?
It may not sit right in our stomachs that the price does not justify the wooden plaque you get at the end but the PTC is hugely popular and courses are full every summer. I haven't done it myself but I know a lot of people who have and the people go to these courses usually hold important positions in top international schools.
So, I think, the dollar amount justifies itself to these benefits:
- Creating and forming a very influential network of friends
- Gaining understanding of the actual content of the leadership courses - people speak very highly of the course content and how it is delivered.
- Although not accredited or officially acknowledged, it is seen (and you can disagree with this psyguy!) as an advantage to have in applying for admin positions in schools. Especially if the school is a PTC member. There are a lot of schools that are PTC member -assess this list as you wish but there are some top schools in there - http://www.theptc.org/current-members/
So, I think, the dollar amount justifies itself to these benefits:
- Creating and forming a very influential network of friends
- Gaining understanding of the actual content of the leadership courses - people speak very highly of the course content and how it is delivered.
- Although not accredited or officially acknowledged, it is seen (and you can disagree with this psyguy!) as an advantage to have in applying for admin positions in schools. Especially if the school is a PTC member. There are a lot of schools that are PTC member -assess this list as you wish but there are some top schools in there - http://www.theptc.org/current-members/
Reply
@TeacherGal
You would need to tell us more about you? The general pathway is to obtain a masters and then after 2-4 years of experience (depending if you have evaluations or not) taking the SLLA exam (USD$450) and then applying for a DC administrator credential. You can even start earlier if you have only 2 years of experience by applying for the initial credential and then after completing an additional 2 years (for a total of 4) can then obtain the standard administrative credential. If you need a Masters Id advise looking in the UK for a Masters program. One year programs are common and many offer distance (online) delivery. My recommendation at this time is Uni Portsmouth:
(http://www.port.ac.uk/courses/education ... anagement/)
Their M.Sc can be done in two years, part time by distance at a total cost for the two years of about £4500.
@seinfeld
You would be wrong.
Its popular because its a club. Your fees are just affiliation membership fees. Whats not to like about them? You get a pretty certificate to hang on the wall after spending a couple summers in some really nice locals, whats not to like about Miami or Rome? These are leaders already in ISs that are getting a funded junket. Show me one in Fargo, North Dakota and well see how "popular" and "full" it is. Wich is part of the issue they didnt get into those positions or into leadership with a PTC certificate they were already in those positions or already in leadership. You look at those participants and they had proper credentials for leadership beforehand.
As to your points:
1) You dont know if they will like you or accept you or you will be a part of their click. You might not form any relationships or contacts. Your network may be the same before you started at the end of it. This is a HUGE cost compared to something like linkedin.
2) What do you expect them to do, trash talk their own affiliation and club? Their members of course they are going to say how great it is. Whats not to like how its delivered. You show up sit, listen, and do some case studies in group. Compared to lecture, notes, exams, and papers, what isnt there to like?
3) I absolutely disagree. Not that it wouldnt help a trained and credential leader more though leadership, but its not going to get you into leadership with an absence of everything else.
Its a VERY expensive nothing. Each course is USD$2285 without travel and accommodation. The grad credit from NJ is an additional USD$450/each, for a total of USD$2735/each. You need 4 courses for the certificate, thats USD$10940. This will give you 12 credts towards the 36 credit Masters leaving 24 credits. At TCNJ 1 credit is about $550 though a global institute or double that at general graduate rates. 24 credits at USD$550 is USD$13200 which dont include travel costs or internship fees or anything else. Thats a combined cost of USD$24140.
Lehigh Uni has a different structure the masters is 30 credits (6 less than TCNJ) but their Masters and Principal credential is 43 credits. You can get 18 of the 30 done through PTC. The tuition rate is about USD$525-$565/credit. In all cases the PTC course fees are higher than the straight tuition fees. Youre still looking at about USD$25K for the Masters programs not counting travel (or the additional hours for the leadership credential), and other fees. Uni Portsmouth (see above) entire program for 2 years USD$6K. SLLA exam USD$450, DC application fee USD$50 plus the cost of the CRB, about USD$6500.
Nothing about any of the PTC costs is an assurance of anything, including any type of leadership appointment opportunity.
You would need to tell us more about you? The general pathway is to obtain a masters and then after 2-4 years of experience (depending if you have evaluations or not) taking the SLLA exam (USD$450) and then applying for a DC administrator credential. You can even start earlier if you have only 2 years of experience by applying for the initial credential and then after completing an additional 2 years (for a total of 4) can then obtain the standard administrative credential. If you need a Masters Id advise looking in the UK for a Masters program. One year programs are common and many offer distance (online) delivery. My recommendation at this time is Uni Portsmouth:
(http://www.port.ac.uk/courses/education ... anagement/)
Their M.Sc can be done in two years, part time by distance at a total cost for the two years of about £4500.
@seinfeld
You would be wrong.
Its popular because its a club. Your fees are just affiliation membership fees. Whats not to like about them? You get a pretty certificate to hang on the wall after spending a couple summers in some really nice locals, whats not to like about Miami or Rome? These are leaders already in ISs that are getting a funded junket. Show me one in Fargo, North Dakota and well see how "popular" and "full" it is. Wich is part of the issue they didnt get into those positions or into leadership with a PTC certificate they were already in those positions or already in leadership. You look at those participants and they had proper credentials for leadership beforehand.
As to your points:
1) You dont know if they will like you or accept you or you will be a part of their click. You might not form any relationships or contacts. Your network may be the same before you started at the end of it. This is a HUGE cost compared to something like linkedin.
2) What do you expect them to do, trash talk their own affiliation and club? Their members of course they are going to say how great it is. Whats not to like how its delivered. You show up sit, listen, and do some case studies in group. Compared to lecture, notes, exams, and papers, what isnt there to like?
3) I absolutely disagree. Not that it wouldnt help a trained and credential leader more though leadership, but its not going to get you into leadership with an absence of everything else.
Its a VERY expensive nothing. Each course is USD$2285 without travel and accommodation. The grad credit from NJ is an additional USD$450/each, for a total of USD$2735/each. You need 4 courses for the certificate, thats USD$10940. This will give you 12 credts towards the 36 credit Masters leaving 24 credits. At TCNJ 1 credit is about $550 though a global institute or double that at general graduate rates. 24 credits at USD$550 is USD$13200 which dont include travel costs or internship fees or anything else. Thats a combined cost of USD$24140.
Lehigh Uni has a different structure the masters is 30 credits (6 less than TCNJ) but their Masters and Principal credential is 43 credits. You can get 18 of the 30 done through PTC. The tuition rate is about USD$525-$565/credit. In all cases the PTC course fees are higher than the straight tuition fees. Youre still looking at about USD$25K for the Masters programs not counting travel (or the additional hours for the leadership credential), and other fees. Uni Portsmouth (see above) entire program for 2 years USD$6K. SLLA exam USD$450, DC application fee USD$50 plus the cost of the CRB, about USD$6500.
Nothing about any of the PTC costs is an assurance of anything, including any type of leadership appointment opportunity.
-
TeacherGal
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 8:51 am
Re: Principal Training Center courses worth it?
Still sitting on the fence. Anyone else have something to add?
Reply
@TeacherGal
You need to tell us more about you and what your priorities are. Based on what you provided, you cant complete the PTC program in the time frame you specified. You need to complete 4 courses, and you cant do more than two each summer. The earliest you could possibly finish is the end of summer 2019. Whereas if you needed a leadership certificate now, if you have a Masters (and a Bachelors) and 2 years of teaching experience you can obtain a non-renewable 2 year initial administrative credential from DC, which you could have in hand for the current recruiting cycle. It would take you a day to get the CRB and organize the application and would cost you about USD$100.
if you are just looking for an organization to issue you an administration certificate you might want to look into the various faith based and religious organizations that offer credentials. ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) has a USD$75 application fee. For a day to organize the application you can obtain a Temporary Principal certificate valid for 2 years and is renewable. There are no requirements beyond having a bachelors degree.
(www.acsi.org/professional-development/certification)
Its no different than anything the PTC would issue you as far as validity or authority and would take a pittance of the cost (USD$75 vs. USD$11K, not counting travel costs). There are other faith based organizations as well offering different certificates.
You need to tell us more about you and what your priorities are. Based on what you provided, you cant complete the PTC program in the time frame you specified. You need to complete 4 courses, and you cant do more than two each summer. The earliest you could possibly finish is the end of summer 2019. Whereas if you needed a leadership certificate now, if you have a Masters (and a Bachelors) and 2 years of teaching experience you can obtain a non-renewable 2 year initial administrative credential from DC, which you could have in hand for the current recruiting cycle. It would take you a day to get the CRB and organize the application and would cost you about USD$100.
if you are just looking for an organization to issue you an administration certificate you might want to look into the various faith based and religious organizations that offer credentials. ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) has a USD$75 application fee. For a day to organize the application you can obtain a Temporary Principal certificate valid for 2 years and is renewable. There are no requirements beyond having a bachelors degree.
(www.acsi.org/professional-development/certification)
Its no different than anything the PTC would issue you as far as validity or authority and would take a pittance of the cost (USD$75 vs. USD$11K, not counting travel costs). There are other faith based organizations as well offering different certificates.