@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.