APTAC Annual Re-certification requirement

Predicated upon the constant and voluminous nature of the changes in the federal procurement arena, it has been determined that continuing education is mandatory for PTAP counselors to be able to support their PTAP Clients.

REQUIREMENTS:  The education committee has determined that each certified APTAC member (whether level 1, 2, or 3) will be required to acquire a minimum of ten (10) APTAC Training Credits (ATC) each calendar year in order to maintain their current certification level.  Each hour of training received at an APTAC national conference will earn 1 ATC.  Each hour of approved training attended that is not at an APTAC national conference will earn ½ ATC.  Included in the latter are APTAC sponsored regional counselor training events, most on-line federal agency procurement training and other traditional non-APTAC sponsored training offered by professional organizations and government agencies.   These credits may also be utilized to qualify the individual for the next higher level of certification (see certification information for evaluation criteria). 

Each Program Manager has the responsibility for overseeing the continuing education of his or her employees.  Program Managers should ensure that training is challenging and adds value to the trainee.

All training must be approved by the APTAC Credit Approval Committee via APTAC’s on-line Training Credit Approval process.  The Committee will evaluate the proposed training with regard to its relevance to the SCAA and compliance with the established guidelines and will determine the number of ATC’s to be granted for its completion.  The Committee does not assess the trainee’s eligibility to receive credit – only the Program Manager can determine if the proposed training provides sufficient challenge and value to that particular employee.    

Only Program Managers or their designees and Regional Directors may apply for Training Credit Approval and subsequently assign credit to individuals.   

GRACE PERIOD: In the event a member does not acquire the required 10 APTAC approved credits in a given year, a grace period of one additional year is authorized.  The next year the member will be required to submit the balance of 20 ATCs to maintain that level of certification (10 for the previous year, 10 for the current year).   (This is a grace period--no penalty.  Members could earn 7-8 ATCs in the first year which would require 12-13 ATCs in the second year for a total of 20.)  

SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATION:  If a certified APTAC member does not acquire and submit the minimum of 20 ATCs within the 2 year period, APTAC shall suspend said certification.  If certification reinstatement is requested, all required credits plus a penalty of 50% shall be required within a 12 month period from the date of suspension before re-certification can be considered.  (This means that 45 credits must be submitted within this 12-month period following suspension notification.)  The penalty would apply to the full three year total of 30 credits.  Any credit earned in the first two years of this cycle could count toward the 45 credit requirement.  Reinstatement of a suspended level 3 certification does not require the retaking of the exam.  If reinstatement does not occur within this 3 year window, certificates are permanently revoked and candidates must begin the certification process all over again.  If a member allows their certification to be revoked, they may not submit a new application for  certification evaluation until one year following the date their original certification was revoked.

 APPLICATION FOR RECERTIFICATION: All requests for re-certification must be submitted to APTAC c/o PHS, P.O. Box 1607, Orange, TX 77631-1607 by January 31 of each year.  This will allow a sufficient window for APTAC HQ and PRB actions prior to the spring conference.  Submit a cover letter requesting recertification along with documentation of ATCs earned.  APTAC headquarters will process these requests and have new certificates in your membership packets at the annual meeting in March or April of that year. The PRB will review those requests that do not appear to meet recertification requirements.  If not attending the conference, please provide a mailing address to which APTAC headquarters can mail your certificate.   

 HQ APTAC (PHS) is not responsible for archiving member documents.  Applicants should not submit requests in excess of 10 credits per year unless the member is applying for reinstatement of level 1, 2, or 3 certification.  Level certification inquiries should be addressed to the PRB.