Center for Technical Education
Vocational-Technical Instructor Approval Sequence
The Center offers the following sequence of undergraduate competency-based courses to satisfy the 21-credit requirement of the Massachusetts Department of Education for vocational instructor approval. These courses focus on how to:- design and deliver appropriate lesson plans;
- effectively communicate with a wide range of students in terms of age, developmental stage, social, and cultural backgrounds;
- and elicit, evaluate, and use classroom feedback.
Upon passing the written practical examinations in his or her trade area, an individual is awarded a preliminary license and may be employed for five years as an instructor in a Massachusetts vocational-technical school. Note: A literacy test is required for individuals who seek a vocational-technical license.
To move from a preliminary license to a permanent license, instructors must have:
- Completed a one-year induction program.
- Worked for three years as a teacher under a preliminary license.
- Must have completed college courses as required.
The following seven licensure course sequence is strongly suggested. Each course carries three credits.
- OCC ED 218 - Seminar for the Beginning Vocational Technical Education Teacher (3 credits)
- OCC ED 219 - Managing Student Behavior in a Healthy and Safe Environment (3 credits)
- OCC ED 220 - Teaching Methods for Vocational Technical Education - Instructional Strategies (3 credits)
- OCC ED 221 - Teaching Methods for Vocational Technical Education - Education and Assessing the Vocational Technical Education Learner (3 credits)
- OCC ED 222 - Developing and Implementing a Standards-based Curriculum in Vocational Technical Education (3 credits)
- OCC ED 223 - Teaching Methods for Vocational Technical Education - Using Research-based Practices to Develop Effective Instructional Strategies (3 credits)
- OCC ED 224 - Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities in Vocational Technical Education (3 credits)
1991 & 2003 Pathway Courses
| "1991 Courses" | "2003 Courses" |
|---|---|
| Competency Based Vocational Education Curriculum Development - 3 credits | Developing an Implementing a Standards-Based Curriculum in Vocational Technical Education - 3 credits |
| Implementing a Competency Based Curriculum - 3 credits | Developing an Implementing a Standards-Based Curriculum in Vocational Technical Education - 3 credits |
| Teaching Methods: Instructional Strategies in Vocational Technical Education - 3 credits | Teaching Methods for Vocational Technical Education: Instructional Strategies - 3 credits |
| Teaching Methods: Educating the Vocational Technical Learner - 3 credits | Teaching Methods for Vocational Technical Education: Educating and Assessing the Vocational Technical Educational Learner - 3 credits |
| Students with Special Needs in Vocational Technical Education - 3 credits | Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities in Vocational Education - 3 credits |
| Management of the Vocational Technical Environment - 3 credits | Managing Student Behavior in a Healthy and Safe Environment - 3 credits |
| Brain Compatibility: Teaching and Learning - 3 credits | Teaching Methods for Vocational Technical Education: Using Research-Based Practices to Develop Effective Instructional Strategies - 3 credits |
| Seminar for the Beginning Vocational Technical Education Teacher - 3 credits | |
| Fundamentals of Vocational Technical Education - 3 credits | No Longer Required |
| Computerized Vocational Technical Curriculum Management - 3 credits | No Longer Required |
| Assessment Standards and Evaluation - 3 credits | No Longer Required |
| Integrated Education - 3 credits | No Longer Required |
| Supervised Practicum - 3 credits | No Longer Required |
Academic Requirements
The updated Massachusetts 2003 Regulations also mandate the new Vocational Technical Education Teachers must complete eighteen (18) credits of academic studies. See below for details:| Academic Studies | Credits |
|---|---|
| Three (3) college degree credits English Composition 101 or a higher level required. | 3 required |
| Three (3) college degree credits in a higher level English (oral communication would also be acceptable) such as English Composition 102, Technical Writing, Report Writing, Business Writing, Writing in the Professions, Advanced Writing, Current Themes in Literature. A higher-level English course that is based on the MA English Language Arts Curriculum Framework may be counted. | 3 required |
| Three (3) college degree credits in college mathematics 100 or a higher level (required) such as Mathematics 104, College Algebra I, Pre-Calculus, Analytical Geometry I, Math for Engineering technologies, Statistic I | 3 minimum |
| Three (3) college degree credits in college science 100 or a higher level(required) such as Biology I and II, Microbiology, Plane Science, Botany, Zoology, Soil Science, Ecology, Human Health, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Chemistry, Nutrition, Physics. | 3 minimum |
| Six (6) college degree credits in higher level college mathematics and/or higher level college science such as Algebra II, Biology II, Calculus. Higher level mathematics and science courses that are based on the MA Mathematics Curriculum Framework and the MA Science & Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework may be counted may be counted. Computer Science courses may be counted toward three of the six college degree credits in science and/or mathematics when a direct correlation exists between the course and the area of vocational licensure, and this correlation is clearly evident through the course description. | 6 |
