Vocational Administrative Director Certificate

Program code: VCAD-CERT

Career and technical directors are responsible for managing a diverse group of tasks, students, faculty, and staff. They are also instrumental in helping others achieve growth, satisfaction, and success with the ultimate objective of improving instruction. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires that all individuals who are employed as a director in a state-approved career and technical center (CTC) must hold state-issued administrator certificate. IUP is the approved provider for administrator certification and offers the program you need to become a certified career and technical administrator.

The IUP Vocational Administrative Director Certificate program is based on standards established by PDE and prepares individuals to assume the role of institutional leader for long-range planning, promoting community involvement, providing for sound business and financial management, and providing facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. 

The program is composed of graduate-level courses that are offered in a blended format with most of the instruction completed online and utilizing videoconferencing technology and includes 500 hours of authentic simulation and field or internship experiences which are embedded throughout the program. This requires students to work closely with a CTC administrator to complete the experiences or course assignments in a real-life setting.  This approach allows students to gain valuable field experience every step of the way, all while learning the related theory.

This 24-graduate-credit certificate program is designed to be completed in two years.

Completion of all PDE required tests and successful completion of all classes with 3.0 GPA are also required.

Students admitted into the Vocational Administrative Director Certificate Program who later wish to pursue the Master of Education in Career in Technical Administration must apply to the degree program before completing 15 credits. 

Admission Criteria:

• Meet the admissions requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
• Letter of support from career and technical administrator indicating willingness to assist candidate with field experiences.
• Resume indicating a minimum of three years of successful teaching experience in a CTC.