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Tags Posts tagged with "certification"

certification

Governor Shapiro is directing all state agencies, boards, and commissions to compile a catalog of the licenses, certificates, and permits they issue – including the statutory authority governing the length of time they must process applications and the application fee charged by each agency. Commonwealth agencies will have 90 days to send this information to the Governor’s Office, which will then review, analyze, and establish efficient application processing times for all occupational permits or licenses based on agency recommendations. Once those recommendations are put in place, if an agency does not respond to an applicant before the date-certain, the agency will be required to refund the application fee.

Under this Executive Order, the Governor’s Office will also conduct a review of the existing digital services that Pennsylvanians use to apply for licenses, certificates, and permits and work to modernize those application platforms and services to better serve Pennsylvanians.

Unpredictability and long wait times for Commonwealth-issued licenses, certificates, and permits can create unnecessary barriers for Pennsylvania workers and businesses. For example, an NPR analysis from 2021 found that Pennsylvania had some of the longest wait times in the country for issuing nursing licenses. More than half of the nursing applicants who applied in Pennsylvania that year waited at least three months to hear back.

In addition to nursing licenses, the Commonwealth issues hundreds of licenses, certificates, and permits, from barber and salon licenses to teacher certifications to business permits. Under the direction of the Governor, the Administration will work expeditiously to ensure Pennsylvanians get responses in a timely manner — and the Shapiro Administration will have real skin in the game. Governor Shapiro is making clear his Administration will be customer-service oriented and that state government will work harder to get them a response, so that they can pursue their dreams.

Read Executive Order 2023-07, Building Efficiency in the Commonwealth’s Permitting and Licensing Processes, here.

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ODP Announcement 22-119 provides information on the registration process for the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) February and March 2023 Virtual Quality Management (QM) Certification Classes. Key things to know about the virtual class:

  • Class size is limited to 28, and registration is on a first come, first serve basis. There is no wait list option, and registration will close 15 days prior to the start of a class.
  • Prerequisite modules are required to prepare learners for the class and must be completed prior to attending class. Completion of modules is tracked, and failure to complete all modules will prevent you from joining the virtual class.
  • Classes are held over 2 consecutive days, from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Participants must attend the entire time and complete the post-test with a score of at least 84% to obtain ODP QM certification status.

You must register for a training class by logging into MyODP and navigating to the 2023 Quality Management Certification Program — Virtual Training Course (Training > Quality Management > Quality Management Certification Program > 2023 Quality Management Certification Program — Virtual Training) or by visiting here.

Questions about the QM Strategy, the ODP QM Certification Program, or other questions related to QM can be sent to the ODP QM Inbox.

Attendees will learn how to develop an employer-focused approach to negotiating customized job descriptions on behalf of individuals with disabilities. Participants seeking certification are expected to commit approximately 40 hours of fieldwork with/on behalf of a learning partner under the guidance of Marc Gold & Associates (MGA) over the course of 4 months. This is the prerequisite training to complete certification through MG&A.
*Certification in Discovery is a prerequisite for seeking certification in Job Development.

When:
Daily, Online Zoom Meeting
October 3, 2022 – October 5, 2022
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: This training will be done completely online. Registrants must have a computer or laptop with a webcam. The training will use Zoom to host the conference. Registrants will not be able to join by phone.

Who Is This For: Parents and Families, Job Coaches and Job Developers, Supports Coordinators, School Personnel involved in Student Planning, OVR Counselors, and Transition Coordinators

Please review the flyer for registration information and course system requirements. For questions, please email Jen Hipps.

ODP Announcement 22-064 shares information regarding an online learning opportunity about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) offered through TechOWL. AAC Essentials is an online learning opportunity designed to increase your understanding of AAC.

There are four courses, each for a different audience:

  • Supports Coordinators;
  • AAC Users;
  • Family, Friends, and Direct Support Professionals; and
  • Administrators and Leaders.

Each course offers short lessons ranging from operating and troubleshooting AAC to encouraging AAC. In each lesson, there are buttons for you to ask questions and speak to a Speech-Language Pathologist from TechOWL directly.

These courses are free. Once the course is completed, participants will receive a certificate of completion. All lessons can be explored without completing the course. Training may be accessed through the TechOWL website.

The Arc of Pennsylvania is offering Employment Discovery training September 7–9, 2022. This 3-day training provides a comprehensive overview of Discovery (an alternative to traditional vocational assessments) and instruction on facilitating the Discovery process. For those seeking to become certified providers of Discovery through Marc Gold and Associates, it is the prerequisite face-to-face training to complete certification. Individuals not seeking certification will gain valuable information and insight and may attend as auditors of the course.

This course is for:

  • Job Coaches and Job Developers;
  • Supports Coordinators;
  • Parents and Families;
  • OVR Counselors;
  • Transition Coordinators; and
  • School Transition Teams.

Cost
Auditing — $200
Certification — $1200

Register
Visit The Arc of PA and complete the online registration form for Discovery.
Questions? For more information, please contact Anthony Chan.

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ODP Announcement 22-056 is to communicate that registration for the July – December 2022 Certified Investigator (CI) Initial Certification Course classes (also known as cohorts) is now open on MyODP. The Initial CI Certification Course was created to ensure that all incidents requiring an investigation receive a systematic review that meets established standards. In order to perform investigations, the investigator must successfully complete all requirements of the CI Initial Certification Course.

Due to continued concerns regarding COVID-19, the July – December 2022 CI Initial Certification cohorts of the course will be provided virtually rather than in person.

To register for the CI Initial Certification course:

  1. Log into your MyODP account.
  2. Go to the Certified Investigator Initial Certification Course Information web page.
  3. Visit the Registration web page.

If you do not have a MyODP account, visit the MyODP login web page and follow the instructions under “Is this your first time here?” If you are not sure if you have a MyODP account, contact MyODP Support or Kiyona Duncan. For assistance with registration, contact Kiyona Duncan. For questions regarding course content, contact Amanda Black.

Today we were joined by Joseph MacBeth and Dan Hermreck from the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals to learn about the E-Badge credentialing program for Direct Support Professionals. As many providers of IDD services are developing plans to use ARPA funds to assist DSPs in becoming credentialed, NADSP wanted to share the information about their established program. The slideshow from the presentation is available here.

You can also learn more about the E-Badge Academy at their website. During the webinar Joe referenced the document “Moving From Crisis to Stabilization,” also found on their website.

If you were unable to attend the webinar and are interested in viewing the recording, contact Carol Ferenz.

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professional’s Joseph Macbeth, President and Chief Executive Officer, & Dan Hermreck, Director of Certification & Accreditation, will be joining RCPA members to discuss NADSP’s program for advancing the professional role of DSPs while we have the opportunity in Pennsylvania to utilize ARPA funds to assist in this effort.

We are hosting the webinar Friday, April 22, 2022, from 10:00 am–11:00 am to discuss how NADSP can help your organization. You can register for the event here.

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals firmly believes that “quality is defined at the point of interaction,” and therefore the knowledge, skills, and values of direct support professionals are the key to providing quality supports. This webinar will explore NADSP’s credentialing program, known as the E-Badge Academy, through which the organization has attempted to measure these three components of quality and recognize DSPs who provide high quality support. The E-Badge Academy allows DSPs to earn electronic badges by describing how their work is consistent with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Core Competencies and the NADSP Code of Ethics. You will learn how it all works, including best practices, successful implementation, outcome measurement, and return on investment.

If you have any questions, please contact Carol Ferenz.