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FAQs
About the Division
1. What is the Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education?
2. Where is the Division located?
3. How do I get there?
4. Where do I park?
5. Can I get a parking pass?
6. What are Division office hours?
Professional-Technical Certification
7. What are the certification requirements for professional-technical educators?
8. Where can I get the certification application form?
9. Do I need to get finger printed?
10. What does it cost to get certified?
11. What must I do to renew my current certificate?
12. What information do I need to attach to make my certification application complete?
13. Where do I send my completed application form?
10 D Forms
14. Why do I get other instructors information instead of mine?
15. What if I am denied access?
16. What if I don't know how to complete the forms?
17. What if I have lost or misplaced my password?
Start a PTE Program
18. How can our school start a new program?
About the Division
1. What is the Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education (PTE)?
PTE is responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult professional-technical programs that are delivered throughout all Idaho public school districts and the six technical colleges. Some of what we do is to provide technical assistance, target resources, and invite industry input in the development and redesigning of statewide curricula and learning materials to keep up with the changing needs of a dynamic and competitive economy. Also, we provide leadership for student organizations.
2. Where is the Division located?
650 West State Street (Len B. Jordan Building)
Third Floor, Suite #324
PO Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0095
3. How do I get there?
Coming from Nampa on Interstate 84 (I-84), you will travel into downtown Boise. I-84 becomes Myrtle Street. Turn left on 5th Street, turn left on Washington Street. The Division is a three story creamy white building.
From Mountain Home on I-84, take the Vista Avenue exit and follow until it turns into Capital Boulevard, turn left on Bannock, turn right on 8th Street, go three blocks to Washington, turn right.
4. Where do I park?
There is a Visitor Parking Lot on the corner of 6th Street and Washington. Also, after obtaining a Visitor's Parking Pass, you may park on the top floor of the Parking Garage located on the corner of 6th Street and Washington.
5. Can I get a parking pass?
Yes. When you arrive in the Division office, you may pick one up at the reception desk, or ask the conference facilitator for one.
Note: January through March Visitor Parking Passes are not available.
6. What are Division office hours?
Office hours are 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
However, phones are answered as early as 7:30 a.m.
Professional-Technical Certification
7. What are the certification requirements for professional-technical educators?
The requirements are different for each certificate. The Standard Secondary Certificate for Agriculture, Business and Office Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Marketing, and Technology Education programs require a college degree with a major in each separate area. See the Certification Standards for Professional-Technical Educators (Standards Manual) for more information on each program area.
The Occupational Specialist Certificate for the Trade and Industry program and Health Professions program does not require a degree. To receive a limited three-year certificate in these areas while completing required course work, an applicant must have up to seven years of documented full-time paid work experience. See the Standards Manual for more information on this certificate.
8. Where can I get the certification application form?
The application forms for either certificate can be obtained on the web sites or in the back of the Standards Manual.
9. Do I need to be finger printed?
Yes, if you will be teaching high school students (or younger) you must be finger printed and have a background check.
No, if your students are adults.
10. What does it cost to get certified?
It cost $75 for application and $40 for fingerprinting. Renewal cost is $75. Postsecondary cost is $35.
11. What must I do to renew my current certificate?
The Standard Secondary Certificate holders must complete six semester hours of course work within the five year period the certificate is held. Forty-five clock hours of approved workshop(s) can be substituted for three of these semester hours of course work.
The Limited Occupational Specialists Certificate holders must complete initial teacher preparation course work to move to a five year certificate. The five year certificate holders must take six semester hours of course work, ninety clock hours of approved workshops/seminars/conferences or 240 hours of approved work experience in industry.
12. What information do I need to attach to make my certification application complete?
You should attach either $115 for initial application and finger printing or $75 for renewal. You need to send original transcripts of college course work, and you need to send copies of any industry / professional certificates you have obtained in the specialty you will be teaching.
13. Where do I send my completed application form?
Send all applications and other material to:
Idaho State Department of Education
Office of Teacher Certification
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0027
10 D Forms
14. Why do I get other instructors information instead of mine?
Administrator and Teacher: This can occur if your district is caching web data to a common server. If you are using Internet Explorer simply press the F5 key or CLICK on VIEW and REFRESH. If you are using Netscape simply click on VIEW and RELOAD.
15. What if I am denied access?
Administrator and Teacher: The most common reasons for being denied access are a misspelled password or not including hyphens in the social security number. Recheck your login and password to make sure you are entering them correctly.
16. What if I don't know how to complete the forms?
Teacher: You should be able to get a copy of the instructions once you login to the Form 10 online system where you will be able to click on the instructions link. That link will take you to the Division's Web page and the instructions for each form. They can then be printed if you prefer. You can also email Sandi Wiensz at swiensz@pte.idaho.gov and she will email a copy of the instructions back to you if needed.
17. What if I have lost or misplaced my password?
Administrator and Teacher: If you have misplaced or forgotten your login and password, the 10D Administrator will have a list of passwords for your school. If the password list is unavailable, please contact the Division office at (208) 334-3216 and ask to speak to Sandi Wiensz (swiensz@pte.idaho.gov), or Glenn Orthel (gorthel@pte.idaho.gov).
How Can Our School Start a New Program?
18. To initiate a new program in a school district, the administration should determine the local community need and support for the program. If there is a need shown, they need to contact Dick Ledington (dledingt@pte.idaho.gov) or any Program Manager and request a Form 10N. A Letter of Inquiry or Notice of Intent may also be submitted to the Division to request information on starting a new program.
The Notice of Intent will indicate the type of program being started. That NOI is passed on to the Program Manager who, in turn, will send a 10N and other materials pertinent to the new program to the district or school administrator.
The district will need to submit a completed 10N by February 15 of each year to be considered in the next year's funding cycle. An Advisory Committee should be formed to assist the administration with the 10N application process to ensure that issues covering curriculum, facilities, equipment and qualified instructional staff can be addressed.
The District may request assistance from the Program Managers at all stages of development. The Program Manager will provide funding information, resource materials and curriculum, along with certification requirements for the instructor and suggestions for facility and equipment, on request.
A letter of Program Approval will be provided to the Superintendent with specific program data, including funding and program identification codes in May. The District may begin the process of hiring staff and purchasing equipment on receipt of the approval letter.
