New Certification Process

Written by Janet Bonsall, Missouri Liaison

* TO REMAIN CERTIFIED – YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT PRINTS (AGAIN) *

RE-CERTIFICATION NOW INCLUDES PRINT SUBMISSION BY EVERYONE – EVEN YOU? YES!

Two committees have done this work: The Certification Task Force and the Standards Committee, which has, as of August 6 at Council meeting, been renamed The Certification Committee.

PPA went to the National Association of Certification Assurances to learn standard procedures. A psychomatrician, Dr. Carra Smith, was hired to guide the process of discovering what "KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES are needed to perform our job" (psychomatrician = psychologist / statistician).

Surveys were conducted; Subject Matter Experts (PPA photographers) were brought in to create a job related, reliable, non-biased, validated exam. A large number of questions have been entered into a database.

When you call PPA Headquarters to apply to take the test, you will declare your Specialty Area. Your test will be "custom made" based on the Specialty Area you choose. By having the computer randomly select questions, no two tests will be the same and your test will have your name on it. The test will be sealed after you take it at the convention site: it will be returned to PPA Headquarters for machine grading. You will be notified in writing as to the test results. The liaison will be informed of the names of those who have passed the test. The new test will be available 1 / 1 / 2002.

20 – 8 x 10 or 10 x 10 client images *see special rules about transparencies*

These are not the darker "salon-competition" prints. Unlike the past, when it comes time for re-certification, the accumulation of merits is not enough. All certified photographers must re-certify by submitting the 20 images. You do not have to take the test again unless you let your certification lapse. You must submit images every 5 years from now on, even if you do not let your certification expire.

• Exams are not printed in advance; they will arrive directly to the liaison to be given at a specific PPA Event with the candidate’s name on the specific test.

• Merits awarded by PPA for teaching courses of study

Translated, this means anyone can say they will provide a course study (a day, a week, an online course), charge for their services if wished, but PPA is not involved in this part of the process. The exam will still be about 100 questions in length. The time limit will be about 2 hours.

Photographs will be judged on "consistency and competency". Judging will be done about 6 times per year at national PPA events. Send ALL photo submissions to National PPA in Atlanta.

Two panels of judges and a jury chair will be available at all judging.

• The test has been designed to reflect the KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES of professional photographers.

• You will need to design your own study: individually, in groups, or attend a course of study provided at a cost.

• Once you are certified, you must submit 20 photographs for judging every 5 years to retain certification.

•No study materials – sample tests, tapes, exist at this time. These materials will not be developed by PPA in the future.