Certified teachers have met all requirements as specified in the Standards section. The teacher, certified at the Qualified level, has demonstrated knowledge of 2nd language teaching methodology, language activities, evaluation, and knowledge of ASL linguistics. QUALIFIED CERTIFICATION is valid for four years and may be renewed for an additional two years by special request.

Candidates for Qualified Certification must prepare and submit to the Evaluation Committee Chairperson the following documentation, and successfully complete the ASLTA Written Evaluation.

1. A copy of your valid Provisional level certification.
    
2. A Portfolio which includes:
   1. Documentation of a minimum of 240 hours of paid ASL or related teaching experience within the last five years. Up to half (120 hours) can be teaching experience in a related area (Interpreter Education, Education of Deaf Students, Deaf Studies, etc.).
   2. Documentation of 150 hours of course work, training workshops in 2nd language teaching and ASL teaching theory, methodology, Deaf Culture, linguistics, evaluation, etc. (See Appendix A for a listing of areas for professional development).
   3. Documentation (copy of degree or transcripts) that shows you have earned a college degree (Associates degree or above) or that you are an experienced teacher having 10 or more years of ASL teaching experience.
       
3. You must pass the ASLTA Written portion of the Qualified Certification evaluation.

Note: If you have a total of 480 hours of teaching experience and 300 hours of professional development within the last five years, you should document all of your teaching experience and professional development at the Qualified level so that you will meet these criteria for the Professional level.

How your Portfolio and Written Evaluation will be evaluated:

1. Your Portfolio documentation will be evaluated to ensure that you meet the minimum standards of professional experience and training. The evaluation committee chairperson may request you to submit clarification and/or additional information.
2. Your Written Evaluation will be judged to determine the appropriateness of your answers concerning recognized professional practices, and knowledge of ASL structure (linguistic information), teaching practices, strategies and procedures.
3. You will be judged primarily on your knowledge of ASL linguistics and teaching practices. Your written English skills are not evaluated, but your responses must be understandable to the ASLTA evaluators. Evaluators may request that you rewrite and further clarify certain responses judged to be unclear. At the discretion of the evaluators, you may be asked to produce a videotape which further explains or clarifies your responses.

Go to the General Procedures to get started on your certification/evaluation.