Certifications.Professional Certification Programs : The intent of a certification program is to encourage growth and development.
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Michigan Association of Senior Centers Professional Certifications
The Importance of Personal Certifications:
Across the state there is a great divergence in the experience and educational levels of senior center personnel. No one academic path exists for senior center professionals and most are trained on the job. Individuals in this field realize the complexity of their jobs and know that their skills must range from personnel and facility management to fund development and recreational programming.
Many people working with older adult programs must be adept in fiscal management, program planning and implementation, as well as volunteer management. Senior center directors, administrators and program managers often work long hours – often for salaries which are not in line with the level of responsibility which the job requires.
The intent of a formal certification and recognition program is to encourage the continuing professional growth and development of individuals who work with and for older adults. It is further intended to create a statewide standard that can be used as a measure of professionalism by interested agencies and individuals. Additionally, certification could well assist agencies in the recruitment process for senior center administration and operation.
Senior Director/Manager Certified:
Promotes professional credibility and visibility. Identifies to the public and professional peers those center directors who have met specific professional standards. Encourages the continuing professional growth and development of Michigan Association of Senior Centers Certified Senior Center Directors
Definition of a Senior Center Director/Manager
The Director (or comparative title) is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Senior Center. He/She handles the budget, record keeping, personnel, service coordination and management of the facility
Basic Requirement for Certification
•Must be working as a Senior Center Director in the year that application is completed
•Degree (minimum of Associates Degree)
•Three (3) years experience as a Senior Center Director
•Completed Body of Knowledge
•One (1.0) C.E.U.s or ten (10.0) training hours
•MASC member in good standing
OR
•Seven (7) years experience as a Senior Center Director
•Completed Body of Knowledge
•One (1.0) C.E.U.s or ten (10.0) training hours, earned within the last three (3) years in job-related field or the field of Aging
•MASC member in good standing
Certification Renewal
Sixteen (16) hours documented participation in workshops/seminars or ten (10) C.E.U. or three (3.0) classroom credit hours - all in job related fields or
the field of Aging. For workshops / seminars which are not sponsored by the Michigan Association of Senior Centers, standardized documentation
Senior Center Program Manager:
Promotes professional credibility and visibility. Assist agencies in the recruitment process for senior center administration and operation and their justification for salary increments. Encourages the continuing professional growth and development of Michigan Association of Senior Centers Senior Center Program Manager Certification (SPMC).
Definition of a Program Manager:
The Program Manager’s primary role is responsibility for planning, budgeting, implementing, managing, publicized and evaluating specific programs.
Basic Requirement for Certification
•High School Diploma or equivalent
•Two (2) years experience at a Senior Center
•Must work a minimum of 15 hours weekly
•Demonstrate Body of Knowledge – select 3 of 5 categories
•Job Description must be provided
•Organizational Chart with your position highlighted
•MASC member in good standing
Certification Renewal
•Renewal every three (3) years
•Supervisor must provide verification that you have initiated and implemented a minimum of five (5) new programs within the center
during the past three (3) years
The Importance of Personal Certifications:
Across the state there is a great divergence in the experience and educational levels of senior center personnel. No one academic path exists for senior center professionals and most are trained on the job. Individuals in this field realize the complexity of their jobs and know that their skills must range from personnel and facility management to fund development and recreational programming.
Many people working with older adult programs must be adept in fiscal management, program planning and implementation, as well as volunteer management. Senior center directors, administrators and program managers often work long hours – often for salaries which are not in line with the level of responsibility which the job requires.
The intent of a formal certification and recognition program is to encourage the continuing professional growth and development of individuals who work with and for older adults. It is further intended to create a statewide standard that can be used as a measure of professionalism by interested agencies and individuals. Additionally, certification could well assist agencies in the recruitment process for senior center administration and operation.
Senior Director/Manager Certified:
Promotes professional credibility and visibility. Identifies to the public and professional peers those center directors who have met specific professional standards. Encourages the continuing professional growth and development of Michigan Association of Senior Centers Certified Senior Center Directors
Definition of a Senior Center Director/Manager
The Director (or comparative title) is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Senior Center. He/She handles the budget, record keeping, personnel, service coordination and management of the facility
Basic Requirement for Certification
•Must be working as a Senior Center Director in the year that application is completed
•Degree (minimum of Associates Degree)
•Three (3) years experience as a Senior Center Director
•Completed Body of Knowledge
•One (1.0) C.E.U.s or ten (10.0) training hours
•MASC member in good standing
OR
•Seven (7) years experience as a Senior Center Director
•Completed Body of Knowledge
•One (1.0) C.E.U.s or ten (10.0) training hours, earned within the last three (3) years in job-related field or the field of Aging
•MASC member in good standing
Certification Renewal
Sixteen (16) hours documented participation in workshops/seminars or ten (10) C.E.U. or three (3.0) classroom credit hours - all in job related fields or
the field of Aging. For workshops / seminars which are not sponsored by the Michigan Association of Senior Centers, standardized documentation
Senior Center Program Manager:
Promotes professional credibility and visibility. Assist agencies in the recruitment process for senior center administration and operation and their justification for salary increments. Encourages the continuing professional growth and development of Michigan Association of Senior Centers Senior Center Program Manager Certification (SPMC).
Definition of a Program Manager:
The Program Manager’s primary role is responsibility for planning, budgeting, implementing, managing, publicized and evaluating specific programs.
Basic Requirement for Certification
•High School Diploma or equivalent
•Two (2) years experience at a Senior Center
•Must work a minimum of 15 hours weekly
•Demonstrate Body of Knowledge – select 3 of 5 categories
•Job Description must be provided
•Organizational Chart with your position highlighted
•MASC member in good standing
Certification Renewal
•Renewal every three (3) years
•Supervisor must provide verification that you have initiated and implemented a minimum of five (5) new programs within the center
during the past three (3) years