A study on Wisconsin secondary business teachers' use of industry-based certifications and qualifications to certify students

Abstract

This study sought to identify what industry certifications Wisconsin secondary business educators were using and why and the qualifications acquired by teachers to certify students. The study used a quantitative, descriptive survey in an effort to determine what industry certifications were most prominent in secondary business education programs. Findings revealed that the majority of Wisconsin secondary business teachers were using Microsoft Office Systems (MOS) certification, mostly because of funding and aligning to curriculum, and there was no evidence of required training/qualifications for teachers to certify students. The majority voluntarily certified/taught themselves to be qualified in certifying students. These findings were important in learning what certifications were used in order to improve the alignment of education with industry.