Faculty Credentialing Policy

 Responsible Unit: Office of the Provost | Executive lead: Provost and Chief Academic Officer   
Created: 05/22/2024 | Reviewed/Revised:  N/A | Effective: 06/2024
Compliance: COCA 7.2, NWCCU 2.F.1, WAC 250-61-100, Academic Program Accreditation Standards   
Approving Body: PPC/PAC | Classification:  Institution-wide 

Policy:  
Each faculty member who teaches an academic course, in whole or in part, must be qualified to teach that course.  The purpose in credentialling faculty is to verify that the teaching faculty truly have the academic and professional background to teach their respective courses.  Credentialled faculty ensure that the academic programs maintain the rigor necessary to teach students the skills needed to become practicing healthcare professionals.  Excluded from this policy are individuals who are brought into a course as a guest lecturer, individuals who assist with a lab/clinical procedure without any direct course-related responsibility, tutors, clinical personnel who are not paid by PNWU, faculty who substitute for another faculty member who is ill or absent due to an emergency, student teaching assistants, and volunteers.   

Definitions:  
Academic Credential:  Proof of a faculty member’s abilities and expertise to teach within the academic curriculum.  Academic credentials may be verified through an academic degree, a certificate, a licensure, or documentation of exceptional expertise.   

Credentialing: Formal examination and review upon hire of educational transcripts/degrees, certifications, completion of residency, training, state and board licensure, etc., that support the training, experiences, or demonstrated ability required to teach in an academic setting.  

Procedure:  
Faculty Credentialing Procedures 

Related Documents: 
Faculty Credentialing Certification Form 
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 250-61-100 (2) Faculty. 

Policy Resources

For assistance with policies and procedures contact:

Lori Fulton
lfulton@pnwu.edu