PROGRAM PROVIDERS FAQS

How will certification make it easier for my company to do business?

Can certification help us grow our customer base?

How can certification make us more marketable to schools and venues?

My program/company offers classes at non-school venues.  Are we eligible for certification?

If our company chooses to become certified, in what ways are we authorized to display our certification and use it to our advantage?

Will my teaching staff have to be certified as well?

How can I get my teaching staff certified?  Are there discounts or group rates available to have my teaching staff certified en masse?

How does NETA’s job posting forum work?

Does certification restrict the types of classes or courses my program/company can offer?

Will certification in any way limit the scope or the manner in which we conduct our business operations?

How long will my certification be valid?

What is the next step to obtaining NETA certification for my program/company?  

How will certification make it easier for my company to do business?
Certification is a mark of excellence.  Anyone you serve – students, families, schools and other enrichment venues – know by virtue of your certification that your program is held to the highest of standards and that they are placing themselves in capable hands.  To be perceived as reputable and competent provides added impetus for the public to pay you for your services. [back to top]

Can certification help us grow our customer base?
Yes.  Program Providers Certification means you engage a standard of doing business which has been proven effective in the industry.  Providing excellent service, engendering trust, and fostering positive public perception is a key factor in developing your customer base. [back to top]

How can certification make us more marketable to schools and venues?
There are a myriad of after school organizations available to the public; an Enrichment Program Providers certification gives you an edge in what is a very competitive field.  Certification gives the public the means to identify organizations that achieve and maintain a standard of excellence.  Compliance with the standards demonstrates your commitment to service, your seriousness of purpose and is strong indicator of your ability to get the job done.  [back to top]

My program/company offers classes at non-school venues.  Are we eligible for certification?
Yes.  An enrichment provider is an entity which offers elective-style (non-graded) classes and/or workshops to children/minors.  Enrichment providers may conduct classes at public and private school campuses as well as at non-school venues.  Because a program/company offering enrichment classes at non-school venues provides the same kinds of services as a program which offers enrichment classes at schools, NETA Program Providers Certification is meant for you and can help you. [back to top]

If our company chooses to become certified, in what ways are we authorized to display our certification and use it to our advantage?
Because positive public perception is key to your success, display your NETA Program Providers Certification prominently.  The moment your program/company attains certification, you are entitled to advertise the program as being “NETA Certified”.  You will be provided with NETA’s service marked logo which can be displayed on your website, literature, press materials, and associated marketing tools and documents. Your certification represents your commitment to high standards of service, ethics and professionalism, qualities that distinguish your program and fosters public trust. [back to top]

Will my teaching staff have to be certified as well?
Yes.  One of the cornerstones of best practice for enrichment providers is the utilization of certified enrichment teachers.  In procuring Enrichment Teacher Certification, certified enrichment teachers have met certain standards and requirements which demonstrate their knowledge of the skills and tasks necessary to work directly with children safely and effectively.  For your program/company, this means you are better prepared to offer competent, effective service to the public and lower your exposure to risk.  If your teaching staff is not currently certified, NETA has provided a 90-day grace period in which your teachers can attain their certification. [back to top]

How can I get my teaching staff certified?  Are there discounts or group rates available to have my teaching staff certified en masse?
Certification of your teaching staff can be accomplished with no direct cost to your organization. In order to get certified, enrichment teachers must take and pass the NETA Certification Exam.  There are several methods with which you can get your teaching staff certified.  The most popular is for your teachers to take the proctored online exam at one of our many conveniently located testing centers at H&R Blocks across the country.  NETA also offers Testing on Demand.  With Testing on Demand, you simply contact NETA to set up a testing date which is convenient for you and your staff.  On the appointed day, our proctors will come to your facility and administer the NETA Certification Exam to your entire teaching staff.  NETA can also provide discounted group testing rates and differing payment structures, contingent upon the size and needs of your organization. [back to top]

How does NETA’s job posting forum work?
One of the benefits of attaining your Program Providers Certification is job posting privileges on our online forum.  When you are in need of teachers, you simply post your help wanted ads on the forum, directly to a population of certified enrichment teachers.  Job posting privileges are included as a part of your certification at no additional cost, and is an effective alternative to posting help wanted ads on a pay-per-insertion basis with other job search websites and in print.  As a certified program provider, you will also have access to our data base of certified enrichment teachers, with the ability to examine their profiles, resumes and contact information to better serve your staffing needs. [back to top]  

Does certification restrict the types of classes or courses my program/company can offer?
NETA Program Providers Certification does not impose any additional restrictions to your program’s classes/course offerings, other than those that already exist for any organization that works with children in a professional capacity.  As it pertains to classes and course offerings, certification will only require you affirm that your company is already abiding by existing regulations by conducting an analysis of all company curriculums prior to its use with children to determine the curriculum’s efficacy as an educational tool, its age appropriateness, and that it is an accurate representation of what is advertised to the public. [back to top]

Will certification in any way limit the scope or the manner in which we conduct our business operations?
Program Providers Certification is intended to provide enrichment providers with a mechanism with which they can affirm to the public that they operate within and uphold standards of quality and best practice.  As long as your program/company abides by the Standards for the Certification of Enrichment Providers, NETA does not restrict, limit or impose on your program’s business decisions, day-to-day operations, or scope of practice. [back to top]

How long will my certification be valid?
Your NETA Program Providers Certification is valid for a period of one year and must be renewed on an annual basis.
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What is the next step to obtaining NETA Program Provider Certification for my program/company?   
If you would like more information, feel free to call us at (310) 827-8827 or email us at info@netanational.org.  If you have made the decision to get certified, click here to go the Standards for the Certification of Enrichment Providers Application and Guide. [back to top]