The Evaluators Institute

FAQs About Certificates

A. Is the Certificate Program of The Evaluators' Institute a substitute for a university degree?

No, the Certificate program of TEI is not a substitute for university experience. The Certificates are meant to augment and enhance the learning students acquire from institutions of higher education, and to offer alternative ways for individuals to add to their knowledge and skills for practicing evaluation. The Certificates and supporting curricula identify a range of subject matter needed for the conduct of high quality evaluations and TEI provides courses to help evaluators acquire knowledge and skills in those content areas. Students are able to pursue the courses as they have time and in the order that best fits their specific interests and their most immediate needs. It is true, however, that the subject matter provided in many TEI courses are not available in university departments/colleges that offer degree programs in evaluation. (See next question.)

B. What are some benefits of attending TEI courses as compared to university work?
Some of the benefits include:

(1) access to courses not offered through most universities,

(2) instruction from faculty who are nationally or internationally recognized for their expertise in evaluation theory and practice and who continue to teach TEI courses because participants give them outstanding marks as teachers;

(3) opportunities to interact with the remarkably diverse group of professionals who attend the classes plus others who come to the evening sessions provided at TEI programs. Participants are affiliated with many different organizations in the U.S. and abroad, work on a wide variety of programs, and represent a rich mix of personal and cultural backgrounds and experiences as program developers, administrators, and evaluators. (Over 80 countries are homes of TEI students.)

The bottom line here is that you will have access to the most respected scholars/practitioners in evaluation and you will attend courses that are continually assessed and updated...and on many topics not found elsewhere.

C. How much time must one commit to complete the requirements for a TEl certificate?

The Master Evaluator Certificate (MEC) requires the completion of the Certificate in Evaluation Practice (CEP) and the Certificate in Advanced Evaluation Practices (CAEP), plus development of a portfolio of experience targeted to key knowledge and skills. An individual can complete the first MEC requirement—the CEP—after 30 days in class, and the CAEP after an additional 30 days of class time. There is no overlap of coursework between the CEP and CAEP. The Certificate in Quantitative Evaluation Methods (CQEM) requires 30 days of instruction, but all of these days can be duplicates of the CEP and CAEP, i.e., by selecting electives carefully for the CEP and CAEP, one can at the same time, and with no additional coursework, also complete the CQEM.

The actual amount of time required to complete a certificate depends upon (a) whether one is just beginning or has previously taken courses through TEI, (b) how many courses are taken each time one attends a TEI program, (c) how many programs per year are attended, and (d) whether university credit is substituted for some of the TEI courses.