I. Certification to Teach Distance Learning (DL) Courses (Online and Hybrid courses)

Prairie View A&M University Instructors must be certified to teach online courses. There are 3 requirements for certification:

  1. Complete the Introduction to Teaching Online (ITO) certification course offered by the Center for Instructional Innovation and Technology Services (CIITS). The course is offered online. It’s self-paced and asynchronous. The ITO can be offered face-to-face (F2F) for groups of 5 or more participants*.
  2. Complete the Getting Ready for Quality Matters (GRQM) workshop. Like the ITO, this workshop is offered online. It is also self-paced and asynchronous.
    • Even though there are no live meetings (neither virtual nor in person) for the ITO and GRQM, participants are encouraged to call or email the course facilitators if there are questions. Also, Zoom meetings can be scheduled if necessary.
  3. Teach a web-assist course for at least one term. A web-assist course is a F2F course that is supplemented with eCourses. An acceptable web-assist course is one in which course documents are posted for students, LMS-based communication tools are utilized (Forums, messaging, or internal email) and the Assignment tool is used.

If an instructor has taught online or hybrid courses for another institution, he or she must still complete the PVAMU certification requirements**.

II.   Re-Certification to Teach DL Courses

  1. If a certified instructor goes 12 months or 3 consecutive terms without teaching an online or web-assist course, that instructor must retake the ITO and GRQM.
  2. If a certified instructor habitually makes significant changes to the content or layout of an approved DL course without prior approval from the academic department (for content) or the CIITS (for layout), that instructor’s certification can be revoked. The instructor would then have to complete all 3 certification requirements again.

III. Advantages to Certification Training include the following:

  • Certification to Teach Online Courses (certificate included) at PVAMU
  • Industry standard online course pedagogy training
  • Hands-on experience using the University’s learning management system (LMS)–Canvas
  • Training to effectively incorporate eCourses into F2F courses

To be enrolled in the ITO and GRQM, contact the CIITS at ciits@pvamu.edu or submit a request through our Contact Us page.


* Face-to-face group training is scheduled in one of 2 ways: five 4-hour face-to-face meetings or a hybrid format consisting of three 4-hour face-to-face meetings and the equivalent of 8 hours of asynchronous online instruction.

** Exceptions can be made if the instructor can provide evidence of having used the same LMS at the other institution that is being used at PVAMU; and/or if the instructor can provide evidence of having completed official Quality Matters certification training.