Certification Officer & Compliance Specialist

As the Certification Officer and Compliance Specialist, you are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the College’s certification and verification activities while providing excellent customer service. You are responsible for all state and certification and verification activities including, but not limited to, completing state/certification forms, fulfilling apostille requests, and reviewing state verification requests. In addition, you will contribute to detailed research and analysis of new and existing regulations and related state federal law, or rules related to professional educator certification, accreditation, or authorization requirements for assurance of regulatory compliance of college operations.

Requirements

Who is American College of Education

Founded in 2005, American College of Education continues to be a leader in professional development through our online programs. The mission of ACE is to deliver high-quality, affordable, and accessible online programs grounded in evidence-based content, real-world experience and relevant application that places our students’ needs first.

ACE is a premier organization that is continually recognized for its commitment to social responsibility. In 2016, ACE became a Certified B Corporation. As a socially conscious institution, we believe we have a responsibility to our students, alumni, employees, local communities, and society. We strive to make an impact in the world that goes well beyond our bottom line.

Who You Are

You are passionate about helping students achieve their educational goals. You thrive in a competitive and collaborative team environment. You are comfortable working remotely and have experience collaborating with others in a virtual environment. You possess a strong attention to detail.

As the Certification Officer and Compliance Specialist, you are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the College’s certification and verification activities while providing excellent customer service. You are responsible for all state and certification and verification activities including, but not limited to, completing state/certification forms, fulfilling apostille requests, and reviewing state verification requests. In addition, you will contribute to detailed research and analysis of new and existing regulations and related state federal law, or rules related to professional educator certification, accreditation, or authorization requirements for assurance of regulatory compliance of college operations.

Compensation

ACE is committed to paying a competitive wage while staying true to our mission of maintaining high-quality, affordable programs for our students. The starting salary for this role is $70,000, plus all full-time employees are eligible for an annual bonus. Offers vary depending on education, prior experience, and expertise being applied to the role.

What We Look for in the Ideal Candidate

• Demonstrates self-reliance by meeting/exceeding workflow needs. 
• Demonstrates positive attitude and motivation, concern for students, teamwork, and excellent time management skills. 
• Follows established processes as outlined by organization and leadership. 
• Capable, and adapts as needed, to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. 
• Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision and with other department personnel. 
• Must support and embrace the College’s B Corp mission to improve the people and communities we serve through our civic engagement initiatives.  
• Must have exceptional communication, organization, and time management skills. 
• Must be "self-motivated" as well as creative and efficient in proposing solutions to complex, time-critical problems. 
• Must be collaborative in driving decisions and a team-player. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail. 
• Builds and maintains student satisfaction by recognizing and anticipating student needs.

Day to Day Responsibilities

In this role you will wear different hats, but your skills will be especially essential in the following areas: 

• Reviews, monitors, and interprets Educator Preparation Program state licensing policies, rules, federal regulations, and accreditor criteria as applicable.
• Ensures all appropriate certification requirements have been met by all candidates applying for all professional educator licensure certificates and endorsements.
• Completes certification documents, communicates certification information to ACE admission and registration personnel, and monitors state DOE policies and procedures specific to the certification portion of ACE Educator Preparation Programs.
• Sends verification letters to students and/or the appropriate state department of education.
• Completes, sign, and stamp verification forms supplied by students. 
• Attends state, federal, and ACE meetings regarding educator certification requirement updates.
• Completes professional development courses and attend training and/or courses required by the College.
• Assists with updates to ACE.edu educator preparation licensure information and legal statements.
• Contributes to initiatives to improve efficiency using technology and creativity.
• Assists with preparing reports for state regulatory agencies, college or program accreditors, and internal research as applicable.
• Participates in all college and program accreditation reviews and renewal activities.
• Ensures college policies and FERPA regulations are adhered to in processing student information. 
• Advises and supports admission and registration personnel with state educator licensing questions or required research and acts as a resource for all ACE Educator Preparation Programs.
• Assists the Educator Preparation Program leaders by performing all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 1-year of direct experience as a certification officer.
• Proficient in Campus Nexus Student Information System is preferred. 
• Must be able to maintain a high level of sensitivity and commitment to the needs of diverse populations. 
• Must be able to multitask in a fast-paced environment while continuing to maintain a stellar customer service relationship. 
• Work experience in an online environment or in a professional educator licensure certification office or higher education legal compliance department is preferred.
• Proficient with SharePoint and database management technologies, Microsoft Office Suite, and related software.  
• Demonstrated ability to apply a culturally responsive and flexible approach that is supportive of the diverse needs, including universal accessibility, of our students, faculty, staff, and the public.

Our Commitment to Employees 

Just as we strive to empower our students for success, we also aim to enrich the lives of our employees. For 6 consecutive years, ACE was recognized as one of Indiana’s Best Places to Work, winning the #1 spot for medium-sized companies in 2020. In addition, ACE has earned national recognition, being named a USA Top Workplace in 2022, 2023 and 2024. As a virtual first organization, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a family-like inclusive work environment. For our full-time employees, we offer the following benefits:   

• Medical, dental, & vision Insurance  
• HSA and FSA options  
• Paid parental leave  
• Paid volunteer time  
• Tuition reimbursement & reduction programs  
• Generous PTO   
• 401k and employer match  
• Full-service wellness and EAP program  
• Employee recognition and awards programs  
• Employer paid life & AD&D insurance  
• Short-term disability  
• Employer-paid long-term disability  
• And more… 

 
Physical Demands 

The physical demand described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with and receive communications from students and ACE employees in real time using online and other electronic media. 

 
Diversity 

At American College of Education, we believe that the best learning environment for students and staff is one in which we encounter viewpoints and experiences that are different, yet complementary to ours. This environment is fostered by the presence of persons with diverse backgrounds.  We recognize that acknowledging diversity is a necessary precondition, but sustained effort is necessary to ensure equity and greater inclusion.  Through strategic planning and initiatives, we seek to develop programs that promote equity and inclusion for everyone so that all members of ACE’s community can reach their full potential. To create and maintain a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive learning community, we strive to make all feel equally valued, and we uphold our Commitment to Freedom of Expression.  We may celebrate diversity, but we “live” inclusion. 

Additional Notes

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Employees are increasingly integrating AI into their roles, demonstrating its potential to boost efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. By utilizing AI technologies, we can streamline processes, gain valuable insights from data, and automate routine tasks, which allows employees to concentrate on more strategic and creative aspects of their work. While AI is a beneficial tool in the workplace, if its use—such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, Copy.ai, etc.—accounts for more than 50% of any work assignments or job responsibilities, it will need to be reported to a direct leader. 

 Internet bandwidth speeds from an employee's remote work location must be a minimum of 50Mbps download speeds and 5Mbps upload speeds. Please note if the bandwidth is shared across multiple devices (tablets, computer, streaming, phone, etc.) you will need higher overall speeds. You can test the speed of your connection by visiting speedtest.net Purchase, setup, installation, support, and ongoing maintenance of reliable internet service is the responsibility of the individual.   

 American College of Education seeks to attract and retain a diverse staff consistent with its diverse student body and surrounding communities. At this time we cannot consider candidates residing in Alaska, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, South Dakota, or Alabama. 

ACE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.