MSBO Certification Program
How to Achieve MSBO Certification
Step 1: Determine Your Certification Track
MSBO offers 14 different certification tracks, each specific to various areas of school business and operations. Find out which of these tracks best applies to your career.
Step 2: Enroll in a Certification Program Online
Members who wish to become certified must complete the required classes for their program within three years of starting. Enrolling online indicates your commitment to begin the certification program and complete the classes within the given timeframe.
- To enroll, sign in to your My MSBO account.
- After signing in, click the Certification tab in the blue navigation bar.
- Click the Enroll button beside your chosen program.
Grandparenting
You are a candidate for grandparenting if:
- you have at least six years of school experience and satisfy the prerequisites of the certification track you wish to be certified in
OR
- you do not have the required degree for your desired certification track but meet the work experience requirements to waive it (see the application for more details)
If you think you meet the experience requirement and/or have taken classes that may be used toward a certification track, complete this application instead of enrolling. Determination is made on a case-by-case basis.
Step 3: Receive Your Welcome Email and Sign Up for Classes!
Once we receive your online enrollment, you’ll receive a welcome email within 24 hours that details the process, fees, and deadline date.
To view and print a list of your required classes, on your My MSBO account page, click the Certification link in the blue navigation bar. There is a Print icon to the right of your certification track. It will display the required classes and number of hours needed to complete your program.
From there, view our Schedule of Events, map out your training, and sign up for your classes. For any classes you attend, be sure to fill out the survey for credit so we can verify your attendance and issue your credit.
You may also see what upcoming classes are currently scheduled for your program by visiting the Certification Track Overview pages.
Step 4: Complete Classes and Submit Your Final Application
Once you complete all the required classes for your certification track, download and fill out the Final Application. This application must include:
- Your job description
- Current organizational chart of your school entity
- If applying for BOM, BOS, CFO, SPP, CTO, HRS, PAA, and SPS, Accredited College/University Courses (accompanied by unofficial transcripts)
- Application fee of $60.00
Your Final Application form must also include a signature from either the superintendent or board president of your organization.
Step 5: Get Your Certification Designation!
If all the requirements are met, we’ll process your application, change your online certification status to “Passed” and issue your certificate and acronyms. Congratulations on your achievement!
Maintain your Certification
MSBO certification is valid for five years. In order to renew your certification, you must continue approved professional development hours within this five-year period. Click below for more information.
More Information
For more information about the MSBO Voluntary Certification program, check the FAQs, or contact:
- Courtney Byam at 517.327.5937 or by e-mail at cbyam@msbo.org; or
- Debbie Kopkau at 517.327.2587 or by e-mail at dkopkau@msbo.org.
Credit Transfer
MSBO and Davenport University have entered into a partnership that allows curriculum from MSBO certifications to be accepted as transfer credit at any Davenport University campus location. Read more.
MSBO’s partnership with Wilkes University provides another option for members to obtain a college degree that focuses specifically on school business administration.
School Business Leadership
Wilkes University offers an online master’s degree in school business leadership. The 30-credit program was developed to address the key issues school business leaders face in today’s education environment. It addresses topics that include public relations, facility management, financial operations, human resources, transportation, informational technology and food service. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu/sbl. To learn more about the Wilkes program, or if you have questions, or wish to discuss your education goals, please contact Anthony Roma at anthony.roma@wilkes.edu or (570) 574-4886.
The following certification classes will waived (a total of 36 hours) for the MSBO Chief Financial Officer (CFO) certification track if you are enrolled and have completed the Wilkes University Master of Science in Education with a major in School Business Leadership (SBL):
- Effective Communications (3 hours)
- Food Service for the Business Manager (3 hours)
- Human Resources for the Business Manager (3 hours)
- Facilities for the Business Manager (3 hours)
- Purchasing Overview (3 hours)
- Preparing Your Financial Picture (12 hours)
- Team Leadership (3 hours)
- Technology for the Business Manager (3 hours)
- Transportation for the Business Manager (3 hours)
If you would like to learn how this program works with MSBO certification, please contact MSBO director of certification Debbie Kopkau at dkopkau@msbo.org or (517) 327-2587.
Documents
- Final Application This document is to be submitted at the end of the program; once you have completed all the required classes.
- Renewal Application
- Grandparenting Application