DCIP Certification Process

Certification eligibility for the Digital Course Instructor Professional (DCIP) certification is based on seven process step.

  1. Be a member in good standing
  2. Complete the Digital eLearning Readiness Survey
  3. Complete the LMS Introductory Workshops
  4. Evidence of Instructional Design Training
  5. Completion of the four DCIP knowledge area courses
  6. Provide evidence of teaching experience using DCIP principles
  7. Submit Application

Member in Good Standing

Rockcliffe professional members in good standing are eligible to apply for the Digital Course Instructor Professional (DCIP) certification. Members achieving this certification status will appear in the certification registry so long as their membership remains in good standing.

Digital eLearning Readiness Survey

The Digital eLearning Readiness Survey helps self-assess the types of learning challenges you should expect while taking the certification program.

LMS Introductory Workshops

Rockcliffe uses Moodle as a Learning Management System (LMS) for managing course curricula and learner records. Regardless of whether a course is taught in the LMS, in a virtual world, or in a classroom, Rockcliffe’s LMS is our primary audit and control system for ensuring that every course meets Rockcliffe’s standards.

Learners taking Rockcliffe courses will be required to take a prerequisite workshop LMS101 – Learning Management System Basics prior to using Rockcliffe’s Moodle LMS for the first time.

Evidence of Instructional Design Training

Teaching online requires knowledge of instructional design that adheres to a professional standard. For persons with credentials in instructional design, such as a valid teaching certificate, or master’s or doctorate in instructional design, curriculum and instruction, or similar, simply presenting this documentation will be sufficient to show evidence of instructional design training.

For persons interested in teaching who do not have the above credentials, Rockcliffe offers the SME1000 Instructional Design for Subject Matter Experts course which provides a primer in the essence of how to properly develop curriculums.

Enrollment in the SME1000 course is included as part of part of the membership dues.

Digital Instruction Knowledge Areas

The Digital Course Instructor Professional (DCIP) certification requires competence in four primary knowledge areas:

DEP2000 – Digital Education Preparedness

VIE2000 – Virtual Immersive Environments

CIT2000 – Digital Citizenship

ASM2000 – Assessment Methodologies

Enrollment in these courses is included as part of part of the membership dues.

Teaching Experience

Rockcliffe Professional members require showing evidence of using the DCIP knowledge areas in an educational setting. This requires three specific components to be completed within 2 years from completion of the DCIP knowledge courses:

  1. Rockcliffe CRC reviewed course(s) totaling 40 hours or more in length that may be broken down into
    1. 4 x 10 hr courses;
    2. 2 x 20 hr courses; or
    3. 1 x 40 hr course;
  2. Instruction of Rockcliffe CRC approved course materials totaling 40 hours or more; and
  3. Submission of at least 5 learner evaluations per course instructed

This step cannot be completed concurrently with core course training.

CRC review must be completed prior to learner enrollment in the curriculums to be used.

If the course to be taught is conducted outside of Rockcliffe’s LMS, the Rockcliffe Learner Survey must be used to collect learner evaluations and included as part of the course requirements.

Application Submission

Upon completion of all requirements, members may complete the online DCIP application form along with required supporting materials. Successful completion of the above and approval of the Rockcliffe Curriculum Review Committee will result in awarding of the Rockcliffe Digital Course Instructor professional certification.