There are three different membership levels within the PAAT certification scheme: associate member, member and senior member. There is no expectation for all applicants to start at associate member status and move their way up the levels incrementally. Applicants may apply to join PAAT at whatever level they feel is commensurate with the evidence they can provide. It is possible for an applicant to apply in the first instance for associate member status and then as they gain more experience, to re-apply for member status. Similarly for those who apply in the first instance for membership status, it is possible for them to re-apply in the future for senior member status.
2.1 Who can apply for certification?
Practitioners who have been working in the field of AT for less than 3 years or those who have been practicing for three or more years but only engage with AT as a smaller part of their role can apply for Certified Associate Member status.
Established Practitioners who have been working within the field of AT for three or more years and engage with AT as a core aspect of their role can apply for Certified Member status.
Established Practitioners who have been working within the field of AT for three or more years, engage with AT as a core aspect of their role and have AT related management, leadership or strategic responsibilities can apply for Certified Senior Member status.
We are positioning certified senior members of PAAT as exceptional practitioners who are widely recognised as role models to others in the AT field. With this in mind, we anticipate that our membership cohort will reflect a ‘bell-shaped’ curve. In other words, the majority of accepted members are likely to be ‘certified members’, and relatively fewer are likely to be ‘certified senior members’ or ‘certified associate members’.
Assistive Technologists work in a variety of roles and contexts and job titles will vary to reflect this diversity. It is therefore not essential that applicants have the phrase ‘ Assistive Technologist’ contained within their job title. The focus of the role is more important than the specific job title.
2.2 The focus of an application for certified status
All applicants must demonstrate a commitment to all four of the core principles of PAAT (See Table 1).
Applicants for Certified Associate Member Status must also:
- demonstrate evidence of three of the core competencies of PAAT (AT Users, AT, AT Eco-system (see Table 1).
Applicants for Certified Member Status must also:
- demonstrate evidence of all four of the core competences of PAAT (see Table 1).
- demonstrate evidence of independent practice in one AT specialist area. (e.g. AT assessment and provision; AT research; AT design and development; AT policy; AT Professional Development; AT outcomes and evaluation; AT service development and evaluation; AT funding). This might be unique to the member, or common across the team that they work in, but it must go beyond the core competencies.
Applicants for Certified Senior Member status must also:
- demonstrate evidence of all four of the core competences of PAAT (see Table 1).
- demonstrate evidence of independent practice in two particular AT specialist areas. (e.g. AT assessment and provision; AT research; AT design and development; AT policy; AT Professional Development; AT outcomes and evaluation; AT service development and evaluation; AT funding). These specialist skills might be unique to the applicant, or common across the team that they work in, but it must go beyond the core competencies.
- demonstrate evidence of impactful AT leadership. An ability to develop and implement, through critical thinking and problem-solving, strategic initiatives that support AT users and or AT professionals to achieve their goals.
| Sections | Subsections | Associate Member | Member | Senior Member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT Users | 1a. A knowledge of the strengths, needs, preferences and aspirations of A Users and how these might inform the decisions they make about the role and value of AT in their lives . | Required | Required | Required |
| 1b. Ability to advocate for the AT needs of AT Users bled people and/or to support disabled people to self-advocate | Required | Required | ||
| AT | 2a. An understanding of the constraints and benefits of different AT for At Users. (does not have to be all AT or all disabilities/needs, but those that are particularly relevant to the context in which the applicant is working). | Required | Required | Required |
| 2b. Technical knowledge and ability in the set up and use of AT that is relevant to their workplace, including accessibility settings that meet the needs of different users they are supporting. | Required | Required | Required | |
| 2c. Supporting the effective and sustained use of AT by AT Users and their support circle. | Required | Required | ||
| The AT eco-system | 3a. An understanding of the processes by which access to AT is assessed, funded, delivered and evaluated within the context (s) in which they are working. | Required | Required | Required |
| 3b. An understanding of the factors that facilitate or hinder the effectiveness of processes within the AT eco-system. | Required | Required | ||
| The wider AT context | 4a. An understanding of relevant national and international legislation and how it applies to the context in which the applicant is working. | Required | Required | |
| 4b. Understanding and implementing relevant AT policies or standards at a national, regional or organizational level | Required | Required | ||
| 4c. Ability to develop, adapt, shape or influence AT relevant legislation, policies or standards at an international, national, regional or organizational level | Required | |||
| AT Specialist Skills | Specialist Area 1 | Required | Required | |
| Specialist Area 2 | Required | |||
| AT Leadership | Ability to develop and implement, through critical thinking and problem-solving, strategic initiatives that support AT users and or AT professionals to achieve their goals. | Required |