Portland Community College

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Instructor Qualifications

Minimum qualifications for all new full-time or part-time instructional faculty are set forth below.

1. Lower Division Collegiate instructors shall meet one of the following sets of criteria as recommended by the appropriate SACC:
   1. hold a master's degree in the subject area (or hold a master's degree in a related area and have completed at least 30 quarter hours of graduate credit in the subject area), or
   2. have a high level of demonstrable competency gained through a combination of study, teaching experience, and/or professional performance in the subject area and/or have the qualifications set by the licensing or accrediting organization for the subject area.
2. Vocational Education instructors shall meet one of the following sets of criteria as recommended by the appropriate SACC:
   1. hold a master's degree in the subject area (or hold a master's degree in a related area and have completed at least 30 quarter hours of upper division credit in the subject area) and have a minimum of three years of recent full-time nonteaching experience in the subject area, or
   2. hold a bachelor's degree in the subject area (or hold a bachelor's degree in a related area and have completed at least 30 quarter hours of upper division credit in the subject area) and have a minimum of four years of recent full-time nonteaching experience in the subject area, or
   3. hold an associates of applied science degree in vocational education or in the subject area, whichever is more appropriate, and have a minimum of five years of full-time nonteaching experience in the subject area, or
   4. have a high level of demonstrable competency gained through a combination of study, teaching experience, and/or professional performance in the subject area, and/or have the qualifications set by the licensing or accrediting organization for the subject area, and have a minimum of five years of recent full-time nonteaching experience.
3. Developmental Education instructors shall meet one of the following sets of criteria as recommended by the appropriate SACC:
   1. hold a master's degree in an appropriate subject area, e.g., developmental education, special education, adult education, reading, mathematics, or English, and have recent experience working with disadvantaged students, or
   2. have a high level of demonstrable competency gained through a combination of study, teaching experience, and/or professional performance in the subject area and/or have the qualifications set by the licensing or accrediting organization for the subject area.
4. Instructors in all subject areas in which academic credentials are required shall have completed their education at institutions accredited by commissions associated with or similar to the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
5. Subject Area Curriculum Committees (SACCs) may recommend alternative or additional qualifications, e.g., professional registration or familiarity with special equipment, processes, or computer software, for consideration and approval by the Vice President for Educational Services.