Continuing Education

     

Find the Continuing Education link under the login section, in the blue box on the right side of your screen. 


Screen shot of the Search ASPeN page with Continuing Education circled in red.


This will bring up the Continuing Education Control Panel

Image of the CE Dashboard

You can see both your current and past certifications on the right, and additional resources on the left.
Add/Update/Submit a continuing education track in the "Change CE Track Status" section of the Control Panel.  Select the track and click Add.


Image of the CE track screen in the CE Dashboard

Adding events for credit:
 
For MLA-Sponsored events you can use the events calendar as you saw previously, in which registration for a continuing education event in ASPeN, the system will automatically add credits. If the event has passed you can also use the Continuing Education dashboard. 
Scroll down to the "Add Independent Learning Event" section. 
Use the drop-down option (the small triangle to the right of the most current event listed) to display all the events in the past year. Find the event you wish to claim and click Go!

  • Events are displayed in reverse chronological order, the most recent dates at the top. 
  • Only events you have not already claimed credit for are displayed to you.  
  • Credits cannot be claimed in advance of the event.
Image of the screen to add an independent learning event on the CE dashboard.
 
The next page will display more details about that event. Click the SAVE button on this page to officially claim that credit.

image of the space on the CE dashboard to Create a new learning event

Credits you claim will display as PENDING in your list. Participants may add events on the honor system, but before a certificate is issued, the credits must be reviewed and verified by the participant’s supervisor.

Create new independent learning event

A new independent learning event might be a local library training session, a college course, an out-of-state conference, etc. 
Trainings offered by other organizations on topics that relate to your position are not entered into ASPeN by MSL Staff.  

Image to add a new Independent Learning Event on the CE dashboard

You will need this information:

Event Title
Begin Date and Time
End Date and Time
Sponsor
Trainer/Presenter Name
CE Category
Credit Value (.5 hour is the smallest credit allowed)

These items are required.  There are other options to fill in but only those with a red asterisk are required to "Save" the Independent Learning Event.

A description of the event is helpful for review and verification steps when you submit your certification.

An MSL staff member will review your event.  Once they approve an event, the credit will appear on your continuing education credits list.

Check the "Email on Assigned Credit" box if you want to be notified when the CE credit is approved.

Using a recent college degree to claim Montana State Library certification

   

Recent graduates of MIS or MLIS programs are eligible for a Library Administrator Track certificate from the MT State Library.  To claim that certificate, librarians should:
  1. Login to ASPeN, and follow the directions found in the Help section for "ASPeN - Getting Started with Continuing Education" to create a Library Administrator Track Participation
  2. Send an electronic copy of your recent diploma to the CE Coordinator at the MT State Library
  3. Follow the directions in ASPeN help for Applying or Renewing Certification in ASPeN. 
The CE Coordinator will review and file an e-copy your diploma, record the relevant information into ASPeN about your degree and issue your certificate.   A new participation track will be created for you to begin to collect credits toward your renewal.  

Certificates awarded this way are issued as of the date of graduation, and renewal is due 4 years hence from graduation.   

Keeping track of your Continuing Education credits


Export your CE Credits to Excel to keep track and to share with your supervisor to review your continuing education activities.

screenshot of the button at the bottom of the page that says Export CE Credits to Excel

Check for duplicates, approval status, expiration dates, and credit totals by category.  

Screenshot of the window where you can edit ce credits

Printing your Continuing Education Certificate

Accessing your printable certificate in ASPeN:

  1. Login:

    • Go to aspen.mt.gov and log in using your credentials.

  2. Navigate to ASPeN User page:

    • After logging in, locate the Welcome box at the top of the right menu.
    • Within the Welcome box, find the link to your ASPeN User page.
    • Click on the link to access your User page.

  3. Find your issued certificate(s):

    • On your ASPeN User page, look for a grey box that contains your personal information, such as your name, phone number, and email.
    • Scroll down in the grey box to find your issued certificate(s).

  4. Choose the certificate to print:

    • Click on the issued certificate that you want to print.
    • If you have multiple certificates, your most recent one will be at the bottom of the list.

  5. View certificate details:

    • Once you click on the certificate, you'll be directed to a new page that contains all the information about your issued certificate.
    • Locate the section titled "Continuing Education Program Track Participation Status."
    • Check that it shows "Issued (View Certificate)."

  6. View and print your certificate:

    • Click on the "View Certificate" link within the "Continuing Education Program Track Participation Status" section.
    • This will bring up your certificate on the screen.

  7. Print or save your certificate:

    • To print the certificate, use the right-click option on the screen and select "Print."
    • Alternatively, you can create a PDF by using the right-click option and selecting "Save as PDF."
    • If you prefer, you can copy and paste the certificate information into an MS Word document and then print or save it.
    • Remember, the certificate will be accessible in ASPeN anytime you need it in the future.


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