At a glance
- Give accurate information and submit only your own, properly redacted teaching evidence.
- SOTS designations may be used only while they are current and in good standing.
- Direct professional membership fees, upgrades and renewals are non-refundable.
- SOTS credentials do not replace any government teaching licence or registration.
- Members uphold the Professional Teaching Oath and the SOTS ethical standards.
Acceptance of these terms
These Terms of Use (“Terms”) are an agreement between you and The Society of Teaching Specialists Inc. (“SOTS”, “SOTS USA”, “we”, “us” or “our”), a nonprofit corporation registered in the State of Colorado, USA. They apply to this website and to our membership, certification, assessment, CPD and verification services (the “Services”).
By using the Services you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy, Refund Policy and Accessibility Policy.
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to apply for membership or certification. If you act for a school or institution, you confirm you are authorised to do so. Each tier and certification has its own eligibility criteria, which form part of these Terms.
Applications and evidence
- Accuracy. Information, qualifications, referees and evidence you submit must be true, complete and your own. We may verify anything you tell us.
- Learner data. Evidence must be redacted as described in our Privacy Policy. You are responsible for holding any consent your school or the law requires.
- Misrepresentation. False, misleading or plagiarised material may lead to refusal, suspension or withdrawal of membership or certification, without refund.
Membership
SOTS membership is available through the Professional Route and the Experiential Route, with tiers from Associate, Full Member, Fellow, Senior Fellow, Distinguished Fellow and Eminent Fellow. Membership is granted following assessment against the published threshold for each tier.
- Membership fees are non-refundable. Fees for new membership, upgrades and renewals are not refunded, in whole or in part, except as set out in our Refund Policy.
- Membership is personal and cannot be transferred.
- Membership runs for the period paid for (normally 12 months) and must be renewed, with any CPD requirement met, to remain current.
- Some tiers, including Eminent Fellow, are by nomination or invitation only.
Certifications and designations
When you earn a SOTS tier or specialist certification, you may use it on your CV and professional profiles provided that it is current and in good standing, you use it exactly as awarded, and you stop using it immediately if it lapses, is suspended or is withdrawn.
SOTS credentials are professional society recognition. They do not replace any government teaching licence or registration, and they do not guarantee employment, promotion or salary.
Assessments and integrity
Assessment may include portfolio review, reflective statements, case evidence, written assessment and professional discussion. Cheating, impersonation, submitting another person’s work, or attempting to obtain assessment material in advance is prohibited. Where malpractice is found after a fair process, results may be withheld or cancelled and membership suspended or withdrawn. You may appeal through the Standards Council.
Professional conduct
Members uphold the Professional Teaching Oath and the SOTS ethical standards, including the safeguarding of learners. Conduct concerns are investigated fairly by the Standards Council, and sanctions range from advice to withdrawal of membership, with a right to respond and appeal.
Fees and payment
Current amounts are provided by a SOTS advisor for your region, route and certification; see our Examination & Fees page.
- Fees are payable in advance and only through a payment channel confirmed by SOTS.
- Direct professional membership fees, upgrades and renewals are non-refundable.
- You are responsible for bank charges, currency conversion costs and taxes.
- Refunds of other fees follow our Refund Policy.
Acceptable use of the website
You must not use the website to break the law, upload malicious code, attempt unauthorised access, scrape content or personal data, submit abusive or misleading content, impersonate SOTS or another person, or falsely claim a SOTS designation.
Intellectual property
The SOTS name, seal and logo, the Standards and Assessment Frameworks, assessment materials and website content belong to SOTS or its licensors. You may view and print pages for personal, non-commercial use and share links with colleagues. Assessment content is confidential.
You keep ownership of the evidence you submit and grant SOTS a licence to use it to assess you and maintain your record. We will ask before using your work as an exemplar.
Disclaimers and liability
Website content is general professional guidance, not legal or regulatory advice. To the extent the law allows, SOTS is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, and our total liability for any claim is limited to the fees you paid to SOTS in the 12 months before the claim. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.
Suspension and termination
You may end your membership at any time by writing to us. Ending your membership early does not entitle you to a refund of fees already paid. We may suspend or withdraw membership for serious or repeated breach of these Terms or the Oath, after giving you an opportunity to respond.
Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, United States. If a dispute arises, please contact us first – most concerns can be resolved quickly. If it cannot be resolved within 60 days, either party may bring proceedings in the state or federal courts located in Colorado. If you live in a country whose consumer laws give you the right to bring a claim locally, or to rely on mandatory local protections (such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 in Nigeria), nothing in these Terms takes that right away.
Changes
We may update these Terms; the current version and its date are always on this page. Continuing to use the Services after a change means you accept it.
Contact us
Questions about these Terms?