Full information regarding your service obligation can always be found at the Department of Education website. Updated contact information to speak with a Department of Education representative can also be found on the site to assist you as questions may arise. They will be able to assist with your Employment Record Form, login and access to your PDP account, questions about your employment setting meeting service obligation requirements, changing your contact information in their database in the event of a name, address or phone number change, and service fulfillment.

Your service obligation may begin once you graduate from your advanced degree program with Western Carolina University. In this instance, you will sign an Exit Certification, provided by your program coordinator, and follow these instructions. In some cases, you may initiate your service obligation prior to your degree being conferred and your Exit Certification being completed. These cases are for students who have completed the equivalent of a full-time year of their degree program and are working within an environment that qualifies as serving IDEA eligible children. Begin by speaking with your program coordinator if you believe you may meet these circumstances.

 

How do scholars enter employment information in the PDPDCS?

Scholars enter their employment information by completing the Employment Record Form in the PDPDCS. Note, only scholars who have completed at least one academic year of training are eligible to enter employment records.

To enter an Employment Record follow the instructions below:

1. Log into the PDPDCS at: https://pdp.ed.gov/OSEP/logon/Login
2. On the “Scholar Main Menu” navigate to Section F. “Eligible Employment” and select the hyperlink “Add Employment Record.”
3. Scholars will be directed to the Employment Record Form.

The Employment Record Form contains two sections or parts. The first asks for contact information of the employer and the second asks for details of the position. The employment records may be saved and edited at a later date by selecting the “Save for Later” at the bottom of the form. To submit an Employment Record Form scholars must select “Save and Submit” at the bottom of the form. Once an employment record is submitted an automated notification e-mail is sent to the employer requesting verification. ONLY SUBMITTED EMPLOYMENT RECORD FORMS ARE PROCESSED BY THE PDPDCS. PLEASE NOTE THAT SUBMITTED EMPLOYMENT RECORD FORMS FOR PAST POSITIONS CANNOT BE EDITED BY SCHOLARS UNLESS THE EMPLOYER DISPUTES THE EMPLOYMENT RECORD. EMPLOYMENT RECORD FORMS FOR CURRENT POSITIONS CAN BE EDITED AFTER THE EMPLOYER VERIFIES OR DISPUTES THE EMPLOYMENT RECORD OR THE EMPLOYERS’ 30-DAY VERIFICATION WINDOW HAS EXPIRED.