14 Del. Admin. Code § 1510-4.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025

Section 1510-4.0 - Requirements for an Initial License

4.1 Pursuant to 14 Del.C. § 1210(a), the Department may issue an Initial License to an applicant who has satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 through 4.1.3.

4.1.1 The applicant shall have earned, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from a 4-year Regionally Accredited college or university. Notwithstanding the foregoing requirement, an applicant for a Skilled and Technical Sciences Teacher Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1559) shall complete the coursework specified in Section 4.0 of 14 DE Admin. Code 1559 prior to the expiration of the Initial License.

4.1.2 The applicant shall have simultaneously applied for and met the requirements of at least 1 content area Standard Certificate.

4.1.2.1 An Initial License will not be issued if the applicant does not meet the requirements of the content area Standard Certificate sought or is ineligible for an Emergency Certificate.

4.1.2.2 Subsection 4.1.2 does not apply to applicants who applied for a specialist Standard Certificate as provided in subsection 4.1.3.3.1 or a Skilled and Technical Sciences Standard Certificate.

4.1.3 The applicant shall have completed a Student Teaching Program or meet the requirements of 1 of the alternatives to student teaching as provided in subsections 4.1.3.1 through 4.1.3.5.

4.1.3.1 The applicant completed a minimum of 91 days of successful long-term substitute teaching in up to 2 assignments in the same content area relevant to the content area Standard Certificate sought in a Delaware public school as part of a planned hiring process that leads to a full-time teaching position.

4.1.3.1.1 Subsection 4.1.3.1 applies to applicants who have applied for a content area Standard Certificate. Subsection 4.1.3.1 does not apply to applicants who seek an Early Childhood Teacher Standard Certificate, Elementary Teacher Standard Certificate, Middle Level English Teacher Standard Certificate, High School English Teacher Standard Certificate, or a category Standard Certificate.

4.1.3.1.2 Teaching experience from an Alternative Routes for Teacher Licensure and Certification program may not be used to satisfy the requirement in subsection 4.1.3.1.

4.1.3.1.3 Before commencing the 91 days of substitute teaching, the applicant shall hold a bachelor's degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university.

4.1.3.1.4 The applicant shall have completed 1 of requirements in subsections 4.1.3.1.4.1 through 4.1.3.1.4.3.

4.1.3.1.4.1 The applicant completed a minimum of 24 credits in the content area of the Standard Certificate sought with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

4.1.3.1.4.2 The applicant obtained the minimum score on the approved content area examination in the content area of the Standard Certificate sought.

4.1.3.1.4.3 The applicant will be employed as a teacher in the Jobs for Delaware Graduates Program.

4.1.3.1.4.4 The applicant completed a major in education studies or other education major in the content area of the Standard Certificate sought.

4.1.3.1.5 The minimum of 91 days of long-term substitute teaching shall be completed within 2 consecutive school years. The application for an Initial License must be submitted within 1 year of the completion of the 91 days.

4.1.3.1.6 At the conclusion of the long-term substitute teaching assignment or assignments, if the applicant does not meet the requirements of the relevant content area Standard Certificate or meet the requirements to be issued the relevant content area Emergency Certificate, the applicant will not meet the qualifications for issuance of an Initial License.

4.1.3.1.7 The applicant shall submit an attestation from a representative of the applicant's employing school district or charter school that the applicant is competent to engage in the practice of instruction.

4.1.3.2 The applicant completed a minimum of 91 days of substitute teaching per year over a 3-year period while employed as a permanent, full-time substitute in 1 or more assignments in a Delaware public school under 14 Del.C. § 1716G.

4.1.3.2.1 Subsection 4.1.3.2 applies to applicants who have applied for at least 1 content area Standard Certificate.

4.1.3.2.2 Teaching experience from an Alternative Routes for Teacher Licensure and Certification program may not be used to satisfy the requirement in subsection 4.1.3.2.

4.1.3.2.3 The substitute teaching shall be completed within 3 consecutive school years. The application for an Initial License must be submitted within 1 year of the completion of the 91 days per year for 3 years.

4.1.3.2.4 At the conclusion of the substitute teaching assignment or assignments, if the applicant does not meet the requirements of a content area Standard Certificate or meet the requirements to be issued a content area Emergency Certificate, the applicant will not meet the qualifications for issuance of an Initial License.

4.1.3.2.5 The applicant shall submit an attestation from a representative of the applicant's employing school district or charter school that the applicant is competent to engage in the practice of instruction.

4.1.3.3 The applicant shall be enrolled and participating in an Alternative Routes for Teacher Licensure and Certification program pursuant to Subchapter VI of 14 Del.C. Ch. 12.

4.1.3.4 The applicant completed a supervised practical experience in the specialty area for which the specialist Standard Certificate is sought.

4.1.3.4.1 Subsection 4.1.3.4 applies to an applicant who has applied for a specialist Standard Certificate. The specialist Standard Certificates are Elementary School Counselor, Secondary School Counselor, School Library Media Specialist, School Nurse, School Psychologist, and School Social Worker.

4.1.3.4.2 An applicant for an Elementary School Counselor Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1522), shall have completed 1 of the following supervised practical experiences:

4.1.3.4.2.1 An applicant who does not hold a Secondary School Counselor Standard Certificate shall complete a supervised school counseling clinical experience under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing elementary school counselor of 700 hours in an elementary school setting (grades K-8) which is part of a graduate degree program in elementary school counseling; or

4.1.3.4.2.2 An applicant who is seeking both an Elementary School Counselor Standard Certificate and a Secondary School Counselor Standard Certificate simultaneously must complete 350 hours of clinical experience in an elementary school setting (grades K-8) under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing elementary school counselor and 350 hours of clinical experience in a secondary school setting (grades 6-12) under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing secondary school counselor. Clinical hours in grades 6-8 shall only be used in 1 setting.

4.1.3.4.3 An applicant for a Secondary School Counselor Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1545), shall have completed 1 of the following supervised practical experiences:

4.1.3.4.3.1 An applicant who does not hold an Elementary School Counselor Standard Certificate shall complete a supervised school counseling clinical experience under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing secondary school counselor of 700 hours in a secondary school setting (grades 6-12) which is part of a graduate degree program in secondary school counseling; or

4.1.3.4.3.2 An applicant who is seeking both an Elementary School Counselor Standard Certificate and a Secondary School Counselor Standard Certificate simultaneously must complete 350 hours of clinical experience in an elementary school setting (grades K-8) under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing elementary school counselor and 350 hours of clinical experience in a secondary school setting (grades 6-12) under the direct supervision of a state department of education certified and practicing secondary school counselor. Clinical hours in grades 6-8 shall only be used in 1 setting.

4.1.3.4.4 An applicant for a School Library Media Specialist Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1580) shall have completed 1 of the following supervised practical experiences:

4.1.3.4.4.1 A supervised internship or practicum that is a requirement to earn a master's or doctoral degree in School Library Media from an American Library Association-approved program at a Regionally Accredited college or university; or

4.1.3.4.4.2 A supervised internship or practicum that is part of a Department-approved School Library Media program that meets the American Library Association's standards.

4.1.3.4.5 An applicant for a School Nurse Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1582) shall have completed 3 years of Supervised Clinical Nursing Experience as a registered nurse consisting of a minimum of 500 hours per year for a total of 1,500 hours during the 3-year period. This requirement shall not be met in a school setting.

4.1.3.4.6 An applicant for a School Psychologist Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1583) shall have completed a supervised, culminating, comprehensive field experience of at least 1,200 hours, 600 hours of which must have been completed in an educational setting, in an institution or agency that is approved by the applicant's graduate program or the Department, completed at or near the end of formal training, through which the applicant had the opportunity to integrate and apply professional knowledge and skills acquired in prior courses and practica as well as to acquire new competencies consistent with training program goals.

4.1.3.4.7 An applicant for a School Social Worker Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1584) shall have completed a supervised internship or practicum that is a requirement to earn a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a Regionally Accredited college or university.

4.1.3.4.8 An applicant for a School Behavior Analyst Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1585) shall have completed the requisite number of supervised clinical hours for certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst or a Qualified Behavior Analyst.

4.1.3.4.9 An applicant for a School Behavior Analyst Assistant Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1586) shall have completed the requisite number of supervised clinical hours for certification as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst or a Qualified Autism Service Practitioner Supervisor.

4.1.3.5 The applicant completed 1 of the following experience requirements for a Skilled and Technical Sciences Teacher Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1559).

4.1.3.5.1 Six years of work experience in an area related to the STS-specific career area, at least 2 of which shall have been within the last 5 years prior to the date of the application; or

4.1.3.5.2 Six years of work experience by teaching in or direct supervision of educators in an area related to the STS-specific career area, at least 2 of which shall have been within the last 5 years prior to the date of the application.

14 Del. Admin. Code § 1510-4.0

18 DE Reg. 218 (9/1/2014)
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24 DE Reg. 1066 (6/1/2021)
27 DE Reg. 171 (9/1/2023)
27 DE Reg. 764 (4/1/2024) (Final)