La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXXXI-511

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section CXXXI-511 - Out-of-State (OS) Certificate

A. An out-of-state (OS) certificate, valid for a three-year period, is not renewable, and is issued to a teacher who has completed an out-of-state teacher preparation program and either holds or is eligible for a standard certificate in the state in which the program was completed. The teacher is not initially eligible for a level 1, 2, or 3 Louisiana certificate but meets Louisiana certification requirements with the exception of the exam requirements in accordance with §303 of this Part. OS certification provides a transition period that permits the holder to be employed in Louisiana K-12 schools while completing Louisiana exam requirements. For continued employment as a teacher in a Louisiana school system after the three-year period has elapsed, the OS certificate holder must fulfill guidelines for a level 1 or higher-level certificate.

B. OS Eligibility requirements:

1. earn a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602 ;

2. complete a teacher preparation program in another state;

3. hold a standard out-of-state teaching certificate, or if no certificate was issued, a letter from the state department of education or college of education dean verifying eligibility in that state for a certificate in the certification area(s);

4. complete student teaching or internship in a certification area, or in lieu of student teaching or internship have the years of successful teaching experience as required by the teacher preparation program provider or SEA;

5. a candidate who has not taught successfully for at least one year in the five years prior to the date of application may be issued a one-year non-renewable (OS1) certificate during which time the holder must be found effective in accordance with §103 of this Part for the issuance of a three-year non-renewable (OS) certificate; and

6. beginning January 1, 2017, the LDOE will issue a letter of eligibility for an OS certificate to requesting teachers who are not yet employed in Louisiana. Once employed as a teacher of record in an approved Louisiana school system, the OS certificate will be issued at the request of the Louisiana employing authority.

7. Active military or military spouse out-of-state applicants stationed in Louisiana will be issued the relevant standard professional level teaching certificate or eligibility for a five-year certificate, contingent upon the following.

a. A copy of military or military spouse out-of-state orders transferring the applicant or spouse to Louisiana must be submitted to LDOE.

b. LDOE will verify that all standard professional level teaching certificates from other states are in good standing.

c. A background check must be conducted in accordance with Louisiana statute to verify compliance with standards of practice.

d. Notification of eligibility will be issued no later than 20 days from the receipt of a complete application.

e. Once employed in Louisiana, a five-year standard professional level teaching certificate will be issued at the request of the Louisiana employing authority.

C. Advancing from OS to Professional Level 1, 2, or 3 Certificate:

1. Pass exam(s) required for Louisiana certification in accordance with §303 of this Part.

2. National Board Certification fulfills exam requirements in corresponding areas for educators holding out-of-state certification/licensure.

3. Three years of successful teaching experience in another state prior to first employment or licensure application in Louisiana, as verified by the employing authority or SEA fulfills exam requirements. For active military or military spouses, any three years of successful teaching experience in another state, as verified by the employing authority or SEA, may fulfill exam requirements.

4. The employing authority must request issuance of a valid Louisiana educator credential.

5. Active military or military spouse applicants serving in Louisiana and holding a standard professional certificate in another state, not meeting exam exclusion, on a five-year OS must earn effective ratings, in accordance with §103 of this Part, for at least three years during the five-year OS period to advance to a higher level professional certificate.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXXXI-511

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 32:1814 (October 2006), amended LR 35:2754 (December 2009), LR 36:2001 (September 2010), LR 40:1332 (July 2014), Amended LR 48432 (3/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 481036 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 4939 (1/1/2023), Amended LR 49, 8/23/2023, exp. 2/19/2024(Emergency), Amended LR 5025 (1/1/2024), Amended LR 50661 (5/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), (11), and (15), R.S. 17:7(6), R.S. 17:10, R.S. 17:22(6), R.S. 17:391.1- 391.10, and R.S. 17:411.