92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 21, § 005

Current through September 17, 2024

Section 92-21-005 - Teaching Certificates and Permits

005.01Teaching Certificates and Permits. Types. General requirements. The Department may issue Initial, Standard, and Professional teaching certificates. The Department may also issue Alternative Program, Career Education, Postsecondary, State Substitute, Local Substitute, Military, and Nebraska Entry teaching permits. Each applicant for any such teaching certificate or permit may, depending on the type of certificate or permit, be required to:

005.01A Complete the application and meet the requirements of lawful presence in the United States as set forth in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 108 through 114 including completion of the United States Citizenship Attestation Form if necessary, found in Appendix C of this chapter;

005.01B Submit an official transcript of all college credit earned in fulfillment of the requirements of this chapter;

005.01C Pay the prescribed fee as provided in Section 003.05 of this chapter;

005.01D Not have an application for a certificate denied or currently have a certificate suspended or revoked by another jurisdiction, and not have any felony conviction, or any misdemeanor conviction involving abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct as defined in Sections 003.11 through 003.14 of this chapter;

005.01E Be of good moral character;

005.01F Not have an emotional or mental incapacity to practice the profession as defined in Section 003.10 of this chapter;

005.01G Submit a complete, legible set of the applicant's fingerprints and pay the prescribed fee established by the Board to the Department for processing a criminal history record check if the applicant is seeking the first issuance of a Nebraska certificate or permit and has not been a resident of Nebraska for at least five (5) continuous years immediately preceding the date of application;

005.01H Submit evidence of human relations training as defined by this chapter;

005.01I Submit evidence of special education training; and

005.01J Submit evidence of qualifying for or be eligible to have placed on a certificate or permit one (1) or more endorsements pursuant to 92 NAC 24.

005.02Initial Teaching Certificate. An Initial teaching certificate is valid for teaching in all Nebraska school systems, except that if requested by the applicant at the time of application, such certificate is valid only in Nebraska nonpublic school systems. Each Initial teaching certificate expires August 31 in the fifth year following the year of issuance or renewal.

005.03Initial Teaching Certificate Requirements. Each applicant for an Initial teaching certificate shall:

005.03A Fulfill the requirements in Section 005.01 of this chapter;

005.03B Have received a baccalaureate degree;

005.03C Have completed the academic program requirements of an approved program; and

005.03D Either:

005.03D1 Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have:

005.03D1a Taught for one (1) school year in an accredited, approved, or otherwise legally operated school or service provider in any state;

005.03D1b Received six (6) semester hours of college credit in education-related coursework; or

005.03D1c Received fifteen (15) semester hours of college credit as set forth in subsection 005.10C3 of this chapter if the applicant, more than five (5) years after completion of an approved program, has never held a regular teaching certificate and verified employment in another state; or

005.03D2 Be a person participating in an approved teacher exchange program.

005.04Initial Teaching Certificate. Renewal Prior to Expiration or Less than Five (5) Years after Expiration. Requirements. Each applicant for renewal of an Initial teaching certificate prior to the date of expiration or less than five (5) years after the date of expiration of such certificate must:

005.04A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.04B Hold or have held a Nebraska Initial teaching certificate which has not expired or expired less than five (5) years prior to the date of application; and

005.04C Either:

005.04C1 Have taught or held a position requiring a certificate half time or more for one (1) school year in an accredited, approved, or otherwise legally operated school or service provider during the past five (5) years; or as a faculty member in a postsecondary educational entity; or

005.04C2 Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have received six (6) semester hours of credit from a standard institution of higher education in education-related coursework.

005.05Standard Teaching Certificate. A Standard teaching certificate is valid for teaching in all Nebraska school systems, except that if requested by the applicant at the time of application, such certificate is valid only in Nebraska nonpublic school systems. Each Standard teaching certificate expires August 31 in the fifth year following the year of issuance.

005.06Standard Teaching Certificate requirements. Each applicant for a Standard teaching certificate must:

005.06A Fulfill the requirements in Section 005.01 of this chapter;

005.06B Qualify for or hold a Nebraska Initial teaching certificate or a comparable and equivalent certificate; and

005.06C Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have:

005.06C1 Taught half-time or more for two (2) consecutive school years while holding a regular certificate:

005.06C1a In a Nebraska school system or service provider;

005.06C1b In an accredited, approved, or otherwise legally operated school or service provider in another state;

005.06C1c In a U.S. Department of Defense school system;

005.06C1d As a faculty member in a postsecondary educational entity;

005.06C1e In a pre-kindergarten early childhood program which is required by law to employ certificated teachers or which requires its teachers to hold a certificate; or

005.06C1f As a Nebraska certified teacher providing distance learning or dual enrollment instruction to students in a Nebraska school system as defined in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-1201.01.

005.06C2 Taught half-time or more for two (2) consecutive school years in a nonpublic school in a state that does not require certification of nonpublic school teachers; or

005.06C3 Been employed by the Department.

005.07Professional Teaching Certificate. A Professional teaching certificate is valid for teaching in all Nebraska school systems, except that if requested by the applicant at the time of application, such certificate is valid only in Nebraska nonpublic school systems. Each Professional teaching certificate expires August 31 in the tenth year following the year of issuance or renewal, except that Professional teaching certificates issued prior to July 11, 1977, are valid for the life of the holder unless otherwise converted as provided in Section 003.08 of this chapter.

005.08Professional Teaching Certificates Requirements. Each applicant for a Professional teaching certificate must:

005.08A Fulfill the requirements in Section 005.01 of this chapter;

005.08B Qualify for or hold a Nebraska Standard teaching certificate, or a comparable and equivalent certificate, or verify having taught half-time or more for two (2) consecutive years during the period of validity of a regular certificate; and

005.08C Either:

005.08C1 Within ten (10) years prior to the date of application, have received a Master's degree from an approved standard institution of higher education in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Technology, Special Education, or in the applicant's content area;

005.08C2 Hold current credentials from a credentialing organization approved by the Department pursuant to 92 NAC 22; or

005.08C3 Have received a six (6) year specialist's certificate or a doctorate degree from a standard institution of higher education in an area related to the applicant's content area completed at the Master's degree level.

005.09Standard and Professional Teaching Certificates. Renewal Prior to Expiration or Less Than Five (5) Years After Expiration. Requirements. Each applicant for renewal of a Standard or Professional teaching certificate prior to or less than five (5) years after the date of expiration must:

005.09A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.09B Hold or have held a Nebraska Standard or Professional teaching certificate or a comparable and equivalent certificate which shall not have expired or which expired less than five (5) years prior to date of application; and

005.09C Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have:

005.09C1 Been employed to teach or administer half-time or more for one (1) school year:

005.09C1a In a Nebraska school system or service provider;

005.09C1b In an accredited, approved, or otherwise legally operated school or service provider in another state;

005.09C1c In a nonpublic school in a state that does not require certification of nonpublic school teachers;

005.09C1d In a U.S. Department of Defense school system;

005.09C1e As a faculty member in the educator preparation program of a standard institution of higher education with employment verified by a written statement from the administrator of the teacher preparation program;

005.09C1f In a pre-kindergarten early childhood program which is by law required to employ certificated teachers or which requires its teachers to hold a certificate;

005.09C1g As a Nebraska certified teacher providing distance learning or dual enrollment instruction to students in a Nebraska school system as defined in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-1201.01; or

005.09C1h As a Nebraska certified teacher employed by a service provider;

005.09C2 Been employed or contracted by the Department; or

005.09C3 Received six (6) semester hours of credit in education-related coursework from a standard institution of higher education.

005.10Initial, Standard, and Professional Teaching Certificate. Renewal Five (5) or More Years After Expiration. Requirements. Each applicant for renewal of an Initial, Standard, or Professional certificate five (5) or more years after the date of expiration of such certificate must:

005.10A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.10B Have held a Nebraska Initial, Standard, or Professional teaching certificate which expired five (5) or more years prior to the date of application; and

005.10C Either:

005.10C1 Hold a current regular certificate from another state and have taught for one (1) year out of the past five (5) years:

005.10C1a In an accredited, approved, or otherwise legally operated school or service provider in another State;

005.10C1b In a U.S. Department of Defense school system; or

005.10C1c In a prekindergarten early childhood program which is, by law, required to employ certificated teachers or which requires its teachers to hold a certificate;

005.10C2 Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have been employed to teach or administer half-time or more for one (1) school year as a faculty member in the educator preparation program of a standard institution of higher education with employment verified by a written statement from the administrator of the teacher preparation program; or

005.10C3 Within the five (5) years prior to the date of application, have received fifteen (15) semester hours of education-related coursework taken after completion of the baccalaureate degree which includes

(a) a course in instructional techniques;

(b) a field experience consisting of one hundred (100) or more clock hours of contact with students in the classroom setting, fifty (50) percent of which shall consist of performing instructional duties;

(c) a course or courses which address current issues in education, including but not limited to, special education, gifted education, reading and writing in the content area, and school law; and

(d) the remaining course work be directly related to the applicant's content area on the expired certificate.

005.11Alternative Program Teaching Permit. An Alternative Program teaching permit is issued to applicants who do not meet all requirements for a regular certificate and is valid for teaching in all Nebraska school systems, except that if requested by the applicant at the time of application, such permit is valid only in Nebraska nonpublic school systems. Each Alternative Program teaching permit expires August 31 in the second year following the year of issuance.

005.12Alternative Program Teaching Permit requirements. Each applicant for an Alternative Program teaching permit must:

005.12A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01G of this chapter;

005.12B Submit a written request for the issuance of such permit from the superintendent of schools or the governing body of the school system in which the applicant intends to teach;

005.12C Have received a baccalaureate degree;

005.12D Submit a signed and dated Alternative Program Teaching Permit Form, found in Appendix D of this chapter, to fulfill the remaining requirements needed for issuance of a regular certificate; and

005.12E Fulfill the requirements of one of the following pathways:

005.12E1 For pathway one, the applicant must have:

005.12E1a Completed at least one half of the pre student teaching requirements, including a course in teaching methods, of an approved program; and

005.12E1b at least three fourths of the requirements for at least one subject or field endorsement pursuant to 92 NAC 24;

005.12E2 For pathway two, the applicant must have:

005.12E2a Completed a state approved alternative program for teaching, which includes some education related coursework;

005.12E2b Hold a current regular teaching certificate in another state; and

005.12E2c Submit evidence of employment of at least one year of teaching experience in the last five years in an approved, accredited or otherwise legally operated school in another state. A recommended form (Verification of Employment Experience) is available on the Educator Certification website;

005.12E3 For pathway three, the applicant must have:

005.12E3a Completed a teacher education program at a standard institution of higher education; and

005.12E3b Currently possess a certificate to teach in good standing from another state;

005.12E4 For pathway four, the applicant must have:

005.12E4a Earned and been awarded a baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, or professional degree from a college or university accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the U. S. Department of Education; and

005.12E4b Passed any appropriate subject area examination as designated by the Board;

005.12E5 For pathway five, the applicant must have:

005.12E5a A baccalaureate degree which includes at least three fourths of the course requirements for preparation in the endorsement area, pursuant to 92 NAC 24, that addresses the teacher position to be filled by the applicant; and

005.12E5b Submitted a written plan from the school system for mentoring and supervision of the applicant;

005.12E5c Completed a pre-teaching seminar offered by an educational service unit or standard institution of higher education that includes information and skill development in the areas of diversity, classroom management, curriculum planning, and instructional strategies; and

005.12E5d Submitted a written agreement with an educator preparation program from a Nebraska standard institution of higher education to complete the program for an Initial teaching certificate which includes a commitment by the standard institution of higher education to provide at least one (1) supervisory visit each semester to the school system and classroom of the applicant; or

005.12E6 For pathway six, the applicant must have:

005.12E6a Completed an approved program at a standard institution of higher education; and

005.12E6b Held a regular teaching or administrative certificate that has not been expired for more than five (5) years; and

005.12E6c Prior to the expiration of the Alternative permit, submit an official transcript showing the completion of six (6) semester hours of education-related coursework from a standard institution of higher education taken after the completion of the baccalaureate as outlined in subsection 005.09C3; or

005.12E7 For pathway seven, the applicant must have:

005.12E7a Completed an approved program at a standard institution of higher education; and

005.12E7b Held a regular teaching or administrative certificate that has been expired for more than five (5) years; and

005.12E7c Prior to the expiration of the Alternative permit, submit an official transcript showing the completion of fifteen (15) semester hours of education-related coursework from a standard institution of higher education taken after the completion of the baccalaureate as outlined in subsection 005.10C3.

005.13Alternative Program Teacher Permit Renewal requirements. Each applicant for renewal of an Alternative Program teacher permit must:

005.13A Fulfill the requirements in Section 005.12 of this chapter;

005.13B Submit a transcript documenting completion of at least fifteen (15) semester hours towards completion of a program outlined in subsection 005.12D of this chapter for the current Alternative Program teacher permit; and

005.13C Submit evidence of human relations training as required in section 005.01 H of this chapter.

005.14Career Education Teaching Permit. A Career Education teaching permit may be issued to an applicant who does not meet the Nebraska requirements for a regular certificate and shall be valid only in the Nebraska school system requesting the issuance of such permit and only in the career education endorsement areas described in 92 NAC 24. Each Career Education teaching permit expires August 31 in the third year following the year of issuance.

005.15Career Education Teaching Permit Requirements. Each applicant for a Career Education teaching permit must:

005.15A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01H and 005.01J of this chapter; and

005.15B Submit verification from the Superintendent of Schools or the governing body of a school system in which the applicant intends to teach. The recommended form (Career Education Permit Verification) is available on the Educator Certification website.

005.16Career Education Teaching Permit Renewal Requirements. Each applicant for renewal of a Career Education teaching permit must:

005.16A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.16B Submit verification for the renewal of such permit from the Superintendent of Schools or the governing body of the school system in which the applicant intends to teach. A recommended form (Career Education Permit Verification) is available on the Educator Certification website; and

005.16C Hold or have held a Nebraska Career Education teaching certificate or permit.

005.17Postsecondary Teaching Permit. A Postsecondary teaching permit is valid only for teaching courses for college credit offered by a Nebraska postsecondary educational entity that have also been approved for high school credit in Nebraska school systems requesting the delivery of such courses and only in the applicant's postsecondary subject area. Each Postsecondary teaching permit expires August 31 in the third year following the year of issuance.

005.18Postsecondary Teaching Permit Requirements. Each applicant for a Postsecondary teaching permit must:

005.18A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01H of this chapter; and

005.18B Be eligible to teach courses for college credit offered by a Nebraska postsecondary educational entity that have also been approved for high school credit in Nebraska school systems requesting the delivery of such courses as documented by the Nebraska postsecondary educational entity. A recommended form (Employment Verification for a Postsecondary Permit) is available on the Educator Certification website.

005.19Postsecondary Teaching Permit Renewal Requirements. Each applicant for renewal of a Postsecondary teaching permit must:

005.19A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.19B Hold or have held a Postsecondary teaching permit;

005.19C Continue to be eligible to teach courses for college credit offered by a Nebraska postsecondary educational entity that have also been approved for high school credit in Nebraska school systems requesting the delivery of such courses as documented by the Nebraska postsecondary educational entity. A recommended form (Employment Verification for a Postsecondary Permit) is available on the Educator Certification website; and

005.19D Within three (3) years prior to the date of application, have;

005.19D1 Taught one (1) or more courses that generate college credit and have been approved for high school credit in Nebraska school systems requesting the delivery of such; or

005.19D2 Received three (3) semester hours of graduate credit in the applicant's postsecondary content area.

005.20State Substitute Teaching Permit. A State Substitute teaching permit is valid for teaching in all teaching endorsement areas in all Nebraska school systems. A State Substitute permit holder may be employed to teach by a school system only on a non-contractual basis. If requested by the applicant at the time of application, such permit is valid only in Nebraska nonpublic school systems. Each State Substitute teaching permit expires August 31 in the fifth year following the year of issuance.

005.21State Substitute Teaching Permit requirements. Each applicant for a State Substitute teaching permit must:

005.21A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01H of this chapter; and

005.21B Have held a Nebraska regular teaching certificate or a comparable and equivalent certificate in another state that has expired, or qualify for or hold a comparable and equivalent certificate.

005.22State Substitute Teaching Permit Renewal Requirements. Each applicant for renewal of a State Substitute teaching permit must:

005.22A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter; and

005.22B Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have taught in one (1) or more school systems for at least fifty (50) full-time days; or

005.22C Within five (5) years prior to the date of application, have received three (3) semester hours of education related coursework.

005.23Local Substitute Teaching Permit. The Local Substitute teaching permit is valid for substitute teaching in all Nebraska school systems. The permit holder may substitute teach no more than ninety (90) full-time days in the same school system. Additional days may be authorized by the Commissioner upon written request from the Nebraska school system that demonstrates a need for additional days. The permit expires August 31 in the fifth year following the year of issuance of the permit.

005.24Local Substitute Teaching Permit requirements. Each applicant for a Local Substitute teaching permit must:

005.24A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01H of this chapter; and

005.24B Have at least sixty (60) semester hours of college credit with credit in education-related coursework.

005.24C

005.25Local Substitute Teaching Permit Renewal Requirements. The Local Substitute teaching permit can be renewed upon meeting the requirements in Section 005.24 of this chapter.

005.26Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit. A Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit is valid for teaching in the school system, public or private, that requests the issuance of the permit. Each Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit expires on August 31 in the third year following the year of issuance and may not be renewed. No individual may hold a Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit for a cumulative total of more than three school years. A Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit may be transferred to a different school system pursuant to Sections 005.29 and 005.30 of this chapter.

005.27Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit requirements. Each applicant for a Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit must:

005.27A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01G and 005.01J of this chapter;

005.27B Have received a baccalaureate degree;

005.27C Hold a valid certificate or permit to teach or administer that:

005.27C1 Is currently in force in another state; and

005.27C2 Has been held by the applicant for at least one (1) year;

005.27D Not have any pending investigations or complaints against any certificate or permit to teach or administer held by the applicant;

005.27E Submit a statement signed by a certification officer, or the equivalent in another state, as evidence of completion of the academic requirements for issuance of the applicants certificate or permit to teach in another state. A recommended form (Institutional Verification) is available on the Educator Certification website; and

005.27F Submit a written request for the issuance of a Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit to the applicant from the superintendent of schools or the governing body of the school system in which the applicant intends to teach.

005.28Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit Holder requirements to Qualify for a Regular Certificate. To qualify for a regular (Initial, Standard, or Professional) teaching certificate at the expiration of a Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit, a permit holder must:

005.28A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.28B If the permit holder had two or more years of verified teaching experience prior to the issuance of the Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit, submit evidence of:

005.28B1 The verified teaching experience that occurred prior to the issuance of the permit: and

005.28B2 Either:

005.28B2a Half-time or more employment as a teacher for three (3) consecutive years while holding a Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit in the school system that requested the issuance of the permit; or

005.28B2b While holding the permit, completion of fifteen (15) semester hours of education-related coursework taken after the completion of the baccalaureate degree that includes

(i) a course in instructional techniques;

(ii) a field experience consisting of one hundred (100) or more clock hours of contact with students in the classroom setting, fifty (50) percent of which must consist of performing instructional duties; and

(iii) a course or courses which address current issues in education, including but not limited to, special education, gifted education, reading and writing in the content area, and school law, with the remaining coursework directly related to the applicant's content area on the permit.

005.28C If the permit holder did not have two or more years of verified teaching experience prior to the issuance of the Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit, submit evidence of:

005.28C1 Fulfillment of the requirements in subsection 005.01J of this chapter; and

005.28C2 While holding the permit, completion of fifteen (15) semester hours of education-related coursework taken after the completion of the baccalaureate degree that includes

(i) a course in instructional techniques;

(ii) a field experience consisting of one hundred (100) or more clock hours of contact with students in the classroom setting, fifty (50) percent of which must consist of performing instructional duties; and

(iii) a course or courses which address current issues in education, including but not limited to, special education, gifted education, reading and writing in the content area, and school law, with the remaining coursework directly related to the applicant's content area on the permit.

005.29Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit Holder Transfer to Another School System. A Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit holder may apply to transfer the permit to another school system. The transfer of a Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit does not change the permit's expiration date or any requirements for a permit holder to subsequently Qualify for a regular certificate.

005.30Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit Holder Transfer to Another School System Requirements. Each Nebraska Entry Teaching Permit holder applying to transfer the permit to another school system must:

005.30A Fulfill the requirements in subsections 005.01A through 005.01F of this chapter;

005.30B Submit a statement of assurance signed by the permit holder that the permit holder will not abrogate any contract with the original school system if the transfer of the permit is granted; and

005.30C Submit a written request for the transfer of the applicant's Nebraska Entry Permit from the superintendent of schools or the governing body of the school system to which the permit would be transferred and in which the applicant intends to teach.

92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 21, § 005

Amended effective 10/20/2020

Amended effective 2/18/2024