N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:9B-5.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 6A:9B-5.7 - Citizenship requirement

(a) Except as set forth below, an applicant shall be a citizen of the United States to be eligible for a certificate.

1. Any citizen of another country who has declared an intention of becoming a United States citizen and who is otherwise qualified may be granted, with the Commissioner's approval, a teaching certificate for employment as a teacher by a district board of education as set forth at N.J.S.A. 18A:26-1. The certificate shall expire five years after issuance.

i. After the first five-year period, the certificate may be renewed up to three times, but not to exceed 20 years, upon demonstration that an application for citizenship continues to be in process and actively pursued by the applicant.

ii. The Board of Examiners may revoke a noncitizen certificate, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-8.1, if the Board of Examiners is satisfied that the certificate holder has abandoned efforts to become a United States citizen or has become disqualified for citizenship.

2. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:26-1, any citizen of another country who is employed as an exchange teacher by a district board of education, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-5.11, shall be exempt from the citizenship requirement. The teacher shall file with the district board of education a noncitizen oath to support the Constitution of the United States while employed, as required at N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.

3. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:26-1, any citizen of another country who is eligible for a limited certificate for noncitizen teachers for employment by a public school district, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-5.14, shall be exempt from the citizenship requirement. The teacher shall file with the district board of education a noncitizen oath to support the Constitution of the United States while employed, as required at N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.

4. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:26-1, a teacher of world languages who has been a resident of the United States for less than 10 years and who is not a citizen of the United States may be granted a teaching certificate and employed as a teacher by a district board of education. The teacher shall file with the district board of education a noncitizen oath to support the Constitution of the United States while employed, as required at N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7. The teacher shall not be required to complete the affidavit of intent to become a United States citizen. The noncitizen certificate shall be issued for a period of time equivalent to the 10 years less the number of years that the teacher has been a resident of the United States. This period shall not exceed 10 years and shall not be renewed.

5. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:28-3, no teaching staff member shall acquire tenure unless the teaching staff member is, or until the teaching staff member becomes, a citizen of the United States.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:9B-5.7

Amended by R.2009 d.24, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 4856(a), 41 N.J.R. 128(a).
Substituted "career and technical education" for "vocational".
Recodified from 6A:9-5.8 by R.2013 d.091, effective 7/1/2013.
See: 45 N.J.R. 152(a), 45 N.J.R. 1605(a).
Former 6A:9-5.7, Citizenship requirement, recodified to 6A:9-5.6.

Amended and recodified from 6A:9B-5.6 by 47 N.J.R. 2989(a), effective 12/7/2015

Amended by 55 N.J.R. 853(a), effective 5/1/2023