OAR 584-210-0030: Preliminary Teaching License

(1) Purpose of the License: The Preliminary Teaching License qualifies its holder to teach in prekindergarten through grade 12 Oregon public school districts, education service districts, and charter school assignments. The Preliminary Teaching License is issued to new teachers who have successfully completed an Oregon teacher preparation program or who have entered the state as a licensed beginning teacher. The Preliminary Teaching License signifies that the educator is a teacher who has not met the advanced competencies and experience requirements necessary to meet the qualifications of the Professional Teaching License. (2) Term of Licensure: The Preliminary Teaching License is valid for three years and is renewable as provided in subsection (7) of this rule. The license may be renewed continuously until the applicant has met both the advanced competencies and experience requirements for the Professional Teaching License. The date of the first expiration of the license is three years from the date of issue plus time until the applicant’s birthday. (3) Assignment and Endorsement Authorization: The Preliminary Teaching License qualifies the teacher to accept: (a) Any instructional assignment from prekindergarten through grade 12 within the scope of the subject-matter endorsement(s) on the Preliminary Teaching License. The scope of the endorsement shall be determined by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) course codes associated with the endorsement as provided by the TSPC course catalogue; and (b) Any substitute teaching assignments. (4) Out-of-state applicants: (a) An out-of-state applicant may be eligible for the Preliminary Teaching License if the applicant: (A) Holds a valid and active non-provisional teaching license from another National Association of State Directors of Teaching Education and Certification (NASDTEC) jurisdiction; (B) Meets the requirements for the Preliminary Teaching License provided in this rule; and (C) Meets the requirements for the Reciprocal Teaching License provided in OAR 584-210-0060. (b) When no Commission-approved program offers a program leading to the first teaching license in an endorsement area: (A) Notwithstanding subsection (5)(c) and OAR 540-200-0080, applicants who complete a program for a required license endorsement not offered by an Oregon institution may, without first obtaining an educator license in their home state, apply directly to Teacher Standards and Practices for licensure. (B) The applicant must have completed a teacher preparation program from another National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) jurisdiction, or a foreign program evaluated as satisfactory by the Commission. (i) The applicant must submit official transcripts to verify the completion of the teacher preparation program and the program must submit a program completion report. (ii) Completion of alternative route teaching programs resulting in licensure through school districts or other alternative routes are subject to Executive Director or Licensure Director approval. (5) Qualifying for Endorsements: (a) All applicants must qualify for at least one endorsement with the issuance of the first Preliminary Teaching License. (b) Oregon prepared teacher candidate: Applicants who complete an Oregon program must receive a recommendation for at least one endorsement on the official TSPC Program Completion Report for their Preliminary Teaching License. (c) Out-of-state prepared teacher candidate: Applicants who complete an out-of-state program must provide evidence of: (A) Holding, or having held, valid out-of-state non-provisional teaching license with the endorsement or acceptable equivalent endorsement from NASDTEC jurisdiction or the endorsement area as verified on the program completion report submitted by the out-of-state approved program. . (B) A passing score on a subject mastery test for endorsement, or other acceptable method of content mastery, in accordance with 584-220-0015 Evidence of Content Knowledge and Pedagogy Skills. NOTE : A Preliminary Teaching License is considered a first-issued license for 30 days after issuance. On the 31st day after issuance, the license becomes an “existing” Preliminary Teaching License for the purpose of adding endorsements, as provided in Division 220. (6) Applying for the License: To be eligible to apply for a Preliminary Teaching License, an applicant must: (a) Possess the personal qualifications for licensure including attainment of at least eighteen years of age and possessing good moral character and mental and physical health necessary for employment as an educator; (b) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an Approved Institution in the United States, or the foreign equivalent of such degree approved by the Commission. A master's degree or a doctoral degree from an Approved Institution in the United States validates a non-accredited bachelor's degree for licensure purposes; (c) Provide evidence of the completion of a teaching preparation program: (A) Oregon Completers: Applicants who complete an Oregon program must receive a program completion report for the Preliminary Teaching License submitted by their educator preparation program; (B) Out-of-State Completers: Applicants who complete an out-of-state program must: (i) Either provide evidence of completion of a teaching preparation program as provided in OAR 584-210-0060, Reciprocal Teaching License, or the program must submit the program completion report ; and (ii) Must obtain a passing score as currently specified by the Commission on one or more tests of subject mastery for subject-matter endorsement(s) or otherwise complete endorsement requirements established by the Commission; (d) Qualify for at least one endorsement as provided in subsection (6); (e) Possess the knowledge of U.S. and Oregon civil rights laws and professional ethics: (A) Applicants who complete an Oregon program meet the requirements for the knowledge of U.S. and Oregon civil rights laws and professional ethics; or (B) Applicants who complete an out-of-state program must obtain a passing score on a Commission-approved test of knowledge of U.S. and Oregon civil rights laws and professional ethics, or otherwise meet the requirements for the knowledge of U.S. and Oregon civil rights laws and professional ethics in a manner that may be adopted by the Commission; (f) Complete a background clearance that includes: (A) Furnishing fingerprints, if required; (B) Providing satisfactory responses to character questions in the form and manner prescribed by the Commission; and (g) Submit a complete and correct application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050. (7) Renewal: To be eligible to apply for renewal of the Preliminary Teaching License, an applicant must: (a) Complete 75 advanced professional development units as provided in OAR 584-210-0040 Professional Teaching License and OAR 584-255-0010 Professional Development Requirements; or (b) Complete 75 continuing professional development units as provided in OAR 584-255-0010 Professional Development Requirements. (c) Submit a complete and correct renewal application in the form and manner required by the Commission, including payment of all required fees as provided in OAR 584-200-0050. (8) Upon qualifying for the advanced competencies and teaching experience requirements of the Professional Teaching License, an applicant will be moved from the Preliminary Teaching License to the Professional Teaching License. Licensees may renew the Preliminary Teaching License until they have met all qualifications for the Professional Teaching License.