OAR 584-235-0030: Professional Administrator License

(1) Purpose of the License: The Professional Administrator License is a license that qualifies its holder to serve in a principal or a school district position in a prekindergarten through grade 12 Oregon public school district, education service district, or charter school. The Professional Administrator License is the professional administrative license for the State of Oregon and signifies that the holder is prepared for leadership in the district-level context. (2) Scope and Responsibilities of the License: A Professional Administrator License is required to perform school administrator duties at the district-level, as provided in OAR 584-235-0010 , Scope and Responsibilities of Oregon Administrator Licenses . District-level positions are administrative positions that have responsibilities across schools or programs within a district, including director of programs and superintendency positions. (3) Term of Licensure: The Professional Administrator License is valid for five years and is renewable as provided in subsection (11) of this rule. The date of the first expiration of the license is five years from the date of issue plus time until the applicant’s birthday. (4) Assignments: The Professional Administrator License qualifies the administrator to accept: (a) Any superintendent position; (b) Any school administrator assignment at the building or district-level; and (c) Any substitute teaching assignments. NOTE: An active and valid Oregon teaching license is required for a teaching assignment that is not a substitute teaching assignment. (5) Advanced Professional Education Program: Pursuant to ORS 342.138, the Commission has approved the Professional Administrator License program, or out-of-state equivalent, as the advanced professional education program required for the Professional Administrator License. The Professional Administrator License program, or out-of-state equivalent, must be: (a) Equal to at least 27 quarter or 18 semester degree-applicable, graduate credit hours in school administration or educational leadership; and (b) Completed after the date of issuance of their first non-provisional administrator license in Oregon or another National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) jurisdiction. (6) Waiver of Professional Administrator License Program: The Executive Director or Director of Licensure may waive the requirement of the Professional Administrator Program. To receive a waiver, an applicant must submit: (a) Evidence of completing advanced coursework or degrees which demonstrate competency in standards and responsibilities of the Professional Administrator License, as determined by the Executive Director or Director of Licensure; and (b) A waiver request, as provided in OAR 584-200-0100, Waiver of Licensure Requirements by the Commission . (7) School Administrator Experience: To qualify for the Professional Administrator License, an educator must complete: (a) Three (3) full years of licensed school administrator experience in a 1.0 FTE assignment; or (b) Six (6) full years of licensed school administrator experience in a .50 FTE or more assignment. (c) The years of school administrator experience do not have to be earned consecutively. (8) Qualifying Experience: To qualify as a year of school administrator experience, the experience must: (a) Include duties that require school administrator licensure, in accordance with 584-235-0010, Scope and Responsibilities of Oregon Administrator Licenses. (b) Occur while holding an Initial, Reciprocal, Preliminary, or Principal or equivalent non-provisional administrator license from a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) jurisdiction; (c) Equal a minimum of 135 days within an academic year (July 1 to June 30); and (d) Be completed in one, or a combination of, the following employment settings: (A) A public prekindergarten through grade 12 school, including public charter schools; (B) A regionally accredited private school in any state or other U.S. jurisdiction; or (C) An education service district school; (D) A state-operated or state-supported school; (E) A federal school; (F) A private elementary or secondary school registered by the state Department of Education; (G) A private proprietary career school licensed by the superintendent of public instruction; or (H) Alternative education, post-secondary or other similar settings closely-related to prekindergarten through grade 12 education, as approved by the Director of Licensure. (9) Applying for License: To be eligible to apply for a Professional Administrator 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 master’s degree or higher from an Approved Institution in the United States, or the foreign equivalent of such degree approved by the Commission. (c) Meet or complete all requirements of the Preliminary, Principal, Initial, Legacy, Basic, Continuing, Standard, or an equivalent administrator license issued previously by the Commission or issued by another National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) jurisdiction; (d) Complete an advanced professional education program, as provided in subsections (5) or (6); (e) Complete the school administrator experience requirements, as provided in subsections (7) through (9); (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 584-200-0050. (10) Renewing: To be eligible to apply for renewal of the Professional Administrator License, the applicant must: (a) Complete 120 professional development units or 8 graduate level semester credits (or graduate level quarter credit equivalent) as provided in 584-255-0010 Professional Development Requirements ; and (b) 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 584-200-0050.