Susan Luker, Secretary to the Director, (609) 893-8141, ext.
1021
sluker@pemb.org
During the past decade, the New Jersey State Board of Education has
adopted revised regulations for teacher licensure, which require the
issuance of provisional licenses for novice teachers in virtually all
instructional areas except special education. In 1985, the State Board
of Education introduced the nation's first "alternate route" to
licensure for qualified liberal arts graduates who have not completed
professional education in a traditional teacher training program.
"Alternate route" candidates attend a program of formal instruction that
takes place concurrently with on-the-job support and evaluation. The
State Board of Education revised regulations in 1989 to require
provisional licensure and on-the-job support for all first year teachers
in New Jersey - beginning with May 1993 college graduates who completed
approved teacher-training programs in all instructional areas except
special education. Regulations were further revised in April 2001
requiring two years of mentoring for all novice teachers, including
holders of a standard license in special education.
PLEASE NOTE: The Department of
Education's Office of Licensure and Credentials recently switched over
to a paperless application system. Click on the following link to learn
more:
http://www.state.nj.us/education/news/2009/0430lic.htm
The regulations established a sequential three-step licensure process as
follows:
A. CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY:
These certificates provide the opportunity to seek employment. These are
NOT teaching licenses.
1. CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY (CE): The CE is
issued to those qualified applicants who have not completed a state
approved college teacher-training program (i.e., alternate route
candidates).
2.
CERTIFICATES OF
ELIGIBILITY WITH ADVANCED STANDING (CEAS): The
CEAS is issued to all graduates of state approved college teacher
training programs. Teacher candidates who can document one year of full
time teaching experience under a valid state license will be issued
standard licenses.
B. PROVISIONAL LICENSE:
This one year license allows the holder to begin working in the
classroom and legalized employment. It signifies that the applicant
holds a CE or a CEAS and has accepted an offer of employment. In
addition, it signifies that the employing school district has registered
the applicant in the Provisional Teacher Program and has agreed to
provide the required support and supervision.
C.
STANDARD LICENSE:
The permanent credential allows the holder to
serve without condition in all New Jersey public schools. It signifies
successful completion of Provisional Teacher Program requirements while
serving under a provisional license during the first year of employment.
PROVISIONAL TEACHER PROGRAM
A.
Provisional Teacher
Holding a CE: In May 2003, two new options were
announced to pursue an alternate route to certification in New Jersey -
the MAT Plan and the Community College Provider Plan. Those teachers NOT
participating in either of these two plans must attend one of the
regional training centers. The formal instruction consists of
approximately 200 clock hours of study in essential areas of
professional knowledge and skills. The instructional focus is clinical,
emphasizing the relationship between theory and actual classroom
practice. Instruction at these sites is available only to those
candidates who have accepted employment in a school and are registered
in the Provisional Teacher Program.
B.
Provisional Teacher
Holding a CEAS: Not applicable. This component has
been completed in the college teacher training program.
ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY
Currently the cumulative grade point average requirement is 2.5 or
better when a GPA of 4.0 equals an A grade. Beginning 9/1/04, the
cumulative GPA will change to 2.75 or better.
For additional certification information, district
employees may contact Susan Luker at extension 1021. All others should
contact your county's NJ Department of Education office for the
application package. The Burlington County office is located at 2
Academy Drive P.O. Box 6000 Westampton, NJ
08060; telephone number 609-265-5060; or at the state Web site:
http://www.state.nj.us/education/educators/license/
or call
609-292-2070.