Overview

Licensure/certification issues are fundamentally issues between teacher candidates and the state licensing/certifying agency. The states we are formally partnered with (Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming) have agreed to accept the Montana State University Institutional Evaluation & Recommendation (IER) for licensure/certification. Other states are also either willing to accept our IER directly or provide some level of reciprocity for the teaching license issued through the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Montana State University does not issue the license/certification and makes no guarantee that any state teacher licensing/certifying agency will automatically and unequivocally provide a license/certificate based solely on MSU's IER.  Please note that the appropriate Praxis II exam(s) is required to receive an Institutional Recommendation for Licensure from Montana State University and NPTT.  This is required of all teacher candidates, regardless of what state you are applying for licensure in.

NPTT Licensing/Certification Requirements

At the conclusion of the three (3) NPTT qualification courses (EDCI 552, EDCI 553, and EDCI 554) students must apply for their Alternative License (a.k.a Class 5 License) in Montana, Alternative Certificate in South Dakota, or Temporary Authorization in Wyoming, depending on which state(s) you plan to teach in. These licenses/certificates allow individuals who are not fully licensed to be offered and accept paid teaching positions without making the employing school district out of compliance with state requirements and the federal No Child Left Behind law. By design, NPTT candidates should only be on these licenses/certifications for the one year that they are engaged in the NPTT "teaching internship".

At the successful conclusion of a (academic) year-long NPTT "teaching internship", successful (each course grade a "C" or better and a program GPA of 2.5 or greater) completion  of all NPTT licensure/certification courses (EDCI 552, 553, 554, 558, 559, 555, 556, and 557), and submission of the appropriate portfolio, NPTT candidates will submit their applications for full licensure/certification in the state they want to teach in. Please note that if you would like to obtain licensure following for the upcoming school year, you must complete the Portfolio and turn it into the NPTT office no later than August 20th. The state licensing agencies will also receive MSU's Institutional Recommendation indicating that applicant's qualifications, relative to MSU standards, have been reviewed and meet our requirements.

More specific processes and requirements for each partner state are identified below.

Testing

The MSU Department of Education requires candidates to successfully pass the Praxis II test(s) in all content areas that they hope to earn endorsement in before an Institutional Evaluation & Recommendation is issued to a state licensing/certifying agency.

Montana

Alternative License (Class 5) - After completing the initial three qualification courses, candidates should work directly with the Montana Office of Public Instruction's (OPI) Educator Licensure unit to get this three year, non-renewable license. This license will allow candidates to get hired as teachers of record for their "internship" year of teaching.

Standard License (Class 2) - At the successful completion of the entire NPTT program (to include review of their portfolio) and Praxis II Exams, candidates need to complete the Class 2 application and send it in to OPI along with a check for the application fee made out to "OPI". Additionally, a official transcript needs to be ordered from the Registrar's office and sent to OPI. At the same time, candidates need to complete Section I (Candidate Information) of the Class 1 or 2 Institutional Evaluation and Recommendation (IER) form and send it to the NPTT offices. Upon receipt of that form, the MSU Field Placement & Certification office will review candidates records to ensure all programmatic requirements have been met. The MSU Certification Officer will forward the completed IER to OPI to complete the candidate's application for Class 2 license. OPI will process the application and associated documentation and issue the Class 2 license directly to the applicant.

South Dakota

Alternative Certificate - After completing the initial three qualification courses, candidates should work directly with the South Dakota Department of Education's Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality to get this three year, non-renewable certificate. This certificate will allow candidates to get hired as teachers of record for their "internship" year of teaching. Candidates should contact Roxie Thielen (605-773-4669 or roxie.thielen@state.sd.us) and identify themselves as NPTT candidates. Upon verification from the NPTT offices, Ms. Thielen will work with candidates directly to issue this certificate.

Teaching Certificate - At the successful completion of the entire NPTT program (to include review of their portfolio) and Praxis II Exams, candidates must apply for the Initial Certificate in South Dakota and download the Professional Preparation Application Instructions & Requirements. Candidates must complete the applicant section of the Professional Preparation Application and send it to the NPTT office so that we can have the Institutional Statement section completed by the MSU Certification Officer. At that point, the MSU Field Placement & Certification office will review candidates records to ensure all programmatic requirements have been met. The MSU Certification Officer will send the  institutional recommendation to the SD Department of Education. You will also need to ensure that you have a final official MSU transcript sent to the SD Dept of Education as required by them. Transcript ordering information can be found at http://www.montana.edu/registrar/?3#top3.

Specific questions about the South Dakota certification process should be referred to Roxie Thielen (605-773-4669 or roxie.thielen@state.sd.us).

Wyoming

Exemption Authorization - After completing the initial three qualification courses, candidates may work with the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board to get the Exemption Authorization. This permit is valid for one year and may be renewed for a total of three years. At the end of the three years a teaching preparation program must be completed via an approved college or university program (i.e. NPTT). This license will allow candidates to get hired as teachers of record for their "internship" year of teaching. Candidates should contact Connie Pollard (800-675-6893 or cpolla@state.wy.us to begin the process for getting this permit.

Standard Teaching Certificate - At the successful completion of the entire NPTT program (to include review of their portfolio), candidates must notify the NPTT office via e-mail (nptt@montana.edu) that they will be applying for the Teaching Certificate in Wyoming. At that point, the MSU Field Placement & Certification office will review candidates records to ensure all programmatic requirements have been met. The MSU Certification Officer will complete the  Institutional Recommendation for the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board. Wyoming does have a testing requirement for only specific major areas (WY Praxis II requirements). You will also need to ensure that you have a final official MSU transcript sent to the PTSB as required by them. Transcript ordering information can be found at http://www.montana.edu/registrar/?3#top3.

Specific questions about the Wyoming certification process should be referred to Connie Pollard (800-675-6893 or cpolla@state.wy.us).

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 8/27/2007