Certification

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Calvin alumni report the following additional requirements for Alabama:

• Praxis tests

Calvin grad Emily is willing to correspond with Calvin alumni who are applying for certification in Alabama: emilypalacios30@gmail.com .

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Alabama Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report the following additional requirements for Alaska:

• Praxis tests

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Alaska Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report the following additional requirements for Arizona:

• Arizona fingerprint card
• Background check
• Arizona history course
• Arizona state constitution course (may be allowed to test out of this)
• Additional state tests
• ESL minor and/or IDIS 301 Intro to Bilingual and ESL Education

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Arizona Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report that the Calvin degree qualifies them to teach in independent schools. In order to teach in public schools, additional classes are required.

A Canadian history course is required for all elementary teachers and secondary social studies teachers. Calvin does not currently offer a Canadian history course, so this requirement will most likely need to be met through a Canadian college or university during your first few years of teaching.

Disclaimer: Provinces may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Certification to Teach in B.C.

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California has more requirements for teacher credentialing than most other states. Therefore, if you are hired to teach in a private school, ask if the school can accept your Michigan teaching certificate in place of the California credential.

If you are interested in teaching in a California public school or a private school that requires the California credential, apply for the credential right away because the application process can take a few months.

Take your application documents to a county department of education. They may be able to double-check everything and may give you a receipt which will allow you to apply for teaching positions. Fingerprinting is required.

You can begin teaching with the preliminary credential and then meet the requirements for the professional credential while you are teaching. Requirements may include additional state tests and courses. Recommended courses at Calvin:

• ESL minor (or at least IDIS 301 Introduction to Bilingual and ESL Education)
• EDUC 312 Teaching Exceptional Students
• Teaching with Technology Interim

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

California Commission On Teacher Credentialing

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Colorado does not offer middle level endorsements (grades 6-8), so if you are interested in teaching middle school in Colorado, you should complete the secondary education program at Calvin. The Elementary Certificate in Colorado is only valid for grades K-6.

Calvin alumni report needing one or more additional state tests to teach in Colorado, such as the PLACE test and Praxis exams. These tests may be waived if you have at least three years of teaching experience.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Colorado Department of Education Website

Calvin grad Amy VanSlocum is certified in Colorado and is open to sharing her experience - amy.vanslocum@gmail.com .

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The Department of Defense Education Activity is a civilian agency of the United States Department of Defense that manages all schools for military children and teenagers in the United States and also overseas at American military bases worldwide.

Calvin grad Kate reports that no additional courses were required. Interested Calvin grads may contact her at katejackson54@gmail.com .

Disclaimer: Teacher certification rules may change at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

DODEA online

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Calvin alumni report little trouble with obtaining the Florida license.

Calvin's ESL minor is recommended. IDIS 301 Introduction to Bilingual and ESL Education is highly recommended for anyone interested in teaching in Florida (regardless of which majors/minors you select). Keep the syllabus for this course in your records.

Candidates interested in teaching history, political science, economics, or geography in Florida should complete Calvin's Social Studies major.

Some candidates needed to pass additional state tests, depending on the subject area.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Florida Department of Education Website

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Calvin alumni report little trouble with obtaining the Georgia license.

Georgia will accept some, but not all, MTTC scores. Additional testing may be required.

You may wish to request the Chicago semester for your internship, because this semester includes the edTPA assessment which you may need for Georgia.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Georgia Professional Standards Commission

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Calvin alumni report little trouble with obtaining the Idaho license. Additional state tests may be required. Contact a Calvin grad at jgarbini@nsd131.org .

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Idaho State Board of Education Website

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Illinois requires a copy of your actual, valid Michigan certificate (not expired). They will not accept a letter from Calvin as proof of eligibility for certification. Some Illinois private schools accept the Michigan certificate and will not require you to apply for the Illinois license. 

Elementary candidates who know in advance that they hope to teach in IL should consider the Chicago Semester for student teaching. This will allow you to meet Illinois' new edTPA assessment and some testing requirements during that semester. 

How to apply:

• Complete these forms: 80-02 and 80-01A (all applicants), 80-01 (applicants with teaching experience). Send forms to certification@calvin.edu. Calvin will request that edTPA be waived based on your student teaching performance. Please notify us if you are required to complete the edTPA. Email form 80-03A to MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov.
  
• Apply online through the ELIS system - apply for the Professional Educator License. You will be able to begin teaching and then will need to meet additional requirements by the provided deadline in order to obtain the Professional Educator License (PEL). 
• If you have questions, contact your nearest regional office for assistance: Directory of Regional Offices of Education
• After you apply, you will receive a letter listing any additional tests that will be required through the Illinois Certification Testing System (Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and content tests).
  

Additional Requirements:

• IL requires one course addressing cross-categorical special education methods. EDUC 312 Teaching Exceptional Students at Calvin is highly recommended for all students interested in teaching in Illinois (regardless of which majors/minors you select). Keep the syllabus for this course in your records.
• IL requires one course addressing ESL/bilingual methods. IDIS 301 Introduction to Bilingual and ESL Education at Calvin is highly recommended for all students interested in teaching in Illinois (regardless of which majors/minors you select). Keep the syllabus for this course in your records.
• The special ed and ESL/bilingual courses may also be completed in IL or online before you graduate. View the list of pre-approved options.
• Illinois requires additional courses before your majors/minors may be taught at the middle school level (grades 5-8). An Illinois-approved middle grades program is required. This program may be completed in Illinois after graduating from Calvin. Elementary candidates interested in teaching middle school should complete one major instead of two minors.
• For secondary teachers, EDUC 307 is accepted as the reading in the content area course, but IL also requires a second course on reading methods.
• Additional courses may be required to teach minor subjects, such as health. Take as many 300-level courses as possible in your minor.
• For the bilingual Spanish endorsement, up to three additional courses may be required.
• For special education certification, Illinois requires 32 semester hours of special education coursework (not including student teaching, psychology, and biology courses).
• Specific requirements for IL endorsement areas

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Illinois State Board of Education Website

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Indiana requires a copy of your actual Michigan certificate. They will not accept a letter from Calvin in its place.

Private, accredited schools usually require the Indiana license and cannot allow teachers to use their Michigan certificates instead.

Additional tests may be required to obtain the 2-year license.

Alumni report that K-12 special education transfers easily, with no additional tests required.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Indiana Department of Education Website

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Click Teacher License (Out of State Preparation) on the webpage below. We hear that MTTC score reports may not be required if the Highly Qualified Teacher form is submitted.

Additional courses may be required, depending on the grade level and subject area.

Calvin's special ed. program has transferred as K-6 Elementary Teacher and K-8 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate Disabilities.Additional classes are required for Instructional Strategist II: Mental Disabilities.

PSYC 208 Developmental Psychology I: Child is recommended for candidates who may teach in Iowa.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Iowa Board of Educational Examiners

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Additional Praxis state tests may be required.

One Calvin grad reported that the secondary program transferred to Kansas as grades 5-9 only. Contact Calvin's teacher certification coordinator if you are interested in teaching grades 10-12 in Kansas.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Kansas State Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report the following requirements:

• Calvin College course descriptions
• Praxis II examination
• Letter or email from Calvin stating that you completed a "state-approved teacher education program" (email certification@calvin.edu to request this).

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Maine Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report the following requirements:

• Praxis tests
• An additional reading course may be required during your first few years of teaching.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Maryland Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report that additional state tests may be required.

For grades 9-12 science, Calvin's integrated science major is not recommended. Select a major and minor from biology, chemistry, earth/space, or physics.

If you complete Calvin's ESL minor, apply for the initial license.

If you do not have the ESL minor, apply for the Provisional license (you may need to take "Sheltered English" classes in MA during your first few years of teaching unless you are only teaching art, music, P.E., or world languages).

Contact the MA Department of Education about which MTEL tests to attempt and when. 

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Massachusetts Department of Education

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Contact Calvin's Teacher Certification Coordinator with any questions about Michigan teacher certification:

Shari Brouwer

certification@calvin.edu

(616) 526-6208

Renewing a Michigan Teaching Certificate

Michigan Department of Education

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Elementary teachers may need to take an additional course about human relations and Native Americans in Minnesota.

You may need to have documented student teaching experience in each major and minor subject area that you wish to be certified to teach.

Middle level certification requires at least four weeks of middle school student teaching and middle level methods courses for each subject.

All applicants for a Minnesota initial teaching license must take and pass the Minnesota Basic Skills test in order to receive a teaching license. You may take this test before you graduate from Calvin. Out-of-state applicants for a Minnesota teaching license should submit passing scores for the MTTC Basic Skills or Professional Readiness Exam as part of the licensure application if you completed those tests. 

Additional subject area state tests may also be required. A temporary license is available so that you may begin teaching while you take care of these additional requirements (the Basic Skills tests must be passed in order to obtain the temporary license).

Update: Minnesota may now require the edTPA for certification. We are investigating if this will apply to Michigan-certified teachers or not. You may wish to request the Chicago semester for your internship, because this semester includes the edTPA assessment which you may need for Minnesota.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Calvin grad Jackson is available if you would like to hear about his experience getting certified in Minnesota - jacksonadejong@gmail.com.

Minnesota Department of Education

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Calvin alumni have been able to obtain the MS certificate without additional required courses or tests.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Mississippi Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report that the Michigan certificate transfers to Montana with no additional requirements.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Calvin alumni report little trouble with obtaining the Nevada license. Additional state tests may be required.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Nevada Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report that the Michigan certificate transfers to New Hampshire with no additional requirements. Proof of passing the MTTC tests may be required.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

New Hampshire Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report the following additional requirements for New Jersey:

• Praxis II test
• Possibly additional courses, depending on transcript evaluation
• Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS). Then, after you are hired as a teacher you can obtain the two-year Provisional certificate.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

New Jersey Department of Education

Certificate Reciprocity

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Calvin alumni report that the following additional requirements for the New Mexico license:

• fingerprinting and background check
• proof of passing the MTTC tests
• Additional testing may be required
• license fee

If you are hired in New Mexico for your first teaching position, you will provide two letters to the New Mexico Public Ed Department: 1) Contact Shari Brouwer for a letter verifying that you successfully completed Calvin’s program 2) Ask the hiring school in New Mexico to provide a letter requesting a one-year temporary license. During your first year of teaching, you will need to pass any additional required exams for the New Mexico standard certificate.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Out-of-State Application

(select your grade level and see the “Reciprocating a License” information) 

New Mexico Public Education Department

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Additional requirements for New York teacher certification may include fingerprinting, additional tests, and short workshops covering child abuse, violence prevention, and dignity for all students. Candidates with the Michigan certificate are given a one-year certificate in New York. In order to obtain full certification, the edTPA assessment is required.

You may wish to request the Chicago semester for your internship, because this semester includes the edTPA assessment.

Calvin grad Abbi Stratton has offered to assist teachers applying for certification in New York – email certification@calvin.edu to request her contact information. 

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

New York State Education Department

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Calvin alumni report little trouble with obtaining the North Carolina license.

In some cases, North Carolina has accepted the MTTC tests in place of their required PRAXIS tests.

Calvin grad Ryan is available to assist Calvin grads who are interested in NC licensure - contact ryancmulder@gmail.com .

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

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Ohio licensure levels:

Early childhood, grades PreK-3

Middle childhood, grades 4-9

Adolescent, grades 7-12

The Michigan elementary certificate has transferred as grades Preschool - 3 in Ohio. When you apply for the Ohio license, request a "grades 4-5 generalist endorsement" which will allow you to teach grades PreK-5 in Ohio. Elementary majors/minors do not transfer for middle school teaching in Ohio (you could work with an Ohio college or university to add middle school endorsements after you are licensed for K-5).

Contact the Ohio Department of Education to determine which Praxis tests will be required.

World language teachers may need to provide reports of speaking proficiency - the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), the Advanced Level Check (AL Check), or the Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc). This evaluation should have been completed prior to your Michigan certification. Email certification@calvin.edu if the Ohio Department of Education requests confirmation that this exam was required by Calvin for Michigan teacher certification.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Ohio Department of Education Website

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Calvin alumni have been certified in OK without any additional required tests or courses.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Oklahoma Department of Education

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The Ontario College of Teachers Website has application information.

Calvin alumni report that in a few cases additional courses are required, depending on the subject area.

Ontario requires at least 80 days (400 clock hours) of student teaching. 

Also, the following Calvin courses are recommended for all candidates (regardless of major/minor):

Teaching with Technology Interim

EDUC 312 Teaching Exceptional Students

If you do not complete these courses at Calvin, you may be required to complete additional study in these areas in Ontario.

After you have obtained your Michigan Teaching Certificate, contact Courtney Humpert to request that a "Statement of Professional Standing" be mailed to the Ontario College of Teachers, 101 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M5S 0A1 Canada.

A separate Christian School Teacher’s Certificate is also available – contact Vocate to apply.  The following Calvin courses are accepted for this certificate:
REL 121 or 131
EDUC 398 or 510
EDUC 302-303 or 522
IDIS 205
(Additional approved courses are listed on the Vocate website.)

Courtney Humpert
HumpertC@michigan.gov
(517)241-3257
Michigan Department of Education
Office of Professional Preparation Services
P.O. BOX 30008
Lansing, MI 48909

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Choose majors and minors which are certifiable in Pennsylvania. For example, secondary candidates interested in teaching history should complete the social studies major.

Elementary candidates will apply for the Grades PK-4 certificate and take the Pre K-4 Assessment.

The Pennsylvania special education certificate required courses in teaching students with physical disabilities and severe emotional impairments. Calvin courses may not be accepted to meet this requirement, so special education candidates may need to take additional courses in these areas. Apply for the SPED PK-8 certificate and the PK-4 elementary certificate. You will need to pass the Special Ed PK-8 assessment.

Pennsylvania requires additional tests.

Send form PDE 338A to Shari Brouwer in the Education Department.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Contact person for questions - 

Eileen Bink | Certification Specialist

Phone: (717) 728-3224 | Fax: (717) 783-6736

Email: ebink@pa.gov

Pennsylvania Department of Education Website

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Calvin alumni report that additional Praxis tests may be required to teach in Tennessee.

Tennessee does not offer certification in integrated science or general science, so those interested in grades 6-12 science should choose specific subject-area majors/minors (biology, chemistry, earth/space, and/or physics).

Update: Tennessee may now require the edTPA for certification. We are investigating if this will apply to Michigan-certified teachers or not. You may wish to request the Chicago semester for your internship, because this semester includes the edTPA assessment which you may need for Tennessee.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Tennessee Educator Licensing

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Calvin alumni report that additional state tests are required to teach in Texas.

A language evaluation is required for bilingual Spanish certification.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Educator Certification Online System

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Calvin alumni report the following additional requirement for Utah:

• Praxis Tests

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Utah Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report the following additional requirements for Virginia:

• Praxis tests

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Virginia Department of Education

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Calvin alumni report needing to take some additional state tests for Washington certification (basic skills and content tests). Fingerprinting is also required.

One teacher reported needing to take a Washington state history course.

Update - We have heard that Washington is now requiring the edTPA assessment, however, this assessment is not required for teachers prepared outside of Washington.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Calvin grad Shelly is available if you would like to hear about her experience getting certified in Washington - shelly.d.hendricks@gmail.com . Sarah is also available at soord5@gmail.com .

Washington OSPI

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Wisconsin will accept the MTTC Basic Skills or Professional Readiness Exam. The MTTC subject tests are not accepted. Contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to determine which Praxis tests will be required. The actual Michigan certificate is not required.

All Wisconsin testing requirements will have to be met in order for licenses to be issued. 

After you apply, Wisconsin will provide a letter listing any stipulations that you will need to meet during your first few years of teaching.

Calvin alumni report being required to complete a conflict resolution course and a human relations course covering the Wisconsin Native American tribes. These courses may be available online. Calvin's certification officer can prepare a letter explaining that EDUC 202 and IDIS 205 address the minority group relations requirement. Calvin's program does not meet Wisconsin's specific conflict resolution requirements or the American Indians in Wisconsin human relations requirement.

EDUC 312 Teaching Exceptional Students is recommended for all candidates (regardless of major/minor program).

IDIS 160 Energy: Resources, Use, and Stewardship (physical world core course) or ENST 210 Human Impacts on the Environment are recommended for secondary history and social studies majors. 

You may wish to request the Chicago semester for your student teaching internship, because this semester includes the edTPA assessment which you may need for Wisconsin.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Website

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Wyoming does not offer certification in general science or integrated science - choose from the biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space science majors and minors instead.

Disclaimer: States may change their teacher certification rules at any time. Therefore, contact the staff at the website below to obtain the most up-to-date information.

Professional Teaching Standards Board