Teacher Certification Section - Probationary Certificates
Probationary Certificates
Probationary Certificates are issued to individuals who already hold
professional (clear renewable) certification in one field and are employed in a second
field in which they have completed a minimum amount of college course work. The
probationary certificate, which also requires employment in a local school system, allows
the individual to be employed in the second field while remaining course work and
assessments are completed to add the new field. The minimum course work assures a basic
foundation in the subject matter to be taught.
Probationary Certificates are valid for three to five years, depending
on the amount of course work required to add the new field. The original probationary
certificate is valid for three years; if more than 30 quarter hours are required to add
the new field, the probationary certificate may be renewed for an additional two years. To
add most fields, the applicant either completes an approved "add-on" teacher
preparation program through the college or university approved to offer preparation in the
specific field or the PSC determines, through course-by-course transcript analysis, the
additional requirements to add the new field. Requirements to add a new teaching field
usually include content course work and the appropriate content assessment. Once the
requirements are completed to add the new field, the individual is issued the clear
renewable field with the same ending validity as the prerequisite certificate.
Most probationary certificates require 20 quarter hours of content in
the new field for issuance. Special education fields, however, require 10 quarter hours
for issuance. Requirements for probationary certificates and requirements to add fields
are listed on the certification rule page for the field.
Probationary Certificate Examples
Case 1 - An individual holds a clear renewable certificate in
Math. They completed 30 quarter hours of Science course work while in college. They are
eligible for probationary certification in Science.
Case 2 - An individual holds a clear renewable certificate in
Middle Grades. They have taken the Exceptional Child and Teaching of
Reading courses while in college. Their employer needs to fill a special education
position. They are eligible for probationary certification in Mental Retardation, Learning
Disabilities, Behavior Disorders, Orthopedically Impaired, or Interrelated Special
Education.
Case 3 - An individual holds a clear renewable certificate in
English. They are enrolled in a Master’s degree program in Media Specialist and have
completed 25 quarter hours of media course work toward the degree. They are eligible for
probationary certification in Media Specialist.
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