|
Lifetime certificates: What is the status?
In recent
months, the Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality has
received inquiries regarding the advanced professional
certificate. In 1980, administrative rules were put in place
that approved an “advanced professional certificate” – sometimes
referred to as the “lifetime certificate.” This short-lived
certificate was granted to individuals who had obtained an
advanced degree and had applied for the designation.
The rule was
repealed on July 1, 1983. However, it allowed for the advanced
professional certificates to remain valid as long as the
educator meets at least one of the following
requirements:
-
Has a minimum
of eight months of actual teaching experience in a
state-accredited elementary or secondary school during each
five-year period;
-
Engages in
other educational work at least eight months during each
five-year period; or
-
Earns a
minimum of six semester or nine quarter hours of college or
renewal credit in academic subjects or professional education
during each five-year period.
If an
individual does not meet one of the above requirements, a
one-year certificate with applicable expiration dates may be
issued, depending on how recently the educator received renewal
credit. The applicant will then need to renew the certificate
with six semester or renewal hours of credit every five years.
Questions
regarding these “lifetime certificates” can be directed to the
department’s certification officers at
certification@state.sd.us or (605) 773-3134.
|
