nd.gov - The Official Portal for North Dakota State Government
North Dakota: Legendary. Follow the trail of legends
Education Standards and Practices Board logo and title

Education Standards and Practices Board

Assuring highly qualified professional educators for North Dakota students
skip to content
Home
·
Contact Us
·
Frequently Asked Questions
·
» Print Friendly Version
About ESPB
Licensure
» Licensure Application
» How do I apply?
» License Renewal
» Licensing Fees
» License Codes/K-12 Curriculum Codes
» Types of License
» Major Equivalency Requirements
» Testing Information
» Forms
Professional Practices
Program Approval
Professional Development
Links
Forms
 
2718 Gateway Avenue
Suite 303
Bismarck, ND 58503-0585
(701) 328-9641 - Phone
(701) 328-9647 - Fax
espbinfo@nd.gov

ESPB square logo Licensure

Types of License

North Dakota Century Code Authority

A person must hold a valid North Dakota license issued by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board in order to be permitted or employed to teach in any public school in this state. No teacher is entitled to receive any compensation for the time the teacher teaches in a public school without a license to teach which lawfully is issued and in force in the county in which the school is taught. Prior to receiving a salary for the first month taught in a school district, a teacher must exhibit the teacher's license to the business manager of the school district (NDCC 15.1-13-18 and NDCC 15-36-12). Non-public schools must employ licensed teachers to be approved and in compliance with compulsory attendance laws.

Licensure Level

Level I indicates that the individual still has educational or employment requirements to meet before receiving the regular Level II license, or that they are not currently maintaining contracted employment. (Further explanation is provided under titles of licensure.) *Note: Life Certificates will appear as a Level I since they do not report their status thru renewals.

Level II indicates that the individual has met all of the basic requirements for a regular North Dakota Educators' Professional License. Full text of the rules and standards are available from the office of the Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB).

Level III indicates that the individual has earned advanced degrees beyond the bachelors level (masters, specialist, or doctoral), or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) advanced licensure.

Types of Educator's Licenses and Procedures

  1. 40-Day Provisional: Issued to applicants who have been offered a job and have completed the entire application process with the exception of the background investigation. A letter from the school administrator indicating their desire to issue a contract without the background investigation being complete and a letter from the applicant indicating their criminal background history is needed by the ESPB prior to issuing this license. 40-Day Provisional License Instructions (34kb pdf)
  2. Initial License (Two-Year): Issued to first-time applicants who have met all of the ND requirements for licensure.
  3. Two Year Renewal: Issued to applicants with less than eighteen months of successful contracted teaching in North Dakota ADD or to substitute teach. The requirements include completing the renewal of the application form parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  4. Regular (Five-Year): Issued to individuals who have met all of the requirements for a ND Educator's Professional License and have successfully taught 18 months (full-time equivalent) in the state of North Dakota. Individuals must be under contract at least thirty days of the five-year period and complete four semester hours of re-education.
  5. Interim/Emergency (One-Year): Issued in a documented shortage area. License is initiated by a letter from the local school administrator indicating the search for a qualified applicant and the desire for this license to be issued. Requirements include the completed application as per number 2 above, a bachelor of arts degree in a content area, and a plan of study from the college of education where the applicant will complete eight semester hours each year toward the teaching degree.
  6. Interim/Substitute (One-Year): Issued in a documented shortage area to individuals with a bachelor of arts degree. License is initiated by local school administrator letter and a letter from applicant indicating they will not sign a contract and are only filling in during shortage.
  7. Out-of-State Reciprocal (Two-Years): Issued to individuals who hold a valid license from another state but have not met the ND standards and rules. A plan of study is developed for each individual indicating the coursework needed. The individual has a total of four years to complete all requirements.
  8. Re-Entry (Two-Years): Issued to individuals who have been out of the teaching field for more than five years, or to out of state applicants who have not completed at least four semester hours of reeducation credit within the past five years. Eight semester hours of reeducation is required if the applicant signs a contract during the license period. Fingerprinting required.
  9. Probationary (Two-Years): Issued to individuals who have not completed the reeducation requirements for the five year or reentry license. Only one probationary license is issued.
  10. Minor Equivalency Endorsement: ME 16 or ME 24 in content areas. Me 16 requires 16 semester hours in a specific content area. ME 16 is good for five years. Coursework to complete ME 24 must be completed within five year period. This endorsement can not be used if someone wants to change from elementary to secondary education or vice versa. Requirements must be completed prior to entering classroom
  11. Middle School Endorsement: Educator has two years while in classroom to complete ten semester hours in middle school philosophy, curriculum, adolescent psychology and middle school strategies and foundations. No student teaching is required.
  12. Elementary Reeducation Endorsement: Educator has two years while in classroom to complete requirements including five areas of elementary methods. Five weeks of student teaching at the elementary level is required.
  13. Kindergarten Endorsement: Educator has two years to complete twelve semester hours and student teaching while in the classroom. One full year of experience can be used in lieu of student teaching.
  14. Waivers:
    • Fees: Out-of state transcript review fee waived until substitute signs contract. Fee waiver must be requested by school with documented shortage of substitutes.
    • Reeducation Credits: waived if the teacher is not under contract. Once a contract is signed, the reeducation credits are due.
  15. Interim/Emergency Clinical Practice Plan Option: Applicants who have entered the profession of teaching through interim/emergency license; trade, industry, technical or health occupations interim licensure; or applicants who have an elementary education degree with a transcripted minor and are seeking to compete the requirements for regular licensure may meet the student teaching requirements through a supervised clinical practice option. Applicants must meet all of the requirements as outlined in ESPB Administrative Rule 67.1-02-04-07. Applicants must submit the completed form SFN 52869 (88kb pdf) to the office of the Education Standards and Practices Board prior to beginning their clinical practice, along with a plan outlining how they intend to complete the other professional education requirements for regular licensure.
  16. 30-Year Life: A license issued to a teacher who has held a ND license for 30 years. Expiration: none
W3C AA
·
W3C CSS
·
W3C XHTML
Disclaimer
·
Privacy Policy
·
Security Policy