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In accordance with North Dakota Century Code 15.1-13-35, all candidates seeking initial teacher licensure in North Dakota must demonstrate competencies in youth mental health.
Required Competencies Include:
- Understanding the Impact: Awareness of how youth mental health disorders affect families, education systems, juvenile services, law enforcement, and healthcare providers.
- Knowledge of Mental Health: Familiarity with symptoms, social stigmas, risk factors, and protective factors related to youth mental health.
- Referral and Intervention Strategies: Ability to identify appropriate referral sources and implement effective intervention strategies.
How to Meet the Requirement:
- Candidates graduating from a North Dakota institution will have this training integrated into their teacher preparation program.
- Candidates from outside North Dakota can fulfill the requirement by:
- Completing professional development in youth mental health through a school district or mental health agency, or
- Taking a youth mental health course offered by an accredited provider.
Documentation (e.g., a letter from the school district, certificate of completion from an online training, or an unofficial transcript from a university) must be submitted to verify completion.
Provisional Licensure:
The Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB) may issue a provisional license valid for up to two years to candidates who have not yet met this requirement.