Certification FAQs General Questions: 1. If an individual completed a teacher education program in 1990 at a LA university but has been teaching in Texas on a TX certificate ever since and wants to return to LA to teach, what type of certificate will this person qualify for? If this individual completed all NTE/PRAXIS exams they would qualify for a Level 1 teaching certificate. 2. If an individual comes to Louisiana with two years of teaching experience, the completion of an education program in Biology, and a standard GA certificate in the following areas: Biology, Physics, and English will the OS certificate be issued in all areas? Which LA Praxis exams will the teacher be required to take within the 3 year validity period of the OS? This individual would be issued an OS certificate for Biology, Physics, and English. They would have to complete PPST, PLT: 7-12, & Biology (0235) for a Level 1 certificate. Keep in mind that they must have 30 hours in Physics and English or the PRAXIS exam content exams in those areas to be HQ. 3. True or False An individual completed a teacher education program in Mississippi, holds a standard Mississippi teaching certificate in elementary grades and has met all of the LA Praxis exam requirements for elementary grades certification; does he still have to be issued an OS certificate? False, this individual qualifies for a Level 1 teaching certificate. 4. Can a married named be added to a LA certificate by sending in a copy of a Social Security Card? No, an individual must submit a copy of the marriage license or a legal document showing a change in name to change the name on their teaching certificate. 5. Can an individual who completes an education program at the University of Phoenix be certified to teach in Louisiana? Yes, once they gain certification in Arizona they can then apply for an OS or Level 1 (depending on completion of PRAXIS) teaching certificate. Educational Leader Questions: 6. Can an individual who is working on Ed Leader certification use the old PRAXIS exam (0410) for certification purposes?
No, they must have the completion of PRAXIS SLLA 1010 for certification as an Educational Leader-Level 1. 7. When an individual is certified as a Secondary School Principal and completed all requirements for Ed Leader 2 certification will they still have to complete the new PRAXIS (SLLA) exam? No, the exam is required for initial Educational Leader-Level 1 certification. 8. If an individual is certified as a Principal or Supervisor of Instruction does he now have to add Ed Leader to their certificate to serve in those roles? No, once an individual is certified as a Principal or Supervisor they can continue to serve in those roles indefinitely without adding Education Leader to their certificates. 9. Does certification and an Educational Leader allow an individual to serve as a Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance? Yes, Educational Leader allows an individual to serve as an Assistant Principal, Principal, Supervisor of Instruction, Supervisor Director of Special Education, Special School Principal, and Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance. PRAXIS/NTE/ACT/SAT Questions: 10. If an individual passed any PRAXIS exam prior to a change in scores, can the exam he completed still be used for certification purposes? Yes, any exam completed prior to the date of a change in scores qualifies for certification. 11. Can the Professional Knowledge exam of the NTE substitute for the PLT for an add-on endorsement? No, the Professional Knowledge exam can be used to issue a Level 1 certificate but cannot be used for add-on certification. The appropriate level PLT must be completed for any add-ons. 12. Can the ACT/SAT score be used in lieu of Praxis I (reading and writing) for issuance of a TAT? Yes, if the individual has the appropriate ACT or SAT score that exam can be substituted for PPST: Reading, Writing, & Math. 13. Can a person who is on an OS use an ACT or SAT score to substitute for Praxis I?
Yes, any individual applying for Louisiana certification can substitute the ACT or SAT for the PRAXIS PPST exams. 14. True or False A copy of an ACT or SAT score report can be submitted for the issuance of a TAT certificate. No, a copy of the ACT or SAT cannot be used to issue any type of Louisiana certificate. The individual must present and original score report or the university may submit the scores on official stationary or on an official transcript. 15. Can a master s degree be used in place of Praxis I to apply for a TAT? No, an individual can substitute a master s degree for PRAXIS I only if they are enrolled in an alternate program and are issued a PL license. 16. For a teacher to qualify for out of state Praxis exclusion, does the 4 years of experience out of state have to be in a public school system? No, recent legislation and Board action would allow the previous teaching experience to be in an approved public or nonpublic school system. Non Standard Questions: 17. Does a teacher who wants an OFAT renewal need to take the Praxis exams required for the add-on certification once or twice if he/she chooses not to take the 6 hours required for renewal? All PRXIS exams required for the add-on certification may be attempted once per school year in the place of six semester hours required for renewal of the OFAT certificate. 18. If an OFAT certificate in Mild/Moderate can be issued for four years can a TAT certificate in Mild/Moderate also be issued for four years? No, this stipulation only applies to OFAT certificates. TAT certificates may be held for three years only. 19. Can a teacher be on an OFAT for three years then move to an EEL for three years? And vice versa? If an individual has been employed on an OFAT certificate they can then be put on an EEL certificate once they have completed the requirements for the issuance of an EEL. If an individual is on an EEL certificate they cannot move to an OFAT in the same area.
20. What is the deadline date for TAT renewal? November 1 Practitioner License Questions: 21. We need a teacher on a PL2 in Biology to teach two courses of Math. Is this okay? As long as that individual teaches at least one class period per day in Biology the school system can have them teach any other area. Keep in mind that the individual would hold no certification in that area nor would they be Highly Qualified in that area. 22. Can a teacher get a PL 2 or PL 3 renewed by taking 6 hours? No, for a PL to be renewed the individual must complete 9 semester hours from their alternate prescription. 23. If an individual is enrolled in an alternate program at the University of Phoenix can he/she be put on a PL license? No, the University of Phoenix is considered an out-of-state university. PL licenses can only be issued to in-state universities with approved alternate programs. EEL Questions: 24. If a teacher is employed on an EEL certificate and lacks 12 hours for certification can he/she complete 6 hours and a PRAXIS exam for renewal of that certificate? No, the individual must complete 9 semester hours to renew an EEL certificate. The PRAXIS exam could be completed if the individual has completed all coursework required for the add-on certification. 25. If I want to apply for an EEL in Mild/Moderate, (the teacher is teaching at the elementary level) what PRAXIS exam is required? This individual would have to take and pass PRAXIS exam (0014). 26. If an individual is Elementary certified teaching gifted in Elementary grades can he/she be placed on an EEL? No, EELs cannot be issued in the area of "Academically Gifted".
Highly Qualified (HQ) Questions: 27. If a person is certified in Mild/Moderate how does he/she become HQ to teach content area subjects at the fourth grade Level? If an individual is certified Mild/Moderate they would need to complete PRAXIS 0014 to become HQ to teach at the fourth grade level. The completion of 0014 would make them HQ for grades 1-5. 28. True or False If an individual completed his 90 CLUs at the end of this school year (08-09) can they consider them HQ? No, all options for the completion of CLUs for HQ ended with the 2007-2008 school year. 29. If a new teacher was hired for the 2008-2009 school year to teach at the elementary level how can he/she be deemed HQ? This new teacher must have PRAXIS 0014 to be HQ for grades 1-5. 30. Is an FLES teacher considered HQ because he holds a certificate? No an FLES teacher must have their foreign transcript reviewed by Terri Hammatt to determine their Highly Qualified status. 31. If a not new teacher was deemed HQ with CLU s will he/she maintain his HQ status if he continues to teach the same subject at the same grade level? If an individual obtained HQ status by the completion of CLUs then they will continue to be considered HQ as long as they teach the same subject at the same grade level. 32. If an individual is teaching ESL at the elementary level in which subject would he need to be HQ? Any individual teaching ESL at the elementary level should be certified and HQ at the elementary level. They would be considered HQ after the completion of PRAXIS 0014.