1. (a) Subject to (c) of this section, a person who is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state to teach the use of orientation and mobility aids to blind or visually impaired students who are 16 years of age or older must satisfy one or more of the following requirements:

   1. (1) hold a valid Orientation and Mobility Specialist Certification issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP);
   2. (2) have completed a bachelor's degree or higher from an approved institution of postsecondary education, with a major course of study in the teaching of orientation and mobility skills;
   3. (3) if the person is teaching the use of orientation and mobility aids in the public schools, hold a valid teacher certificate from the Department of Education and Early Development, of the type and with any endorsement required under 4 AAC 12.365 for a person employed to provide related services in the field of orientation and mobility; or
   4. (4) subject to (b) of this section, teach under the direct supervision of a person who meets the requirements of (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection.
2. (b) A person may rely on qualification for teaching the use of orientation and mobility aids under (a)(4) of this section only for a cumulative period of three years of full-time work.
3. (c) Notwithstanding the requirements of (a) of this section, a person who is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state on March 3, 2004 to teach the use of orientation and mobility aids to students who are 16 years of age or older may continue to do so until March 3, 2007. Thereafter, the person must meet the requirements of (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(Eff. 3/3/2004, Register 169)