PURPOSE: The State Board of Education is authorized to grant certificates of license to teach in any of the public schools of the state and establish requirements and qualifications for those certificates. This rule outlines the procedures for application for a vocationaltechnical certificate of license to teach.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The secretary of state has determined that the publication of the entire text of the material which is incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. Therefore, the material which is so incorporated is on file with the agency who filed this rule, and with the Office of Secretary of State. Any interested person may view this material at either agency’s headquarters or the same will be made available at the Office of Secretary of State at a cost not to exceed actual cost of copy reproduction. The entire text of the rule is printed here. This note refers only to the incorporated by reference material.

1. (1) An applicant for a Missouri vocationaltechnical certificate of license to teach who possesses good moral character, the appropriate professional/technical skills and the appropriate educator course work may be granted a Missouri vocational-technical certificate of license to teach.
2. (2) Applications for a Missouri certificate of license to teach shall be submitted on the forms provided by the State Board of Education and may be obtained by writing and should be submitted to the coordinator for Vocational Technical Education, or for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) certificates to the Teacher Certification Section, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or downloading from the Internet.

3. (3) An application is not considered officially filed with the board until it has been determined by the board or department staff to be complete and the application is submitted on the forms provided by the board, signed and accompanied by two (2) full sets of fingerprints with the appropriate fee as set by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and any other applicable forms. All information should be received by the board within ninety (90) days of the date of the application.

   1. (A) The applicant is responsible for the payment of any fees required by the Missouri Highway Patrol and/or FBI.
   2. (B) For the purposes of this rule, the fingerprint cards shall be completed by any law enforcement agency and sent directly to the department.
4. (4) The applicant must have secured a teaching position in their area of professional/technical preparation and/or training and the employing school district or post-secondary institution must request and endorse certification and/or renewal for the applicant.
5. (5) The applicant must comply with the specific requirements for the various vocationaltechnical certificates of license to teach as set forth in the Compendium of Missouri Certification Requirements which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule.
6. (6) If the applicant seeks a vocational-technical certificate of license to teach from the department in an area which Missouri currently issues a professional license or certification, the applicant must possess a valid, unencumbered, undisciplined professional license or certificate from the professional licensing entity within Missouri.
7. (7) The applicant shall request that each state or United States territory regulatory entity in which a professional license including a certificate of license to teach is held or has ever been held to submit verification of certification or licensure directly to the department, including information regarding any disciplinary action.
8. (8) Following review by the department, the applicant shall be informed in writing of the decision regarding the application for a vocational-technical certificate of license to teach.

9. (9) The holder of a vocational-technical certificate of license to teach shall ensure that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has their current legal name and address.

   1. (A) A holder of a vocational-technical certificate of license to teach whose name is changed by marriage or court order shall notify the department within ninety (90) days of the name change and provide a copy of the appropriate documents verifying the name change.
   2. (B) A holder of a vocational-technical certificate of license to teach whose address has changed shall inform the department in writing of the change within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the change.

10. (10) The following vocational-technical certificates of license to teach may be issued and renewed as set forth in the Compendium of Missouri Certification Requirements which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule:

    1. (A) Vocational I valid for two (2) years; and
    2. (B) Vocational II valid for five (5) years.
11. (11) When an individual’s vocational-technical certificate of license to teach has expired for thirty (30) days, the individual must meet current requirements as set forth in the Compendium of Missouri Certification Requirements which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule.

AUTHORITY: sections 161.092, 168.011, 168.021, 168.071 and 168.081, RSMo 2000. Original rule filed April 26, 2000, effective Nov. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed March 27, 2001, effective Oct. 30, 2001.

*Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973; 168.011, RSMo 1963, amended 1984; 168.021, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1998, 2000; 168.071, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1993; 168.081, RSMo 1963, amended 1984.