67.1-02-02-04. Two-year and five-year renewals.

1. Two-year renewal license.

a. A two-year renewal license must be issued to applicants with less than eighteen months of successful contracted teaching in North Dakota who have completed all of the requirements on the application form and pay the required fee of sixty-five dollars. Applications for renewal may only be submitted six months prior to the expiration of the current license and expire after a minimum of two years after the applicant's birth date.

b. A two-year re-entry license must be issued to an applicant re-entering the profession after an absence of five years who has completed all of the requirements on the application form. Prior to applying for the re-entry license, the applicant shall submit to a fingerprint screening for criminal records in accordance with North Dakota Century Code section 15.1-13-14. An applicant re-entering the profession shall complete eight semester hours of re-education credit during the applicant's first two years of contracted employment as stated in this section and in section 67.1-02-02-09. The fee for the re-entry license is eighty-five dollars. Applications for renewal may only be submitted six months prior to the expiration of the current license and expire after a minimum of two years on the applicant's birth date.

c. A two-year re-entry license must be issued to an applicant from out of state who has had an absence from the profession of more than five years, or to an applicant who cannot submit six semester hours of credit taken during each of the past two five-year periods if employed in education out of state. The applicant shall meet the requirements of North Dakota initial licensure as stated in section 67.1-02-02-02 and must also complete the requirements for re-entry education as stated in this section and in section 67.1-02-02-09. The fee for the re-entry license is eighty-five dollars. Applications for renewal may only be submitted six months prior to the expiration of the current license and expire after a minimum of two years on the applicant's birth date.

d. A two-year renewal license must be issued for substitute teaching to those applicants who have completed all of the requirements on the application form. A substitute teacher shall maintain a valid teaching license using the two-year renewal cycle, but is not required to submit re-education hours unless the person signs a contract. The fee for this two-year renewal is sixty-five dollars. Applications for renewal may only be submitted six months prior to the expiration of the current license and expire after a minimum of two years on the applicant's birth date.

e. In extraordinary circumstances, the board may waive or extend the time for completion of the re-education credits.

f. For the school year 2005-06 and beyond, all elementary teachers new to the profession, but previously licensed, shall complete the elementary test and pedagogical test during the school year meeting North Dakota cut scores. Contracted classroom teaching experience must be accepted from all other states toward the requirements of this subdivision. A new to the profession teacher is defined as one who has never been contracted as a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher.

2. Five-year renewal license.

a. The first five-year renewal must be issued to those applicants who have successfully been contracted for eighteen months within the past five years in the state on a valid North Dakota license and who have completed all of the requirements on the application form. Applications for renewal may only be submitted six months prior to the expiration of the current license and expire after a minimum of five years on the applicant's birth date.

(1) All five-year license applications must be accompanied by a fee of one hundred forty dollars.

(2) Succeeding five-year renewals require evidence of thirty teaching days of contracted service and completion of six semester hours of re-education credit. All re-education credit must be documented by college or state-approved alternative program transcripts.

(3) For the school year 2005-06 and beyond, all elementary teachers new to the profession, but previously licensed, will need to complete the elementary test and pedagogical test during the school year meeting North Dakota cut scores. Contracted classroom teaching experience must be accepted from all other states toward the requirements of this paragraph. A new to the profession teacher is defined as one who has never been contracted as a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher.

b. A renewal applicant who has completed the six semester hours of credit but has not been contracted for at least thirty days under the five-year license shall revert to the two-year renewal cycle.

c. Probationary license. An applicant who has failed to complete the six semester hours of re-education credit, whether the application has been contracted or not, will either not be renewed, or may agree to be placed on a two-year probationary license. Eight semester hours of re-education semester credit must be supplied as a condition of the two-year probationary license. A second probationary license may not be issued.

d. In extraordinary circumstances, the board may waive or extend the time for completion of the re-education credits.

e. Once the requirements have been met for the probationary license, a two-year renewal license must be issued.

History: Effective July 1, 1995; amended effective October 1, 1998; October 16, 1998; April 14, 1999; June 1, 1999; March 1, 2000; August 1, 2002; July 1, 2004; April 1, 2006; July 1, 2008; July 1, 2010; April 1, 2012; July 1, 2012; October 1, 2014; April 1, 2018; October 1, 2020; January 1, 2024; July 1, 2025.

General Authority: NDCC 15.1-13-09, 15.1-13-10

Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-13-09, 15.1-13-10, 15.1-13-11