Alternative access licenses will be issued under the following conditions:

1. Consideration for alternative access licenses will not be granted until after July first in any year.

2. Alternative access licenses may be issued only in areas where documented shortages of regularly licensed teachers exist as determined by the board. Shortage areas must be determined by the board based upon the ratio of regularly licensed teachers in the state who are qualified for the position to the number of schools with open positions requesting alternative access licensure. In cases where near shortages exist, the board must give additional consideration to whether the hiring school has made a diligent effort to attract and hire regularly licensed teachers.

3. The request for an alternative access license must be initiated by a school. The school board or administration must make the request in writing to the board for consideration of an alternative access license, indicating intent to offer a contract if licensure can be arranged. The request must document that a diligent effort has been made to employ a regularly licensed teacher to fill the position. Documentation of a diligent effort to employ qualified personnel should include information on how and how long the position was advertised, whether schools of education have been contacted in search of applicants, how many qualified applicants applied, how many applicants were interviewed, whether increases in salary or other incentives were offered in an attempt to attract qualified applicants, and whether these incentives are comparable to those offered by other schools of similar size and means.

4. The applicant must write a letter indicating willingness to accept the position if offered and complete all of the application requirements and fees prior to receiving the alternative access license.

5. Complete official college or state-approved alternative program transcripts must be sent to the board.

6. The applicant must have proficiency and hold minimum qualifications or equivalent of a bachelor's degree in the content area to be assigned or have held a valid license from another state for a minimum of two years in the content area to be assigned and have completed the required North Dakota state tests, including the test in the content area to be assigned. The applicant may apply for the forty-day provisional license before submitting the required North Dakota state test scores.

7. Renewal of alternative access licenses will be reviewed each year and will depend upon the supply of and demand for teachers as evidenced by documented efforts to obtain a licensed

person for the position. The alternate access license will be issued only once to complete all testing requirements for regular licensure.

8. Renewal of the alternative access license, if permitted, is contingent upon presentation of at least one-third completion of the requirements for regular licensure as stated in section 67.1-02-02-02 and the North Dakota standards for teacher education program.

9. The fee for the alternative access license is one hundred fifteen dollars for each year the license is issued.

10. Alternative access licensure is to address documented shortage areas only. Alternative access licensure may not be issued to applicants who have failed to meet the deadlines or conditions of their regular licensure renewal.

11. Initial applicants for alternative access licensure must also submit to the fingerprint background check as stated in subsection 9 of section 67.1-02-02-02.

12. Upon completion of all of the requirements for regular licensure stated in section 67.1-02-02-02, an individual holding an alternative access license may apply for a regular two-year initial license and begin accruing the eighteen months of successful teaching time required to move into the five-year cycle according to sections 67.1-02-02-02 and 67.1-02-02-04.

History: Effective July 1, 1995; amended effective October 1, 1998; October 16, 1998-April 14, 1999; June 1, 1999; March 1, 2000; July 1, 2004; April 1, 2006; July 1, 2008; July 1, 2010; April 1, 2013; October 1, 2020; October 1, 2021; October 1, 2022; January 1, 2024.

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

Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-13-10, 15.1-13-11, 15.1-13-14