1. A. A competency examination shall be adopted by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation for the general education, professional education and various subject areas and grade levels for purposes of ensuring academic achievement and competency of each teacher candidate or teacher in the subject area the person is seeking licensure or certification to teach which shall also include licensure or certification as an administrator, as prescribed by the State Board of Education.

   The Commission, consistent with the purposes of this section, shall promulgate rules and procedures to guarantee the confidentiality of examinations.

2. B. No teacher candidate shall be eligible for licensing until successfully completing the general education and subject area portions of the competency examination. No licensed teacher shall be eligible for certification until successfully completing the professional education portion of the competency examination. Certification shall be limited to areas of approval in which the licensed or certified teacher has successfully completed the examination. Testing for certification for subjects in which a teacher candidate or teacher is seeking a minor teaching assignment or an endorsement to teach shall be limited to the specific subject area test.

   A teacher candidate or teacher may take the general education, professional education or subject area portions of the examination subject to any limit imposed by the Commission.

3. C. A teacher may be certified in as many areas as the teacher meets the necessary requirements provided by law and has successfully completed the subject area portion of the examination.
4. D. The Commission shall offer the competency examination at least four times per calendar year on dates to be established by the Commission.
5. E. Nothing in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act shall restrict the right of the State Board of Education to issue an emergency or provisional certificate, as needed. Provided, however, prior to the issuance of an emergency certificate, the local district shall document substantial efforts to employ a teacher who holds a provisional or standard certificate or who is licensed in the teaching profession. In the event a district is unable to hire an individual meeting this criteria, the district shall document efforts to employ an individual with a provisional or standard certificate or with a license in another curricular area with academic preparation in the field of need. Only after these alternatives have been exhausted shall the district be allowed to employ an individual meeting minimum standards as established by the State Board of Education for the issuance of emergency certificates.

Laws 1995, HB 1549, c. 322, § 8, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1559, c. 344, § 4, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, SB 66, c. 62, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2001, SB 388, c. 425, § 2, emerg. eff. June 5, 2001 (superseded document available).