Second Licensure Instructions
Overall Rules
As a second licensure teacher you will need to take the methods course (2 cr) of your new licensure area as well as student teach (4 cr) in this new area. Be advised that art, business and technology education licensure areas will require a few additional methods courses. If your first license covered grades 7-12 you will also need to complete a middle school methods course (2 cr) per DPI rules. If you already have a 6–12 or 7-12 grade teaching license you will be able to add a new license with a minor. Minors are not available for art, music, business, or technology education.
You are required to complete 50 hours of field experience which we will attempt to arrange for you in your district if you are currently employed as a teacher. You will need to split these hours during your prep periods at both the middle school and high school level. Although you may be an experienced teacher in your area, you will need to learn teaching techniques for this new subject. Each licensure area uses different teaching methods. Therefore a methods course in each content area is a firm DPI requirement.
Student teaching for a second license with a minor requires nine weeks of student teaching or can be arranged to fit into your teaching schedule for a longer period of time. If you add a PK-12 license (art, music, theatre, Spanish, technology education or busin
ess) you will need to student teach for a full semester.
The federal government has reinterpreted eligibility of financial aid for second licensure candidates. "Students may NOT receive Title IV financial aid for
a SECOND teaching certification, even if the certification is required for the
student to teach in their desired field," US Department of Education memo, 5/1/2012.
Program Portfolios
To complete the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Program second license students will need to complete a modified portfolio which is shorter than for those seeking a first license. Portfolios are a required part of the process to receive recommendation for licensure. The initial licensure students will complete three portfolio submissions and the second licensure candidates will submit only the final one which is a Teacher Work Sample that will be completed during student teaching.
Students are trained on the TWS requirements during a special meeting in late July or Early August (date determined by cohort). Another part of the training night will cover how to complete an electronic portfolio. As a second licensure student you have the option of completing your portfolio in either a three-ring binder format with plastic page covers OR complete an electronic portfolio. The $70 portfolio fee will apply if you choose the computer format to cover the cost of the access code and second reviewer fee. The advantage of the on-line portfolio is that some district administrators will ask to see electronic portfolios during job interviews. Students who opt to complete their portfolio by binder will need only to pay a $25 second reviewer fee.
Renewal of Second Licenses
If you received your first license by August 31, 2004 you will be able to renew your 2nd license by EITHER taking 6 credits OR the portfolio (PDP) system. This 2nd license will also be placed at the “Professional Educator” stage so you will not need to do the “Initial Educator” reviews. Six credits will renew BOTH licenses.
Praxis II Exam
The PRAXIS II exam is the new content area test. If you took the no-fault Praxis II test on or before June 12, 2004 you will not need to pass this test or take it again. If you did not take the test before June 12, 2004 you will need to obtain a passing grade on the test before you student teach. Study guides are available from ETS and our Learning Center. Passing PPST scores must also be verified or obtained if first license granted prior to 1989.
Suggested Order of Program
It is suggested that second licensure students work in this general order: meet with program coordinator, apply to program, upon acceptance into program being work on content ares gap classes, provide evidence of PPST and take Praxis II test, take method(s) course(s) in content area, complete 50 hours of field experience, and turn in Teacher Work Sample just before completion of student teaching. The program coordinator serves as advisor during the course of the program.