SDE: 106 Certification for Out-of-State Applicants

Certification for Out-of-State Applicants - Fact Sheet #106

Candidates from outside of Connecticut may meet requirements for certification if they have completed an  approved educator preparation program from a regionally accredited college or university outside Connecticut and/or have appropriate teaching, special service or administrative experience in another state under a valid certificate from that state. Determination of eligibility is based on review of official transcripts, recommendation by the preparing higher education institution and/or verification of successful experience.  When eligibility is determined, an applicant will receive the closest grade-level or endorsement that is issued in Connecticut.  Note:  All candidates applying for a Connecticut educator certificate, which requires completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, must submit official transcripts verifying completion of the degree, regardless of the basis of their certification.


1. Reciprocity

Connecticut does not have reciprocity with any other state. Candidates applying for a Connecticut certificate may be eligible based upon:

  • Completion of a state approved planned educator preparation program, including Connecticut’s specific coursework and assessment requirements; or

  • Verification of a minimum of twenty months of full-time appropriate experience in the same approved nonpublic school, or out-of-state public school under an appropriate state certificate, permit or authorization, and completion of Connecticut’s specific coursework and assessment requirements. 

Connecticut participates with more than 30 other states in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement to accept candidates' state approved preparation programs from a regionally accredited institution, or a minimum of 27 months of successful, full-time experience under a member state's valid Level II educator certificate appropriate to the subject area being requested. To be considered, the experience must be completed within seven years of the date of application for Connecticut certification and the candidate must currently hold a valid certificate from the member state  Note:  The interstate agreement does not exempt candidates from degree, testing and/or experiential requirements applicable to the requested certification endorsement. Candidates from states that do not have an interstate agreement with Connecticut must meet all Connecticut requirements applicable to the certification endorsement requested, including coursework.

Connecticut does not participate in the Interstate Agreement for administrative endorsements.

The following states currently participate with Connecticut in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement:

State
Agreement
State
Agreement
Alabama
A,B
 Nevada
A
Arkansas
A
 New Hampshire
A
California
A
 New Jersey
A
Colorado
A
 New Mexico
A
Delaware
A
 New York
A,B,C
District of Columbia
A
 North Carolina
A,B,C
Florida
A
 Ohio
A
Georgia
A
 Oklahoma
A
Hawaii
A
 Oregon
A
Idaho
A
 Pennsylvania
A
Illinois
A
 Rhode Island
A,B,C
Indiana
A
 South Carolina
A,B,C
Kentucky
A
 Tennessee
A
Maine
A
 Texas
A
Maryland
A,B
 Utah
A,B,C
Massachusetts
A,B
 Vermont
A
Michigan
A
 Virginia
A
Mississippi
A
 Washington
A,B
Montana
A
 West Virginia
A,B,C

A=agreement for teachers; B= agreement for special services; C= agreement for vocational educators.

Since states use various names for the certificates they issue, the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement classifies certificates as Level I, Level II and Level III certificates.  Those terms mean:

Level I certificate – a certificate issued by a state upon completion of an approved program to applicants who have not completed all certification requirements, including assessments.
Level II certificate – a certificate issued after completion of an approved program and all other requirements established by the member state, or after completing an alternative program; and all other requirements established by a member state.
Level III certificate – a certificate issued after completion of all Level II certificate requirements and any advanced requirements established by a member state.

2. Assessments

Connecticut requires that all candidates meet testing requirements, unless applicant is eligible for assessment exemption noted below:
  • Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) or meet waiver requirements;
  • Praxis II – Subject area tests, ACTFL or CAT assessments as applicable to certain endorsement areas.

3. Assessment Exemptions

Effective July 1, 2009, out-of-state teachers and administrators may be exempt from Board approved assessment requirements, including Praxis I PPST, Praxis II subject knowledge tests, Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test and/or ACTFL OPI and WPT, if they meet the following criteria:

Hold a valid certificate in another state that is equivalent to at least a Connecticut initial educator certificate AND have one of the following:
1) three years of successful appropriate experience in that same state (in the same approved nonpublic school or public school system, in the endorsement requested) in the past ten years; OR
2) a Master’s degree in the academic subject area for which Connecticut certification is being requested. Please note that pedagogical degrees in the subject area do not meet the requirements of the exemption.

4. Assessment Deferral

Out-of-state applicants who meet all certification criteria except passage of Connecticut assessments may be issued a one-year, non-renewable interim certificate with a deferral for the Praxis tests. Applicants are eligible for an interim certificate only once, regardless of whether they work under the certificate. To maintain certification and obtain subsequent certificates, the applicant must complete all required tests prior to the expiration date of the certificate.

All applicants who are eligible for a deferral of testing requirements will automatically be issued an interim certificate once all requirements other than testing have been met.

5. To Apply For Certification

Please submit the following:

  1. ED 170 General Application.
    You may submit this application online by creating an account on the Connecticut Educator Certification System (CECS).
  2. Application review fee of $50.
    This may be paid by credit card using the CECS only, OR in the form of a money order, certified bank check or cashier's check, payable to the "Treasurer, State of Connecticut." This fee is nonrefundable. Applicants will be advised of the balance  of the certification fee after evaluation of their application.
  3. Official transcripts of all post-secondary course work completed.
    Please include original transcripts for transfer credits. Official transcripts must include the embossed or color seal of the college or university.
  4. Photocopy of out-of-state certificates/licenses.
    Please include copies of the front and back and key to any certification codes on the certificate.
  5. ED 125 Statement of Preparing Higher Education Institution.
    This form must be signed by the certification officer or education dean at the college or university where you completed your educator preparation program, and must include the embossed or color seal of the college or university.
  6. ED 126 Statement of Successful Professional Experience.
    This form should be used to verify completion of teaching or professional service in out-of-state public schools or approved non-public schools, if applicable. The superintendent of the school district or diocese, or chief administrator of an independent school must sign this form. You must also include copies of certificates and/or permits authorizing each year of any service in an out-of-state public school.
Applicants are encouraged to submit an application (ED 170) and payment online using the Connecticut Educator Certification System (CECS) at:  www.ct.gov/sde/cert
 
The information contained on this fact sheet is subject to change without notice.
Revised 9/09

Box 150471 · Hartford, Connecticut 06115-0471
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Content Last Modified on 10/29/2009 11:14:57 AM