Division of Certification, Preparation & Recruitment

Applications and Downloadable Forms

Certification Update Packet
Louisiana allows applicants to add degrees, request name changes, add teaching endorsements, receive higher certificates, receive duplicate certificates, extend certificates, reinstate certificates, and request evaluations. When the completion of 6 semester hours is necessary for extension/reinstatement, please refer to the list of approved courses below. The CLU computation sheet which is needed to apply for the renewal of Level 2 or 3 certificates is included in this packet. When a complete application is received, a determination will be made regarding the requested action. If additional information is needed or a deficiency exists, the applicant will be notified in writing.

Certification Update Packet
Approved Courses for Reinstatement/Extension

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Out-of-State Applicant
Louisiana offers two types of teaching certificates to applicants holding a standard out-of-state teaching certificate. Both are valid certificates and make the holder eligible for a teaching assignment in a Louisiana classroom. The certificate that is issued to the applicant depends on whether or not the applicant has met Louisiana 's Praxis and/or NTE testing requirements.

  1. Level 1 Professional Certificate is a standard, three-year Louisiana teaching certificate that authorizes certification for the levels or subjects available in Louisiana and that are consistent with those currently on the applicant's Out-of-State teaching certificate. A Level 1 certificate is issued to individuals who have completed the Louisiana PRAXIS and/or NTE requirements.
  2. Out-of-State Certificate is a standard, three-year, non-renewable Louisiana teaching certificate that authorizes certification for the levels or subjects available in Louisiana and that are consistent with those currently on the applicant's Out-of-State teaching certificate. An Out-of-State certificate is issued to individuals who have not met Louisiana 's PRAXIS and/or NTE requirements.

Out-of-State Application Packet

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Out-of-State Administrative Certificate Packet
Louisiana offers three types of administrative certificates to applicants holding out-of-state educational leader licenses. All three allow the individual to hold administrative assignments in a Louisiana school district.

  1. Out-of-State Principal Level 1 (OSP1) certificate is a standard, three-year, non-renewable Louisiana certificate issued to an individual who holds out-of-state certification as a principal (or comparable educational leader certificate) and has not met Louisiana 's Praxis and/or NTE requirements. It authorizes the individual to serve as a principal in a Louisiana public school system, and is issued when the individual anticipates immediate administrative employment in a Louisiana public school system.
  2. Out-of-State Principal Level 2 (OSP2) certificate is valid for five years and is renewable every five years, based upon successful completion and verification of required continuing learning units. It authorizes the individual to serve as a principal in a Louisiana public school system and is issued when the individual anticipates immediate administrative employment in a Louisiana public school system.
    3. Out-of-State Superintendent (OSS) certificate is valid only for the employing Louisiana public school district requesting its issuance. It is valid for five years from date of first appointment as a superintendent and is renewable every five years.

Out-of-State Administrative Packet

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Foreign Applicant
If you are an applicant with a foreign degree you may choose one of the two following procedures to obtain Louisiana certification.

  1. Your credentials may be submitted to a regionally accredited institution for evaluation. If the institution is located in Louisiana , the Dean of the College of Education must recommend the applicant for certification. If the institution is located in another state/country, the guidelines prescribed for out-of-state applicants must be followed.
  2. You may choose to submit your credentials to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), Office of International Education Services or World Education Services (WES). The applicant shall submit his/her credentials to (AACRAO) or (WES), for evaluation, at the following addresses:

    AACRAO
    One Dupont Circle, NW
    Suite #520
    Washington, D.C. 20036-1135
    Phone: (202) 296-3359 FAX (202) 872-8857
    http://www.aacrao.org/credential/

    WES
    Bowling Green Station
    P. O. Box 5087
    New York, NY 10274-5087
    Phone: (212) 966-6311 FAX: (212) 739-6100
    http://www.wes.org

    The original evaluation from AACRAO or WES on Script Safe � paper must be submitted to the Department of Education, Teacher Certification and Higher Education, and must include a statement verifying the comparability of the baccalaureate degree in the field of education with a course-by-course evaluation.

Foreign Application Packet

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Ancillary Certification
Louisiana offers ancillary certificates to applicants holding degrees or credentials in a specialized areas such as school nurse, social worker, speech therapist, school psychologist, etc. The guidelines and application form for each type of ancillary certificate are included in this link below:
Ancillary Application Packet

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World Language PK-12/FLES Certificate
Louisiana offers World Language Certificates to applicants holding degrees and credentials from another country in a specialized language, elementary grades, middle grades, and/or secondary grades who are participating in the Louisiana Foreign Associates Program.
The WLC/FLES is valid for six years and can be renewed by completing 150 CLUs of district-approved professional development over the five year time period during which he/she holds the certificate, or during the five year time period immediately preceding the request for renewal.
World Language PK-12/FLES Certificate � (PDF)

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Temporary Employment Permit
A Temporary Employment Permit (TEP), valid for one school year, may be granted to those candidates who meet all requirements for a Level 1 certificate with the exception of passing the required PRAXIS/NTE examinations.
Temporary Employment Permit � (PDF)

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Career & Technical Trade & Industrial Education (CTTIE) Certification
Louisiana offers a CTTIE certificate that authorizes employment of instructors of Secondary Career and Technical Trade and Industrial Education classes. (It does not apply to Technology Education). The instructors must qualify under CTTIE hiring conditions and fulfill renewal guidelines each year to be issued another certificate for the subsequent year.

CTTIE Initial Application Packet

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Career & Technical Trade & Industrial Education (CTTIE) Renewal Packet
The CTTIE certificate may be renewed annually if evidence of at least three (3) semester hours of professional CTTIE courses is earned. The CTTIE hours must be earned each year until a minimum of 15 semester hours has been completed by those with no degree; 12 semester hours by those with an associate degree; 9 semester hours by those with a bachelor's or higher degree; and 6 semester hours by those with a degree in education.

CTTIE Renewal Packet

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Educational Interpreter and/or Transliterator
This certification application is required for the issuance of a Louisiana ancillary certificate to serve as an educational interpreter and/or transliterator. Individuals who have expertise in this area may apply for this certificate.

Educational Interpreter and/or Transliterator

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Experience Verification Form
The Experience Verification form may be used to verify experience for the issuance of Higher Certificates, Student Teaching and/or Internship waivers, Out-of-State PRAXIS Exclusions, verification of administrative experience, and verification of experience for Ancillary Certification.

Experience Verification

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Non-Public Higher
The Non-Public Higher application packet may be used to apply for the issuance of Higher Certificates for those teachers with experience teaching in the Non-Public Schools.

Non-Public Higher Application Packet

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Appeals Application Packet
The certification appeal process is available to an individual who has applied for certification and has been denied the requested certification due to the absence of certification requirements as set forth in Bulletin 746 Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel. The appeal process provides the applicant an opportunity to have their records reviewed by the Teacher Certification Appeals Council (TCAC).

Appeals Application Packet

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Employee's Serious Health Condition Form
The Employee's Serious Health Condition Form is used in those cases where an individual has experienced a very serious health condition which prevented him or her from fulfilling prescribed certification guidelines. This form is to be completed by the health care provider.

Employee's Serious Health Condition Form

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