Types of credentials

1. A provisional credential is: a. Issued to an individual who does not meet the qualifications for a level I professional credential; b. Issued as the initial credential and is valid until the end of the third school year following the year in which the provisional credential is issued and can be renewed one time for two additional school years; c. Issued upon satisfying the following requirements: (1) Hold a valid teaching license issued by the board. (2) Have a minimum of three years documented successful teaching experience, as defined by subdivision e (elementary) or subdivision f (secondary) of subsection 2 of section 67-11-21-06. (3) Demonstrate leadership competency in an educational setting. (4) During the provisional credential application process, submit three letters of recommendation, one from a supervisor, and two from other professionals in the field, who have knowledge of the applicant's qualifications which must contain: (a) Verification of three years documented successful teaching experience; and (b) Demonstrated leadership competency. (5) Provide evidence of acceptance into an educational leadership program at an accredited higher educational institution. (6) Applicants receiving the provisional credential who are employed as a principal are required to enroll and participate in a formal peer-to-peer principal mentoring program for a minimum of two years upon their successful hiring as a principal. d. Renewal of the provisional credential. (1) The provisional credential may be renewed one time for a period of two years by meeting the following requirements: (a) Submit transcripts documenting progress in enrolled educational leadership program towards master's degree, minimum of twenty credits that are included in the master's degree plan of study. (b) Show evidence of participation in principal mentoring program, if employed as a principal. (2) An individual issued an initial two-year provisional principal credential between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2019, may renew that provisional credential for two more years, provided the individual meets the requirements set forth in paragraph 1. The individual must agree to participate in two years of a formal peer-to-peer principal mentoring program if the individual has not already completed one. e. Upon the expiration of the two-year renewal of the provisional credential, the applicant either must qualify for and attain the level I principal credential or the individual is no longer eligible to serve as a principal. 2. A level II professional credential is: a. Not issued to new applicants after July 1, 2019. b. Issued to coincide with the period for which the individual is licensed to teach by the board; however, an individual holding a lifetime educator's professional license must renew the individual's credential every five years; c. Renewal of the level II professional credential is available only for principals serving schools in the enrollment category one hundred or fewer students; and d. Issued upon satisfying standards identified in subsections 1, 2, and 3 of section 67-11-21-06. 3. A level I professional credential is: a. Issued to coincide with the period for which the individual is licensed to teach by the board and may be renewed at the end of that period; however, an individual holding a lifetime educator's professional license must renew the individual's credential every five years; and b. Issued upon satisfying credential standards identified in subsections 1, 2, and 4 of section 67-11-21-06. 4. The provisional credential, the level II professional credential, and the level I professional credential are valid only if the individual holding the credential also holds a valid North Dakota educator's professional license to teach during the period for which the credential has been issued. An elementary principal credential is valid only if the individual is licensed to teach at the elementary level, and a secondary credential is valid only if the individual is licensed to teach at the secondary level. 5. If a level I professional credential issued under this chapter will expire within twelve months of issuance because the educator's professional license will expire within twelve months of the issuance of the new level I professional credential, the level I professional credential will be issued for a period coinciding with the period of licensure of the succeeding educator's professional license.