Frequently Asked Questions

In order to help speed the processing of an application, an applicant should review the following answers to questions that often arise.

Office of Licensure and Credentials
New Jersey Department of Education
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500

The “clock” on this waiting period does not begin until your application is complete – please see the next FAQ for an explanation of what ‘complete’ means. The average “turnaround time” for applications made through approved New Jersey College programs is about two weeks from the time we receive your application from your college. For all other completed applications, the yearly average is about eight weeks. Applications made over the internet are completed by applicants significantly faster on average than paper applications. Turnaround time for most applications will vary greatly at different times of the year. For example, from June through September, average turnaround time typically increases to about 12 weeks or more due to the large volume of applications during that time. Therefore, it is to your advantage to provide us with a complete application as soon as possible during the summer (please see the next FAQ). Our goal is to continue to reduce turnaround time during all seasons through ongoing technological development and staff training.

b. Your application is complete for review when we have received: the application itself (paper or web); full payment; for those applying by web, an oath of allegiance/verification of accuracy form or non-citizen oath and non-citizen affidavit of intent if you are not a U.S. citizen (these are part of the paper application); official college transcripts noting degree conferral date and GPA; and any relevant Praxis and/or Oral Proficiency Interview test scores. Please note that web applications are processed significantly faster on average than paper applications. You can begin your online application at: http://www.nj.gov/njded/educators/license/tcis/.

c. In addition, to speed your review of an out-of-state application, if you graduated from a teacher preparation program including student teaching, you should also have your college send us a verification of program completion form. If you have been employed under an out-of-state certificate, you should also send in copies of out-of-state certificates and letters on official letterhead from principal, supervisor, human resources office, or superintendent documenting the period of time and grade level that you have taught in good standing. See this link for all forms: http://www.nj.gov/njded/educators/license/forms.htm.

d. Because documents listed under “b.” above are required for all applicants, you will gain no time by sending in this documentation piecemeal. It is to your advantage to bundle all documentation that you can and to send it to us in one package, including any listed under ‘c.’ if it applies to you. Please note that you can also have your college send you in sealed envelopes an official transcript and, if required, verification of program completion form, and transmit those sealed envelopes to us. The same holds for sealed letters of employment.

You can pay the application fee by certified check or money order made out to Commissioner of Education. If applying online, you can pay by credit card. See the Fee Schedule for correct fees. If you have just graduated with a completed teacher preparation program, then you would be applying for the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) with a fee of $190. If you just graduated, but did not complete a teacher preparation program, you would be applying for a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) which also has a fee of $190. If you have at least one year of fulltime teaching experience under a valid out-of-state license, then you would be applying for the Standard certificate with a fee of $115 or $95. The fee for certificates requiring a test is $115. The fee for those not requiring a test is $95. If you are unsure if the certificate you are applying for requires a test, go to this link: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/1112.pdf.

In New Jersey, contact any of the Colleges listed here to determine whether they offer an approved program in the area in which you seek certification. In other states, the college or university must be a 4-year regionally accredited institution that is a member of one of these 6 Regional Institutional Accrediting Organizations

If offered a job before an applicant has received a certification, the district employer may request an expedited review of the application through the county superintendent of schools. All licensure applicants are entitled to equitable treatment on a first-come, first serve basis. Therefore, no license application will be expedited under any circumstances unless the district superintendent in the hiring district requests a priority evaluation through the county superintendent. No request for a priority evaluation will be accepted without a complete, accurate application packet. Responsibility for assuring the accuracy and completeness of the application packet rests fully with the applicant.

It is illegal to knowingly accept employment under a license that was printed or issued erroneously. If you receive such a license, please return the original license with a brief cover letter to the Office of Licensure and Credentials, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500.

3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m; Monday Through Friday during the regular school year (except major holidays). The Customer Service telephone number is (609) 292-2070. Other hours of the workday are devoted to the processing of applications and phone calls are not taken.

You may check the status of your application by visiting: https://www6.state.nj.us/DOE_TCIS_ASC/pages/appStatusSearch.jsp You may also call our Customer Service line at (609) 292-2070 during the hours of 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Monday through Friday (except major holidays).

New Jersey currently has reciprocity with other states only for instructional certificates, but not for administrator or educational services certificates. We will soon propose changes in regulations that will ease reciprocity for all categories of certificates, but such regulations, if approved by the State Board of Education, would not take effect until early 2008.

11) I have an out-of-state teaching certificate. How do I obtain my New Jersey teaching certificate?

Your application must include the following materials: the application itself (paper or over the internet); fee; official copies of all relevant college transcripts from regionally-accredited institutions indicating date of degree conferral and GPA; an oath of allegiance/verification of accuracy form (or non-citizen oath and non-citizen affidavit of intent if you are not a U.S. citizen); verification of program completion if you graduated from a teacher preparation program and did student teaching; copies of out-of-state certificates; and if applicable, letters on official letterhead from principal, supervisor, human resources office, or superintendent documenting grade level and length of your teaching experience in good standing. Note that you will also need to meet the NJ praxis test requirement as listed at: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/1112.pdf. We can only accept an official score report from ETS.

12) I graduated from an out-of-state college or university. How do I obtain my New Jersey teaching certificate?

Your application must include the following materials: application itself; fee; official copies of all relevant college transcripts from regionally-accredited institutions indicating date of degree conferral and GPA; an oath of allegiance/verification of accuracy form (or non-citizen oath and non-citizen affidavit of intent if you are not a U.S. citizen); verification of program completion if you graduated from a teacher preparation program and did student teaching; if applicable, copies of out-of-state certificates; and if applicable, letters on official letterhead from principal, supervisor, human resources office, or superintendent documenting grade level and length of your teaching experience in good standing. Note that you will also need to meet the NJ praxis test requirement as listed at: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/1112.pdf. We can only accept an official score report from ETS.

An endorsement is an area of certification with distinct grade level and subject matter authorizations. States may title their certificates and endorsements differently.

Our regulations are the final word on all certificate requirements. You can find the regulations pertaining to your application using the ‘search’ function in Adobe Reader on this page: http://www.nj.gov/njded/code/current/title6a/chap9.pdf.

No, under our regulations we do not offer refunds in part because the large majority of work is performed up front for your application review. We will, however, refund duplicate payments. If your application has been reviewed and denied, we will charge $70 against the fees you have paid and hold the remaining funds in your account against any future transactions, including your efforts to remedy any shortcomings in the original application.

17) On my application I checked the box indicating that I had been convicted of a crime. What happens now?

If you have not done so already, you should send in the ‘Criminal History’ form that is linked on the following page: http://www.nj.gov/njded/educators/license/forms.htm. The State Board of Examiners will then review the information you have provided and decide whether to ask you for more information.

18) How do I report improper or illegal behavior on the part of a school district employee?

Please notify both the district superintendent and the State Board of Examiners in writing. You may contact the State Board of Examiners at:

Secretary, State Board of Examiners
c/o Office of Licensure and Credentials
New Jersey Department of Education
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500

You can find out the steps you must follow to enter and complete the Alternate Route Program by going to this link: Alternate Route Program

20) How do I register, obtain additional information or a status report on an active case for the Principal Residency Program, School Administrator Residency Program or Substance Awareness Coordinator Residency Program?

You may call these programs at 609 292-6378 between 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Job Placement/NJ Hire
There is no formal statewide system of job placement for public schools. Each school district has the authority to operate its own employment and recruitment program. However, county offices of education or colleges may provide information about job vacancies or placement information in their respective counties. A county office directory and a New Jersey college directory are also included in the publication, CERTIFICATION IN NEW JERSEY

While no formal job placement system exists, New Jersey has increased it’s efforts to recruit qualified teachers. The cornerstone of New Jersey’s teacher recruitment initiative is the on-line recruitment system, NJHire. NJHire was launched in June 2000. NJHire is free to school districts and teacher candidates. Visit http://www.njhire.com to post your resume for viewing by school districts, as well as to search for jobs in the education field.

Teacher Pension
Teacher pensions are administered by the Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, 1 State Street Square, 50 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625 or call 609-292-7524.

Tenure and Seniority
Issues of educational tenure and seniority are addressed by the Bureau of Controversies and Disputes, New Jersey Department of Education, 225 East Street, PO BOX 500, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500 or call 609- 292-5705.

Nursery School Employment
Employment requirements for private nursery schools and day care centers, including licensing of group teachers and the issuance of day care center licenses, are regulated by the Division of Youth and Family Services, Department of Human Services, 50 East State Street, CN 717, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0717 or call 609-292-1021.

Substitute Teaching
Most school districts maintain lists of persons who are available to serve as substitutes in the absence of full-time teachers. Information about the requirements and procedures for becoming a substitute teacher must be obtained from the county office of education.

PRAXIS/NTE Tests
The PRAXIS II Subject Assessment/NTE test Registration Bulletin may be obtained from: The PRAXIS Series, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6051, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6051 or call 609-771-7395. Information is also available on the Internet through the Praxis Web Site at http://www.ets.org/praxis.

Salary
Teacher salaries in New Jersey are determined by each local school district. Information may be secured from the office of the superintendent of schools for each district.

School Aides
Information concerning service as a school aide may be obtained from your county superintendent of schools.

School Directory
If you wish to purchase the School Directory listing the addresses and phone numbers of all school districts in the state, please write to the following address: Department of Education, Office of Distribution Services, 100 River View Plaza, PO BOX 500, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500. There is a charge for the directory. Remittance should be made payable to “State Treasurer of New Jersey.” For further information call 609-984-0905. Or you may view this information online at http://www.state.nj.us/njded/directory.

Troops to Teachers (TTT)
The purpose of TTT is to assist eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in “high-need” schools. The New Jersey TTT office has been established to provide participants with counseling and assistance regarding certification requirements, routes to state certification, and employment in New Jersey school districts. For more information, please visit www.proudtoserveagain.com or call 1-800-680-0884, or e-mail tttnj@doe.state.nj.us.