Limited Instructional Certification of Eligibility (CE) and Certification of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) Candidate Guidance
Note: Please see updated guidance that was adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Education on June 1, 2022, of the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) amendments and new rules at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B: State Board of Examiners and Certification.
For the 2022-2023 school year, NJDOE will launch the Limited CE and CEAS five-year pilot program pursuant to P.L. 2021, c.224, (Chapter 224). The limited CE and CEAS certificates are available in the NJDOE educator certification system, NJEdCert. Educators can log in to NJEdCert and apply for the Limited CE. Limited CEAS candidates must be nominated by their Educator Preparation Program (EPP) following the EPP receives NJDOE approval for participation.
Certificate holders with a limited CE or a limited CEAS in an instructional area will be eligible to seek employment in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that is approved by the NJDOE to hire such candidates. School districts approved to participate in the pilot program will be able to hire limited CE or limited CEAS holders for instructional positions, not to exceed 10 percent of the school district’s total teacher population and in accordance with all other requirements of approval and participation.
To be eligible for the limited CE, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree and meet all CE requirements pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.3, including a passing score on a Commissioner-approved assessment of basic skills in accordance with P.L.2024, c.26. The candidate may be waived from exactly one of the following requirements:
- Minimum number of subject-matter course content credits;
- Minimum required grade point average (GPA);*
- Passing score on New Jersey state-approved Praxis subject-matter assessments.*
*The flexibilities or alternatives in N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.3(a)(5)(i and ii), N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.3(b)(2), and N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-9.1(a)(2) cannot be utilized for meeting these requirements for the Limited CE.
To be eligible for the limited CEAS, candidates must complete a New Jersey state-approved teacher preparation program and all other CEAS requirements, except the candidate may be waived from exactly one of the following requirements:
- Minimum required GPA;* or
- Passing score on Praxis subject-matter assessments.*
*The flexibilities or alternatives in N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.2(c)(2), and N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-9.1(a)(2) cannot be utilized for meeting these requirements for the Limited CEAS.
The following educator preparation program providers have been approved to recommend candidates for the limited Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) for their approved CEAS programs:
- The College of New Jersey
- Georgian Court University
- Kean University
- Montclair State University
- Pillar College
- Ramapo College
- Rowan University
- Rutgers University-Newark
- Saint Peter’s University
- William Paterson University
The following educator preparation program providers have been approved to accept candidates who hold a limited Certificate of Eligibility (CE) to their approved CE program no GPA requirement:
- Brookdale Community College- Alternate Route Training at Community Colleges Program
- Essex County College
- Essex County Provisional Teacher Training Program
- Idioma Education & Consulting
- New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning
- Pillar College
- Rider University
- Rutgers University- Newark
- Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education
- Saint Peter’s University
- Stockton University
- William Paterson University
The following educator preparation program providers have been approved to accept candidates who hold a Limited Certificate of Eligibility (CE) to their approved CE program. The EPP provider has indicated candidates are required to meet the following specific GPA requirements:
EPP Provider |
GPA Requirement |
The College of New Jersey |
2.5 or higher |
Monmouth University |
2.75 or higher |
Montclair State University |
2.5 or higher |
Relay Graduate School of Education |
2.5 or higher (Relay offers some additional flexibility with the required GPA and interested candidates can reach out to support@relay.edu for more information. For entrance, limited CE candidates must be sponsored by an employer.) |
Rowan University- ASPIRE to Teach |
2.0 or higher |
Updated: November 2023
Individuals planning to apply for a limited CE or CEAS should note the following:
- While Chapter 224 authorizes the NJDOE to grant a limited CEAS to candidates that do not meet one of either the minimum GPA requirement or the minimum passing score on an appropriate state test(s) of subject matter knowledge, the law does not prohibit an EPP from requiring, as a condition for completion of the program, a CEAS candidate to meet GPA or subject matter assessment requirements.
- The NJDOE anticipates that districts approved to participate in the pilot program will have the ability to submit to NJDOE candidates that the district recommends for a limited CE. To do so, the district will be expected to confirm that the recommended candidates have satisfied requirements of the limited CE, and the district will be expected to hire the recommended candidates upon NJDOE’s granting of the limited CE. In submitting candidates recommended for a limited CE, the district will be expected to provide the following information:
- The candidate’s name, date of birth, and certification application tracking # (if available);
- An attestation of the district’s intent to hire the candidates; and
- The requirement from which the limited CE candidate is being waived.
Individuals recommended for a limited CE by a district must submit their application through the NJDOE’s online certification system. Pending the district’s submission of the above-described information required for limited CE recommendation, such candidates will be placed in expedite status.
The fee for each limited CE and limited CEAS will be $170.00, which includes the issuance of the provisional certificate and standard certificate.
To earn a provisional certificate, limited CE and limited CEAS holders must:
- Accept an offer of employment;
- Be enrolled in the provisional teacher process; and
- (Limited CE only) Be enrolled in a CE educator preparation program and complete 50 hours of preservice.
To earn a standard certificate, limited CE and limited CEAS holders are required to meet all standard certification requirements below, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.6:
- Complete mentoring;
- Earn two effective or highly effective summative ratings; and
- (Limited CE only) Complete a 400-hour CE educator preparation program and pass the Educator Preparation Program-approved performance assessment.
The five-year pilot program will expire on September 1, 2027; limited CE and CEAS will not be issued after that date. Districts approved to hire limited CE and CEAS holders must ensure that individuals hired under the pilot program obtain their provisional certificate no later than November 1, 2027. All limited CEs and CEASs issued under pilot program, and existing at the expiration of the pilot program, shall expire on November 1, 2027.
- How will limited CE and CEAS holders know which districts are approved to hire limited certificate holders?
- The NJDOE will maintain a list of approved districts on its website that will be updated as additional districts are approved to participate.
- When does the pilot program end?
- The five-year pilot program ends September 1, 2027.
- The five-year pilot program ends September 1, 2027.
- Will the limited certificates be valid after the pilot ends?
- Limited CE/CEAS holders who obtain a provisional certificate prior to the end of the pilot program will hold a regular provisional certificate, which will permit them to continue through the certification process to earn their standard certificate. Limited CEs and CEASs that are not utilized to obtain provisional certificates will be invalid when the pilot ends. Certificate holders will be required to apply for a typical CE or CEAS and meet the necessary certification requirements.
- Will certified teachers be eligible for a limited CE/CEAS in a new content area?
- Yes, teachers holding certification may seek the limited CE/CEAS, but it will be treated as an initial certificate, not added on as a standard certificate for those holding a standard. They will need to be hired provisionally under the limited certification and meet provisional requirements to earn the standard per the regulations.