Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Educational Services Personnel
Educational services certificates are issued to support service personnel and authorize them to serve in preschool through grade 12. To be eligible for a certificate, you must hold the appropriate degree and complete any applicable New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE)-required test(s) along with one of the following:
- A NJDOE-approved educational services program at a New Jersey college or university;
- An accredited educational services program at an out-of-state college or university which leads to a reciprocal certificate in New Jersey; or
- All requirements for the individual endorsements noted below as determined through a formal credential evaluation by the Office of Certification.
Emergency Certificate
An emergency certificate is issued to educational services personnel when a school district is unable to find a fully qualified candidate with the required certificate. If the candidate has not met the full certification requirements, then they may be hired under emergency certification for an allotted time period while pursuing the necessary coursework.
- Degree Requirements
- All credits and degrees must appear on an accredited four-year college or university transcript.
Exceptions: Coursework for the Educational Interpreter emergency certificate may appear on a two- or four-year college or university transcript.
- How to Apply
- The hiring school district instructs the candidate when to apply for the emergency certificate through NJEdCert.
- Issuance
- An emergency certificate may be issued at any time during the academic year. The certificate is only valid for employment in the school district requesting the emergency certificate.
- Expiration
- An emergency certificate expires on July 31 of the academic year in which the certificate was issued.
- Renewal
- If the candidate is making progress towards completing the requirements for the full certificate, then they may renew their emergency certificate each year for a maximum of two years.
Exceptions: The Educational Interpreter emergency certificate may be renewed a total of three times.
Three-Step Certification Process
The following endorsements require a three-step certification process:
| Endorsement Specification | Code | Emergency Certificate Available |
|---|---|---|
| Associate School Library Media Specialist | 2845 | No |
| School Library Media Specialist | 2855 | Yes |
| Speech Language Specialist | 3462 | No |
| Student Assistance Coordinator | 3461 | No |
One-Step Certification Process
A standard certificate is available for the following endorsements:
| Endorsement Specification | Code | Emergency Certificate Available |
|---|---|---|
| Cooperative Education Coordinator | 3465 | Yes |
| Cooperative Education Coordinator-Hazardous Occupations | 3464 | Yes |
| Director of School Counseling Services | 0602 | Yes |
| Educational Interpreter: Cued Speech Transliteration | 3469 | Yes |
| Educational Interpreter: Sign Language | 3463 | Yes |
| Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant | 3300 | Yes |
| Reading Specialist | 3310 | Yes |
| School Athletic Trainer | 2930 | No |
| School Counselor | 2702 | Yes |
| School Nurse | 3000 | No |
| School Nurse/Non-Instructional | 3010 | Yes |
| School Occupational Therapist | 2910 | No |
| School Orientation and Mobility Specialist | 3500 | No |
| School Physical Therapist | 2920 | No |
| School Psychologist | 3100 | Yes |
| School Social Worker | 3200 | Yes |
| Speech Language Specialist | 3462 | No |