Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Out-of-State Certificate Equivalent to a Certificate of Eligibility (CE or "Alternate Route")

Alternate Route Interstate Reciprocity Pilot Program

The Alternate Route Interstate Reciprocity Pilot Program (ARIRPP) is a five-year program that creates a pathway for eligible out-of-state alternate route educators to teach in New Jersey public schools. Out-of-state candidates who enroll in the ARIRPP at a participating educator preparation program (EPP) will be issued a certificate of eligibility that may result in the issuance of a standard certificate.

Participating Education Preparation Programs

• Rowan University
• Rutgers University-Newark

Out-of-State Certificate Equivalent to a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS or "Traditional Route")

Educators must complete each of the following requirements:

1. Hold the equivalent of a valid CEAS following the completion of a CEAS educator preparation program which includes clinical practice or "student teaching."
2. Demonstrate passage of a subject-matter test to receive the out-of-state license or pass appropriate New Jersey subject-matter test.

Out-of-State Certificate Equivalent to a Standard Certificate

• Hold a valid standard certificate issued by another state and demonstrate at least two effective years of teaching within three consecutive years, as documented on the electronic Record of Professional Experience form which will be sent to the employer when the application is made.
  or
• Hold a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certificate in the equivalent subject area/grade level. 

Any applicant for administrative certification who presents a valid administrative certificate issued by any other state shall, upon payment of the appropriate fee, be issued a New Jersey administrative certificate of eligibility for the equivalent New Jersey endorsements for school administrator, principal, or school business administrator, or shall be issued the equivalent New Jersey standard supervisor endorsement. If there is no equivalent current New Jersey endorsement, then the provisions of N.J.A.C. 6A:9-12.1 through 12.7 shall apply to the candidate.

There is one limitation to this rule:

If New Jersey has an equivalent endorsement with required subject matter test for the applicant's endorsement, the applicant shall have passed a state subject matter test to receive his or her out-of-state endorsement or else must pass the appropriate New Jersey subject matter test. This limitation shall not apply if the applicant has five years of experience in good standing under the out-of-state certificate. Experience in good standing shall be documented by a letter of experience from the applicant's supervisor or authorized district representative.

Any applicant for educational services certification who presents a valid educational services certificate issued by any other state shall, upon payment of the appropriate fee, be issued a New Jersey educational services standard certificate for the equivalent and currently issued New Jersey endorsement. If there is no equivalent current New Jersey endorsement, then the provisions of N.J.A.C. 6A:9-13.1 through 13.21 shall apply to interstate reciprocity.

There are three limitations to this rule:

1. If New Jersey has an equivalent endorsement with required subject matter test for the applicant's endorsement, the applicant shall have passed a state subject matter test to receive his or her out-of-state endorsement or else must pass the appropriate New Jersey subject matter test. This limitation shall not apply if the applicant has five years of experience in good standing under the out-of-state certificate. Experience in good standing shall be documented by a letter of experience from the applicant's supervisor or authorized district representative;
2. An applicant for interstate reciprocity for a New Jersey educational services endorsement which requires a residency shall receive a certificate of eligibility or certificate of eligibility with advanced standing as governed by this subchapter; and
3. Applicants for educational services reciprocity must meet all other requirements in this subchapter for state-issued professional licenses or certificates.