Temporary Administrative Certificate of Eligibility for Leader Candidates
Candidates seeking initial administrative certificates that require the passage of a comprehensive examination of knowledge may be eligible for the Temporary Administrative Certificate of Eligibility (CE) with an endorsement in school administrator or principal, allowing candidates to work in New Jersey public schools until July 31, 2021 by which time they must have taken and passed the required test for the certificate sought to continue employment.
Temporary Administrative CE and Temporary Provisional Certificate
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) recognizes that, due to COVID-19, educational leader candidates may not have had an opportunity to meet the comprehensive examination of knowledge certification requirement.
The NJDOE has developed a Temporary Administrative CE and a Temporary Provisional Certificate with endorsements in school administrator and principal, to be issued to candidates during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The Temporary Administrative CE allows candidates to enter the workforce and to defer the deadline to meet assessment requirements until July 31, 2021, by which time the Temporary Administrative CE and Temporary Provisional Certificate will expire.
The School Administrator endorsement is required for any position that involves services as a district-level administrative officer. Such positions include superintendent, assistant superintendent, and director.
The Principal endorsement is required for any position that involves service as an administrative officer of a school or other comparable unit within a school or district. Such positions include assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, principal, assistant principal, vice-principal and director.
Candidates who have met all requirements for an Administrative CE and the respective endorsement, but have not yet met the comprehensive examination of knowledge are eligible for the Temporary Administrative CE. This group of candidates may include candidates who have a valid out-of-state administrative certificate.
Candidates should only apply for the Temporary Administrative CE if they are not eligible for the typical Administrative CE in the endorsement area sought.
Temporary Administrative CE Requirements
To be issued a Temporary Administrative CE, at the time of application, candidates must meet all requirements for the Administrative Certificate of Eligibility for the endorsement sought, other than the required comprehensive examination of knowledge. Requirements for the Temporary Administrative CE may include, but are not limited to:
- Hold a master’s degree in the appropriate area.
- Demonstrate required number of appropriate content course credits for the endorsement sought.
- Hold valid provisional or standard New Jersey or equivalent out-of-state instructional, educational services or administrative certificate, if applicable.
- Present five years of successful educational experience under a valid provisional or standard New Jersey or equivalent out-of-state certificate.
- Pay the $190.00 application fee.
Temporary Provisional Certificate Requirements
A candidate who has a Temporary Administrative CE must be issued a Temporary Provisional Certificate within 60 days of beginning work as a leader at a New Jersey school. Requirements for the Temporary Provisional Certificate are:
- Hold a Temporary Administrative CE.
- Attain an offer of employment at a New Jersey school.
- Register for a state-approved residency program.
- District must register the candidate into Provisional Licensure Registration Management System (PLRMS).
Deadline for Applications
The Temporary Administrative CE is only available during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Candidates must apply for the Temporary Administrative CE in the endorsement area of the certificate sought and must meet all other requirements, including course credit requirements, to be issued the certificate.
Expiration of the Temporary Certificate of Eligibility and Temporary Provisional Certificate
The Temporary Administrative CE and the Temporary Provisional Certificate expire on July 31, 2021. A renewal of a Temporary Administrative CE or the Temporary Provisional Certificate will not be permitted under any circumstance. Temporary Administrative CE and Temporary Provisional Certificate holders must meet requirements for a CE to convert a Temporary CE and Temporary Provisional Certificate to a CE and Provisional Certificate prior to July 31, 2021.
Application Fees
The Temporary Administrative CE will cost $190.00 which includes the cost of the Temporary Provisional Certificate and future issuance of a typical Administrative CE in the same endorsement area. Candidates will have until July 31, 2021 to complete the examination requirement and convert to the typical Administrative CE to remain eligible to lead in New Jersey. There will be no fee for conversion from a Temporary Administrative CE to a typical Administrative CE.
Service Under a Temporary Provisional Certificate
Time candidates spend serving in an administrative role under a Temporary Provisional Certificate, as well as completion of the residency requirement, will count toward the requirements for earning a standard certificate if and only if the candidate completes the required tests and is issued an Administrative Certificate of Eligibility and Provisional Certificate before July 31, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: The Temporary Administrative CE will only be issued during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
Answer: Typical processing time is 3-4 weeks and maybe longer during the summer.
Answer: You must have a completed application submitted before the deadline. Your credentials will be evaluated based upon the date of application submission.
Answer: Temporary Administrative CE candidates who do not pass the assessments and apply for certification before July 31, 2021 when their certification expires must start the certification process over and seek a regular CE. Candidates must pay for the new CE if they do not convert before July 31, 2021. Candidates can complete their residency program at the discretion of the program.
Regulations
Regulation |
Requirement |
Waiver |
Candidate Next Steps |
6A:9B-12.4 |
School administrator CE requires content credits, a master’s degree, experience, and passage of an examination of knowledge. |
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6A:9B-12.5 |
Principal CE requires content credits, a master’s degree, experience, and passage of a State-approved examination of knowledge. |
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6A:9B-12.8 |
A candidate with a valid out-of-state administrative certificate can be issued the equivalent certificate in New Jersey if they pass the subject matter test. |
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