Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Temporary Flexibilities for other Instructional and Educational Services Candidates Applying for Certification During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Through a regulatory modification (“waiver”) of certification requirements, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is providing certification candidates who apply during the public health emergency flexibility by deferring the completion of certain certification assessment requirements until July 31, 2021.
The NJDOE recognizes that, due to COVID-19, candidates seeking certification may not have had an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge or skills on required tests. The NJDOE has also provided deferral of assessment requirements for the below groups of candidates through the following methods.
These flexibilities are only available for candidates applying during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Basic Skills Requirement Flexibility for CEAS Program Entry
Preparation programs can amend program entry requirements to conditionally admit candidates for the 2020-2021 school year and to defer candidate completion of the basic skills requirement to a later date within the program’s sequence. Candidates may apply to preparation programs without completion of the basic skills requirement.
Temporary Charter School Certificate of Eligibility (CSCE)
The NJDOE has created a temporary certification for Charter School Certificate of Eligibility (Temporary CSCE) candidates to defer assessment passage until on or before July 31, 2021, when the Temporary CSCE expires. Eligibility for the Temporary CSCE requires the candidate meet all CSCE requirements (at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-11.12) except the basic skills test and the subject matter test(s). The Temporary CSCE expires July 31, 2021, by which point the candidate must complete all required assessments to remain eligible to teach. The Temporary CSCE is not renewable under any circumstance. Candidates with a Temporary CSCE can enroll in a preparation program and seek employment.
Emergency Limited Certificate for Foreign Teachers
The NJDOE has created an Emergency Limited Certificate for foreign teachers to defer passage of language proficiency tests until on or before July 31, 2021, when the emergency certificate expires. Candidates can earn an emergency certificate if they apply during the COVID-19 public health emergency and if they have met all other requirements necessary to be eligible for a limited certificate for foreign teachers’ certificate. The emergency certificate expires July 31, 2021 and candidates with the Emergency Limited Certificate for Foreign Teachers will be able to teach in New Jersey until expiration of the emergency certificate. Candidates must complete language tests to earn the Limited Certificate for Foreign Teachers and remain eligible to teach in New Jersey.
Emergency Educational Services Certificate with an Endorsement in Educational Interpreter (Sign Language Interpreting)
The NJDOE regulatory waiver permits issuance of an Emergency Educational Interpreter Certificate to candidates applying during the COVID-19 public health emergency if the candidates meet the coursework requirements outlined under 6A:9B-14.18(b)1ii or (b)2ii. This emergency certificate expires July 31, 2021 and cannot be renewed. Candidates with this emergency educational services certificate with an educational interpreter endorsement must pass the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) to gain eligibility for the standard certificate or a new emergency certificate.
Additional Provisional Renewal Period for Certificate of Eligibility Candidates with an Endorsement in Career and Technical Education
CE candidates with an endorsement in Career and Technical Education may be eligible for an additional provisional certificate renewal if they have not completed the basic skills assessment requirement and apply for the provisional renewal during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This additional provisional renewal will allow these candidates two additional provisional years to complete the basic skills assessment requirement in order to be eligible for the standard certificate. Candidates must complete the basic skills requirement within the additional two-year period to be issued a standard and continue teaching. No further renewals will be allowed.
Additional Provisional Renewal Period for Educational Services Certificate Candidates with an Endorsement in Speech Language Specialist
The NJDOE is allowing one additional provisional period of two years for educational services certificate holders with an endorsement in speech language specialist whose provisional license is expiring during the COVID-19 public health emergency to complete the State-approved test of comprehensive knowledge in the field of speech language pathology requirement. Candidates applying for a second renewal of their educational services certification with an endorsement in speech-language specialist may be allowed an additional renewal if they are unable to earn their standard certificate due to the test requirement (at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-14.6(b)). Candidates must complete the speech language assessment requirement within the renewal period to be issued a standard and continue working as a speech language specialist. No further renewals will be allowed.
Contact Information
For Temporary Certification Guidance, visit the NJDOE COVID-19 Education Preparation and Certification Page.
Contact licensing.requests@doe.nj.gov with any questions about certification processes.
Contact certification.outreach@doe.nj.gov with questions about this waiver.