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Nevada Alternative Teaching Certification
Nevada Alternative Teaching Certification
Aspiring educators have an alternative option for becoming a licensed teacher. This article discusses the requirements for obtaining a standard teaching license using the Alternative Route License in Nevada.
Alternative License Route Requirements for Teachers in Nevada
The state of Nevada has the option to apply for an Alternative Route License (ARL) for individuals who would like to become teachers but do not possess an education-related degree that includes a teacher preparation program. The ARL process ensures that the individual is well prepared to meet the needs of Nevada students and requires that the candidate meet all Nevada Department of Education (NDOE)-mandated credentials. Once the ARL is obtained, the candidate will have the opportunity to earn his/her standard teaching license with the condition that all ARL requirements are met.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Education/Experience Required</b></td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Exam Requirements</b></td><td> Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam, Praxis II Subject Area Assessment, Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification Renewal Period</b></td><td> 5 years</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>CEH Required for Renewal</b></td><td> 90 hours of continued education</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary for Teachers in Nevada (2018)</b></td><td> $56,970 (Elementary), $58,460 (Middle School), $57,910 (High School)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Estimated National Job Growth (2016-2026)</b></td><td> 7% (Elementary), 8% (Middle & High School)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---EducationAndPreparation">Education and Preparation</h3><p>An ARL candidate must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. The candidate must apply to, be accepted into, and successfully complete an NDOE ARL program. There are twelve licensed ARL program providers throughout the state that will prepare the candidate with all the needed qualifications to fulfill the requirements of the ARL. Requirements of the ARL program include courses in classroom management, English as a second language needs, curriculum and instruction practices, assessment preparation, teaching special needs students, and methods for teaching the subject area and grade level for which the candidate is licensing in.
</p><h3 id="section---Exam">Exam</h3><p>A requirement for being accepted into the ARL program, in order to teach at the high school level, is to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam. This assessment evaluates the candidate's core competency in reading, writing, and math. Elementary and middle school ARL candidates are not required to take the core exam. The NDOE can provide an exemption from the core assessment for those who qualify and for those who are relieved from taking the exam by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The candidate will also be required to take the Praxis II Subject Area Assessment if the candidate's desired teaching subject area is not a major or minor earned in his/her degree, and all candidates must pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching before their ARL term expires.
</p><h3 id="section---TheARLProcess">The ARL Process</h3><p>The ARL candidate must submit an application for a conditional license so that they can begin the ARL program and apply for employment in a public, private, or charter school that is approved by the NDOE. If all general requirements are met, a conditional license will be issued and the candidate will begin teaching while fulfilling the educational courses, trainings and exams of the ARL. All requirements of the ARL program and exams must be completed before the license expires. The conditional license is active for three years and does not qualify for a renewal.
</p><h3 id="section---ConversionToAStandardLicense">Conversion to a Standard License</h3><p>First, the candidate must successfully complete all coursework and classroom training that is required by the ARL program. The candidate must submit an application to convert the ARL license into a standard license, and submit needed documents supporting 'satisfactory' rated teacher evaluations, the ARL program completion certificate, and pay the $180 conversion fee. Verification that payment is received will be sent to the applicant's email address along with a fingerprinting packet that must be submitted for a criminal history background investigation. The standard license application process can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks to be reviewed.</p>
