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Education

Certification Information

Teacher and Administrative Certification Information

Issuance of Nebraska teaching or administrative certificates is the legal responsibility of the Nebraska Department of Education. Universities and colleges do not issue professional certificates, but rather, they offer the course work (required by the State) for specific teaching or administrative programs--for which the college or university then provides the endorsement. The college transcript showing the completed (posted) endorsement, along with a completed application packet, may then lead to the issuance of a teaching or administrative certificate.

The Certification Process

In order for an individual to become certified at the professional level (teaching or administrative) they must complete a program of study in an endorsement area at a college or university which has been approved by the State Board of Education. When the program of study has been completed and the endorsement posted on an official college transcript, the student may then submit a certification application to the Chadron State College Certification Office.

Upon receipt of an application, a request for transcripts is then made to the CSC Registrar's Office (free of charge), at which time the CSC Certification Officer will verify on the application form that the endorsement program has been successfully completed, thus recommending to the State that an appropriate certificate be awarded to the student. CSC then sends the entire application packet (application form, transcripts, your check for $55) to the Nebraska Department of Education (or to the respective state desired), and they will then issue, and send out a certificate.

Certificate Renewal

If an individual is wishing to renew their professional certificate (with either 6 cr. hrs. or 15 cr. hrs. of course work) they should contact the CSC Certification Officer, Dr. Don King, for course work requirements. Once the renewal course work has been completed, an application for certificate renewal may be submitted to the CSC Certification Office. The application will be processed (as stated above) and sent to the Nebraska Department of Education (or the respective state desired) for the issuance of an appropriate certificate. NOTE: For certificate renewal purposes, the State of Nebraska does not accept course credit hours which are older than 5years at the time the renewal application is submitted.

Out-of-state Applicants

Individuals from other states wishing to obtain Nebraska professional certification will need to have successfully completed the Nebraska Human Relations and Special Education course requirements, the Nebraska approved basic skills test--the Pre-Professional Skills Test (Praxis I Exam), and submit two copies of their fingerprints for processing. In addition, individuals should contact the Nebraska Department of Education, Teacher Certification Unit at (402) 471-0739, or their homepage at: http://www.nde.state.ne.us/TCERT/index.html, for specific requirements pertaining to their endorsement area(s).

Individuals seeking certification in another state should contact that specific state for requirements and certification areas (endorsement areas) available.