ADDING ENDORSEMENTS TO YOUR IOWA LICENSE

MAKE YOURSELF MORE MARKETABLE! If you hold an Iowa teaching license, it is possible to add endorsements to this license by either completing an approved university program or by satisfying the State of Iowa minimum requirements. The main differences between these two options are:

1. State of Iowa minimum endorsements are usually recognized only in the State of Iowa while approved program endorsements may also be accepted outside of Iowa.
2. There is more flexibility using the minimum standards option, and frequently fewer courses are required.
3. In order to be recommended for an endorsement based on completion of a University of Iowa approved program, students must complete a minimum of 20 s.h. at this Institution.
4. Completion of a University of Iowa approved program will probably require formal program admission. Added Endorsement Program admission form.

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION AND AN ANALYSIS FOR APPROVED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

1. See program checklist for a list of approved programs available at The University of Iowa.
2. Program guide sheets are available for some of these programs. If a program guide is not available, contact Lynn McMorris for information.
3. Formal admission may be required for the program selected and most of this course work will probably need to be completed at The University of Iowa. Any course work substitutions will need to be approved by the education program adviser assigned upon admission.
4. Upon completion of all requirements, contact Lynn McMorris for Licensure application materials and instructions.

CONDITIONAL LICENSURE:

If you are the holder of a valid license and are hired to teach a subject area for which you are not currently endorsed, it may be possible to acquire a Two-Year Conditional License. To be eligible for this type of license you should have completed at least two-thirds of the requirements leading to completion of all requirements for that endorsement. In some instances a Conditional License is granted when less than two-thirds of the requirements are completed. For example, special education conditional licensure can be acquired if half of the program requirements (no less than 12 s.h.) are completed. Some other teacher shortage areas may also fall under this category. A contact with the Iowa State Department of Education may be necessary to determine eligibility. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TEACH CLASSES FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT ENDORSED. MAKE SURE YOU OBTAIN A CONDITIONAL LICENSE UNTIL ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SATISFIED.

An application for a two-year Conditional License is available at (http://www.boee.iowa.gov/ChooseClassBC.html). This application will require the signature of an Administrator at the employing school district, and proof that an ample portion of the program has been completed. For regular teaching endorsements, a copy of the transcript analysis provided by a college or university should be included with the application. Special Education conditional applications will require a "plan of study". The University of Iowa has a specific procedure for acquiring this special education plan.

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