2015 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-6-190. Qualifications for teacher employment and certification.

A. The board of education of each school district shall employ and contract in writing, as required in Section 6-101 of this title, only with persons certified to teach by the State Board of Education in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, except as otherwise provided for by Section 6-101 of this title and by other law.

B. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who:

1. Has successfully completed the teacher education program required by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation;

2. Has graduated from an accredited institution of higher education that has approval or accreditation for teacher education;

3. Has met all other requirements as may be established by the Board;

4. Has made the necessary application and paid the competency examination fee in an amount and as prescribed by the Commission;

5. Has successfully completed the competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title; and

6. Beginning November 1, 2001, has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history records.

C. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who:

1. Holds an out-of-state certificate and meets the requirements set forth in subsection F of this section; or

2. Holds certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

D. Beginning July 1, 2004, any person applying for initial Oklahoma certification shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history records.

E. Any person holding a valid certificate, issued prior to January 1, 1997, shall be a certified teacher for purposes of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, subject to any professional development requirements prescribed by the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act or by the State Board of Education.

F. 1. The Board shall issue a certificate to teach to a person who holds a valid out-of-state certificate. The certificate to teach shall only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate.

2. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection and who has five (5) years of successful teaching experience as a certified teacher in an accredited school shall not be required to take any competency examinations in those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate.

3. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall have on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Upon receipt of the Oklahoma criminal history record check, the Board may issue a temporary certificate which shall be effective until receipt of the national fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The person applying for a certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 11, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 344, § 5, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997; Laws 2001, c. 34, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 425, § 3, emerg. eff. June 5, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 236, § 3, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 204, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 438, § 1, eff. July 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 185, § 4, emerg. eff. May 17, 2005; Laws 2014, c. 124, § 17, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 137, § 1,emerg. eff. July 1, 2015.