August 2025

Educational Examiners Newsletter

Contents

• Frequently Asked Questions at the Beginning of the School Year
• Recent Cases

Frequently Asked Questions at the Beginning of the School Year

1. How can a teacher get a conditional license? 

The Class B License is valid for two school years and may be issued under the following conditions:

• The person is the holder of a valid Iowa teaching license with one or more endorsements and is seeking to obtain some other endorsement
• The employer requests the Class B be issued due to an official position offer
• The individual seeking this endorsement has completed at least one-half of the requirements
  
  

The Executive Director Decision License is valid for one school year and may be issued under the following conditions:

• The person is the holder of a valid Iowa teaching license with one or more endorsement and is seeking to obtain some other endorsement
• The employer requests the Executive Director Decision license be issued
• The employer verifies a diligent search to find a fully licensed teacher for the position
• The individual seeking this endorsement is not eligible for the Class B license
  
  

Tips for conditional licensure:

• The applicant’s main license must be valid. 
• The Executive Director Decision conditional license is valid for one academic year and cannot be renewed or extended. Enough coursework must be completed to be eligible for the Class B conditional license for the following year. 
• The Class B conditional license is valid for two academic years. A final one-year extension is only allowed if progress has been made in coursework during the term of the Class B license.
• Administrators who have teachers working under conditional licenses should schedule regular check-ins to make sure coursework progress is being made.
  
  

2. What is the processing time for a first license or renewal of a license/authorization? 

Processing times do vary; however we strongly encourage applicants to start the process at least 6-weeks in advance of needing licensure. The application must have all the appropriate documents uploaded and “pending internal review”.  Fingerprints must be completed through Fieldprint if the applicant doesn’t currently hold a license with the BoEE.  Fieldprint Instructions

• Strategies to ensure accuracy in the application process.
• Official transcripts need to be issued to the applicant and uploaded by the applicant.  Please do not send or email official transcripts to BoEE office staff.
• Upload the 2-hour 169 Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Certification.  We are no longer taking the 1-hour refresher course. Dependent Adult Abuse is no longer required for licensure.
• Letters verifying 10-years’ experience for the Advanced Degree +10 Years of Experience application must be on school letterhead, stating years of experience and role of the applicant.  No performance information is needed. This can be issued by HR or an administrator. 
• Applications can be submitted one year in advance. 

• Extensions of an Initial, Standard or Master Educator licenses can be requested and are typically issued within 24-48 business hours.
• The applicant can’t currently be on an extension.
• Requires a Letter of Support form in the checklist of the application to be completed by the administration.

3. How can a person become a teacher in Iowa? 

Currently, there is no pathway where a person can take a test and become a teacher.  Iowa does offer multiple pathways to teaching.

Pathways to Teaching

4. Who can teach Career and technical Courses? 

5-12 Teaching License: Fully-licensed teachers may hold 5-12 career and technical endorsements in agriculture, family consumer sciences, industrial technology, 5-12 business, or CTE information technology to teach career and technical courses.

5-12 Career and Technical Authorization: Individuals with work experience outside of education may hold a career and technical authorization. Pedagogy coursework is completed during the three-year initial authorization. Options include:

(1) 6,000 hours of recent and relevant experience;

(2) 4,000 hours of recent and relevant experience if the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree;

(3) 3,000 hours of recent and relevant experience if the applicant holds an associate’s degree in the teaching endorsement area sought, if such a degree is considered terminal for that field of instruction;

(4) Hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree or closely related degree in the teaching endorsement area sought; or

(5) Hold a baccalaureate degree in any area of study if at least 18 of the credit hours were completed in the teaching endorsement area sought.

New (6) For a career and technical cluster endorsement, meet one of the above qualifications, and at least 2000 hours of recent and relevant experience or 9 semester hours each in two additional areas within the cluster endorsement. Combinations of experience and education may be approved by the executive director. Cluster areas include: Agriculture, Industrial Technology, Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Sciences, and Information Solutions.

Community College Instructors: BoEE licensure is not required if the high school course is offered for college credit.

5. How do I request substitutes for vacancies, extensions of substitute authorizations limits, and/or paraeducators with substitute authorizations to serve outside of their assigned classrooms? 

All requests for substitute exemptions and permissions can be submitted through links found on the updated “Licensure Tips for Administrators” portion of our website. There are three different forms for use, depending on your district’s needs:

• Extensions for Substitute Authorization Limits
• Paraeducators with Substitute Authorizations to Serve Outside of Their Classroom
• Vacant Positions to be Filled by Licensed Substitutes

Please complete forms in their entirety - there are additional questions for this school year compared to prior years’ iterations. Requests will be completed as soon as possible. Approvals will be issued in the form of an email addressed to the requesting administrator and the requested substitute.

Recent Cases