March 2026

Educational Examiners Newsletter

Contents

• Educational Examiners
• What is the Common Reference Form and where can I find it?
• What hiring tips do the educational examiners have for administrators?
• What alternative license options does Iowa offer if an applicant has not completed a teacher preparation program?
• What alternative pathways are there for teaching?
• What directions can administrators give to their educators who hold an Initial licenses?
• Does the BoEE offer any Licensure training for administrators or Human Resources Staff?
• What documents are needed when renewing an Authorization or License using the “New” Advanced Degree Plus 10 years Experience Application?
• What are the licensing options for coaches?
• Are there any resources for educators?
• Are there any scenarios we can use for practice with our educators?
• Recent Cases

Educational Examiners

The Educational Examiners offices are now located in the Grimes building at 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319.

What is the Common Reference Form and where can I find it?

Iowa Code 256.146 (25) (e) requires that all public, accredited non-public, and charter schools complete the Common Reference form for any employee who leaves the district. Completed forms should be readily accessible upon request from another district who is seeking to hire the employee. Visit the Ethics and Complaints webpage for requirements and form.

What hiring tips do the educational examiners have for administrators?

It is important to make sure applicants are eligible for licensure with the correct endorsement before finalizing the hiring process. Here are some important points to remember during this hiring season.

Iowa Licensure. Make sure the applicant holds or is eligible to hold an Iowa teaching license. Iowa does not have a temporary, emergency, or conditional license for applicants who have not completed a teacher preparation program. There are some non-traditional pathways for limited areas only (see below).

Proper Endorsements. Make sure the applicant holds the correct teaching endorsement for the assignment. Your best resource for this is the  BEDS Crosswalk. For courses that only require a valid teaching license with an endorsement at the grade level, this means a full teaching license, not an authorization. Questions about the BEDS Crosswalk can be directed to Josh Moser, 515-326-5367, josh.moser@iowa.gov. 

CTE Authorization. The CTE Authorization holders need the appropriate SCED codes.

• Before assigning SCED codes to CTE Authorization holders, please check the BEDS Crosswalk to be certain the person's CTE endorsements match with the SCED code.
• CTE endorsements are granted due to work experience. The applicant must submit specific work experience to be granted the endorsement area.
• For questions about CTE Authorizations, please contact Dave Wempen, david.wempen@iowa.gov

Conditional Licensure. For fully-licensed teachers, a conditional license may be an option. Teachers applying for any type of conditional licensure must have administrator support, which is explained in more detail below:

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 license 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 endorsements and is seeking to obtain some other endorsement.
• The employer requests the Executive Director Decision License be issued.
• The employer verifies a diligent search has been conducted to find a fully licensed teacher for the position.
• The individual seeking this endorsement is not eligible for the Class B License.

Contacts for conditional licenses:

• Dave Wempen david.wempen@iowa.gov, Consultant - general education conditional licenses 
• Geri Mcmahon geri.mcmahon@iowa.gov, 515-371-5004, Consultant - special education conditional licenses

What alternative license options does Iowa offer if an applicant has not completed a teacher preparation program?

There are several options for alternative licensure. It is important to note that some options have limited teaching authority.

• Teacher Intern

• Full teaching instruction within grade levels and endorsements listed on the license. 
• Not eligible for a conditional license. 
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree to enter a teacher intern program.
• Leads to a full teaching license.
• Requirements include completion of the first year of the required teacher intern coursework in an approved Iowa teacher intern program and Mandatory Reporter Training for child abuse. 

•  Content Specialist Authorization

• Limited to the endorsement listed on the authorization.
• Not eligible for a conditional license.
• Not eligible to add any other endorsement areas. 
• Requirements include a Master’s degree in a BoEE endorsement area, the district must show that no properly endorsed applicants were available, and a position offer letter. 

• Initial Career and Technical Education Authorization

• Limited to career and technical fields listed on the authorization. 
• Not eligible for a conditional license. 
• Requirements include several options listed on the website. 

• Native Language Teacher Authorization
• Limited to language listed on the authorization. 
• Not eligible for conditional licensure. 
• Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree and passing Praxis II content test in native language 

What alternative pathways are there for teaching?

Pathways to Teaching

What directions can administrators give to their educators who hold an Initial licenses?

• Educators on an initial teaching license will need to apply to convert to a standard teaching licences once the experience requirement has been met, there is evidence of meeting the standards and the applicant completed mentoring (form in the checklist). Do not apply until the teaching requirement is met.  
• Standard Teaching License Requirements include:
• Two years of successful teaching in an Iowa public school, or 3 years in an accredited private or out-of-state setting.
• Mandatory reporter training for child abuse.

Directions - Convert an Initial Teaching License to a Standard Teaching License

Does the BoEE offer any Licensure training for administrators or Human Resources Staff?

• Yes, the consultants at the BoEE offer a virtual meeting to cover licensure options. Please connect with one of the consultants to schedule a presentation. 
• Topics include:
• Conditional Licenses
• Initial Licenses
• Extensions 
• Renewals
• Resources for the application process
• BEDS Crosswalk and endorsement interpretation
• Contact any of the consultants to schedule a time.

What documents are needed when renewing an Authorization or License using the “New” Advanced Degree Plus 10 years Experience Application?

• The advanced degree/10 years’ experience renewal application requires the following: 
• Official transcripts showing the master's degree or a note stating that the applicant already holds a license that requires a master's degree (the applicant can write this note themselves).
• Verification of at least 10 years of licensed K-12 experience in education in the form of a letter on school letterhead from an administrator or school’s HR department. 
• Current mandatory reporter training for child abuse. Please submit the full 2.o hour training, the 1.0 retraining has been phased out. 
• Administrator license only: evaluator training no more than 10 years old.

The process can be started on the Iowa Department of Education, Educator Licensure website.

What are the licensing options for coaches?

• Class B
• Can be added to a valid teaching license
• All licensed teachers are automatically eligible for a Class B Coaching Endorsement
• 2 years to pursue either the endorsement OR the authorization
• CPR, Concussion in Sports, DS 169
• Coaching Endorsement
• Can only be added to a teaching license
• College credit coursework in the following areas:
• Structure and Function of the Human Body
• Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
• Human Growth and Development
• Theory/Methods and Ethics of Coaching
• CPR, Concussion in Sports, DS 169
• Coaching Authorization
• 18+
• 55 hour authorization course from an approved provider or college credit coursework
• CPR, Concussion in Sports, DS 169
• Transitional Coaching Authorization
• 21+
• Transitional Coaching Starter course from an approved provider (AEA, NEACA, SWICC)
• Employment Verification form (found in application)
• Valid for one year, complete Transitional Coaching Finisher course from an approved provider  (AEA, NEACA, SWICC)
• Concussion in Sports & DS 169

Are there any resources for educators?

Educator Licensure 

Licensure Tips for Administrators

Professional School Counseling License Options

Login to the Salesforce system to apply, renew, or convert a license

BEDS Crosswalk

Directory for Educational Examiners

What is the typical timeline for a complaint investigation?

• In 2024, the Bureau hired three additional full time investigators, for a total of four. Bureau staff and investigators work very diligently to turn cases around as quickly as possible.  Although many factors impact the timeline. 
• The quantity of complaints. The BoEE is currently receiving approximately 300 cases per year. 
• Allowing time for respondents to reply. The complainant and respondent are allowed time to respond to allegations during the investigation. 
• Criminal investigations. Typically when law enforcement is involved the BOEE will delay its investigation to allow the criminal investigation to be completed. 
•  It is the goal to have investigations completed and provide the investigative reports to the Board within 90 days.
• If probable cause is determined by the Board, the case is moved to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution. 
• If the Board determines no ethical violation occurred, the case is dismissed, and no public information regarding the case will be disseminated by the Board.

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Are there any scenarios we can use for practice with our educators?

A suggested method:

Break into groups of 3-4 people

One person records the decisions of the group

Discuss the scenario. The group comes to a consensus.

• Is this behavior risky?
• Is there any potential violation of the code of ethics?
• Which standards were violated? Chapter 25 Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics
• Should there be a sanction?
• What would you do if you were on the BOEE?

1. A parent of a young special education student complains to you as administrator that their child says the paraprofessional grabbed the student’s arm roughly during recess  Surveillance footage shows that the student became dysregulated and was hitting another student before the para intervened. It seemed the para was too rough.  
2. You find out an employee was recently placed on the elder abuse registry.
3. A new hire in the special education department has expended all their sick days before Thanksgiving.  December 1 they call in sick and are denied leave.  They never return to the school.  
4. A teacher is retiring at the end of the year and posts in the work room items for sale from her collection.  Some of the items were purchased through grants the school won or for various programs.
5. An AEA representative shares that a teacher has not logged any data in Achieve for progress monitoring in two months.

Recent Cases