FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In order to help speed the processing of an application, an applicant should review the following answers to questions that often arise.
1) Where should I send my application materials and fees?
2) How long will it take for my application to be reviewed?
3) What is a complete application?
4) If I must call the licensing office, when may I do so?
5) How do I pay and what are the fees?
6) Does the Department of Education offer refunds?
7) How can I check the status of my application?
8) How do I know what type of instructional certificate I should apply for?
9) How do I find out the requirements for the certificate(s) I want?
10) What is an “endorsement?”
11) Where can I get information about test requirements?
12) Where can I take the courses that are required for licensure?
13) What should I do if I am offered a job before I receive my license?
14) What should I do if I receive the wrong license?
15) How do I request a name change?
16) Does New Jersey have licensing reciprocity with other states?
17) I have an out-of-state or foreign teaching certificate. How do I obtain my New Jersey teaching certificate?
18) I graduated from an out-of-state college or university. How do I obtain my New Jersey teaching certificate?
19) On my application I checked the box indicating that I had been convicted of a crime. What happens now?
20) How do I report improper or illegal behavior on the part of a school district employee?
21) What is the Alternate Route Program and how do I enter it?
22) How do I register or obtain additional information or a status report on an active case for the Principal Residency Program, School Administrator Residency Program or Substance Awareness Coordinator Residency Program?
23) Where can I obtain additional information about…?
1) Where should I send my application materials and fees?
Please send all documents, payments, and correspondence concerning your application to:
Office of Licensure and Credentials
New Jersey Department of Education
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500
Items not sent to our office at this exact address will take much longer to be received and processed.
2) How long will it take for my application to be reviewed?
For traditional route applications submitted from an approved New Jersey college program, the average processing time is approximately two weeks from the date we receive a recommendation from the college certification office.
For individual applications that have been properly completed, the average processing time varies during the year. The summer months are our busiest times due to the high volume of applications we receive during that period.
3) What is a complete application?
Please Note: This department cannot process an incomplete application. Your application is considered complete when ALL necessary documentation is received. The NJDOE cannot be responsible for delays that result from incomplete submissions or paperwork that is not received.
a) A completed application for a citizen of the United States must include the following:
- A Web application;
- A notarized Oath of Allegiance/Verification of Accuracy form;
- Official college transcripts noting degree conferral date and GPA. Please submit all official transcripts that contain course information relevant to your certification area of interest insealed envelopes;
- Applicable test scores for Praxis II Content Knowledge test(s);
- Applicable test scores in oral proficiency for World Language, ESL and Bilingual endorsements; and
- A Verification of Program Completion (if applicable).
b) A completed application for a non-citizen of the United States must include the following:
- A Web application;
- A notarized Non-Citizen Oath of Allegiance and Non-Citizen Affidavit of Intent form;
- An original foreign credential evaluation from a reputable agency for all coursework completed outside the United States. The documentation should state the degree equivalency from a regionally accredited four-year college program completed within the United States; semester-hour equivalents of each area of college-level study in a course-by-course format, and the cumulative baccalaureate and advanced degree GPAs;
- Applicable test scores for Praxis II Content Knowledge test(s); and
- Applicable test scores in oral proficiency for World Language, ESL and Bilingual endorsements.
c) A completed application for an out-of-state applicant must include the following:
- A Web application;
- A notarized Oath of Allegiance/Verification of Accuracy form;
- Official college transcripts noting degree conferral date and GPA. Please submit all official transcripts containing course information relevant to your area of interest in sealed envelopes;
- Applicable test scores for Praxis II Content Knowledge test(s);
- Applicable test scores in oral proficiency for World Language, ESL and Bilingual endorsements;
- A Verification of Program Completion (if applicable);
- Copies of out-of-state licenses (if applicable); and
- An original letter from school administration documenting the grade level and period of time you taught under your valid state-issued license. Your letter must be printed on official school letterhead.
See this link for all forms: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/forms.htm
You can begin your online application at: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/tcis/.
NOTE: To speed processing time for all applications, bundle all documentation into one package.
4) If I must call the licensing office, when may I do so?
Customer Service is available to the public during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday (except major holidays). The Customer Service telephone number is (609) 292-2070. We regret the inconvenience, but other hours of the workday are devoted to the processing of applications and we are not able to accept incoming calls.
5) How do I pay and what are the fees?
Please make the payment online at http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/epay.htm
The Fee Schedule is available for your convenience.
6) Does the Department of Education offer refunds?
Regulations do not allow us to offer refunds. All applications receive the attention of an examiner during the application review. The fee covers the costs for time expended in providing a thorough review of documentation for your case, whether or not a certificate is issued.
If your application has been reviewed and denied, we will charge $70 against the fees you have paid and hold the remaining funds in your account against any future transactions or updates to the original application.
Please contact Customer Service at (609) 292-2070 if you have made a duplicate payment. We will work with you to resolve the matter.
7) How can I check the status of my application?
You may check the status of your application by visiting: https://www6.state.nj.us/DOE_TCIS_ASC/pages/appStatusSearch.jsp
You may also call our Customer Service line at (609) 292-2070 during the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except major holidays).
8) How do I know what type of instructional certificate I should apply for?
The NJDOE offers three types of instructional certificates:
Certificate of Eligibility – Apply for this certificate if you did not complete a teacher preparation program. The fee is $170.00 for endorsements that do not require a test and $190.00 for endorsements that do require a Praxis II Content Knowledge test.
Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing - Apply for this certificate if you did complete a teacher preparation program. The fee is $170.00 for endorsements that do not require a test and $190.00 for endorsements that do require a Praxis II Content Knowledge test.
Standard Certificate - Apply for this certificate if you have at least one year of full-time teaching experience under a valid out-of-state license and have completed a full teacher preparation program that included student teaching. The fee is $95.00 for endorsements that do not require a test and $115.00 for endorsements that do require a Praxis II Content Knowledge test.
9) How do I find out the requirements for the certificate(s) I want?
The general requirements for certificates can be accessed at the following web locations:
Instructional: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/instructcert.htm.
Administrative: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/admincert.htm.
New Jersey regulations established by the State Board of Examiners determine all certificate requirements. You can find the regulations pertaining to your application using the ‘search’ function in Adobe Reader on this page: http://www.nj.gov/education/code/current/title6a/chap9.pdf.
An endorsement is an area of certification with distinct grade-level and subject matter authorizations. Other states may title their certificates and endorsements differently
11) Where can I get information about test requirements?
Please visit http://www.ets.org/praxis for a complete list of Praxis II Content Knowledge tests required for licensure in New Jersey.
12) Where can I take the courses that are required for licensure?
In New Jersey, contact any of the Colleges listed here to determine whether they offer an approved program in the area in which you seek certification. In other states, the college or university must be a four-year regionally accredited institution that is a member of one of these six Regional Institutional Accrediting Organizations
13) What should I do if I am offered a job before I receive my license?
If you are offered a job before you receive your certification, the employing district may request an expedited review of the application through the county superintendent of schools. No license application will be expedited unless the district superintendent in the hiring district requests a priority evaluation. A complete, accurate application packet is required. Responsibility for assuring the accuracy and completeness of the application packet rests fully with each applicant.
14) What should I do if I receive the wrong license?
It is illegal to knowingly accept employment under a license that was printed or issued erroneously. If you receive such a license, please return the original license with a brief cover letter to the New Jersey Department of Education, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500.
15) How do I request a name change?
You may access a Name Change Request form on our website at the following location: http://www.state.nj.us/education/educators/license/forms/name_change.pdf
Please note that a name change request requires that we reprint your current certificate(s) with your new name. In order for your name change request to be processed, the form must be completed in its entirety. Incomplete forms will be returned. You must submit of multiple forms of identification and surrender previously issued certificates. A fee of $60.00 is required for each certificate you wish to have altered.
16) Does New Jersey have licensing reciprocity with other states?
New Jersey has specific forms of reciprocity with other states for instructional certificates under the NASDTEC Interstate Contract and under our regulations, and has limited reciprocity for administrative and educational services certificates. Please see this page for guidance. For instructional certificates, applicants must generally meet all New Jersey rules for subject matter preparation to be eligible for reciprocity. In particular, NJ Praxis II tests and passing scores currently differ from most other states – make sure that you take and report the correct test to us. See http://www.ets.org/praxis for the correct tests.
17) I have an out-of-state or foreign teaching certificate. How do I obtain my New Jersey teaching certificate?
A completed application for a traditionally trained out-of-state or non-citizen applicant must include the following:
- A web application;
- A notarized Oath of Allegiance/Verification of Accuracy form (or a notarized Non-Citizen Oath and Non-Citizen Affidavit of Intent if you are not a U.S. citizen);
- Official college transcripts noting degree conferral date and GPA (or an original foreign credential evaluation from a reputable agency for all coursework completed outside the United States). Please submit all official documentation containing course information relevant to your area of interest insealed envelopes;
- Applicable test scores for Praxis II Content Knowledge test(s);
- Applicable test scores in oral proficiency for World Language, ESL and Bilingual endorsements;
- A Verification of Program Completion (if applicable);
- Copies of out-of-state licenses (if applicable); and
- An original letter from school administration documenting the grade level and period of time you taught under your valid state-issued license. Your letter must be printed on official school letterhead.
18) I graduated from an out-of-state college or university. How do I obtain my New Jersey teaching certificate?
Please follow the instructions outlined in the response posted above.
19) On my application I checked the box indicating that I had been convicted of a crime. What happens now?
If you have not done so already, please send in the Criminal History form that is linked on the following page: http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/forms.htm. The State Board of Examiners will then review the information you have provided and decide whether to ask you for more information.
20) How do I report improper or illegal behavior on the part of a school district employee?
Please notify both the district superintendent and the State Board of Examiners in writing. You may contact the State Board of Examiners at:
Secretary, State Board of Examiners
c/o Office of Licensure and Credentials
New Jersey Department of Education
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500
21) What is the Alternate Route Program and how do I enter it?
The alternate route to teacher certification allows those who have not completed a traditional teacher preparation program to transition into the teaching profession. Information about how to enter and complete the Alternate Route Program is available by following this link: Alternate Route Program
22) How do I register or obtain additional information or a status report on an active case for the Principal Residency Program, School Administrator Residency Program or Substance Awareness Coordinator Residency Program?
You may contact these programs at 609 292-6378 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
23) Where can I obtain additional information about…?
- Job Placement/NJ Hire
There is no formal statewide system of job placement for public schools. Each school district has the authority to operate its own employment and recruitment program. However, county offices of education or colleges may provide information about job vacancies or placement information in their respective counties. A county office directory and a New Jersey college directory are also includedin thepublication, CERTIFICATION IN NEW JERSEY
The cornerstone of New Jersey’s teacher recruitment initiative is the online recruitment system, NJHire. NJHire was launched in June 2000. NJHire is free to school districts and teacher candidates. Please visit http://www.njhire.com to perform a job search or post your resume for viewing by school districts.
- Teacher Pension
Teacher pensions are administered by the Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, 1 State Street Square, 50 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625 or call 609-292-7524
- Tenure and Seniority
Issues of educational tenure and seniority are addressed by the Bureau of Controversies and Disputes, New Jersey Department of Education, 100 Riverview Plaza, PO BOX 500, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500 or call 609- 292-5705.
- Nursery School Employment
Employment requirements for private nursery schools and day care centers, including licensing of group teachers and the issuance of day care center licenses, are regulated by the Division of Youth and Family Services, Department of Human Services, 50 East State Street, CN 717, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0717 or call 609-292-1021.
- Substitute Teaching
Most school districts maintain lists of persons who are available to serve as substitutes in the absence of full-time teachers. Information about the requirements and procedures for becoming a substitute teacher must be obtained from the county office of education.
- PRAXIS/NTE Tests
The PRAXIS II Subject Assessment/NTE test Registration Bulletin may be obtained from: The PRAXIS Series, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6051, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6051 or call 609-771-7395. Information is also available on the Internet through the Praxis Web site at http://www.ets.org/praxis.
- Salary
Teacher salaries in New Jersey are determined by each local school district. Information may be secured from the office of the superintendent of schools for each district.
- School Aides
Information concerning service as a school aide may be obtained from your county superintendent of schools.
- School Directory
You may view the School Directory information online at http://www.state.nj.us/education/directory.
- Troops to Teachers (TTT)
The purpose of TTT is to assist eligible military personnel and their spouses to transition to a new career as public school teachers in “high-need” schools. The New Jersey TTT office has been established to provide participants with counseling and assistance regarding certification requirements, routes to state certification, and employment in New Jersey school districts. For more information, please visit www.proudtoserveagain.com or call (800) 680-0884, or e-mail tttnj@doe.state.nj.us
- Provisional Teaching Program (PTP)
The Provisional Teacher Program is a program in which all novice teachers, both alternate and traditional route, are supported and supervised by experienced professionals in their schools while working under provisional certificates. After completion of the PTP, a teacher may be recommended for a standard certificate. The Provisional Teacher Program Training Unit number is (609)984-6377.
- Highly Qualified (HQT)
The Professional Standards and Learning unit has responsibility for supporting teacher and school leader quality initiatives. More information is available from the No Child Left Behind: Highly Qualified Teachers Initiative Web page.
The HQT E-mail Hotline is: hqteachers@doe.state.nj.us
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