N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:9B-8.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 6A:9B-8.3 - Requirements for certificates of eligibility (CE)

(a) Except as indicated at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.8, 10, and 11, the candidate shall meet the following criteria to be eligible for a CE in instructional areas:

1. Hold a bachelor's or an advanced degree from an accredited college or university;

2. Meet all minimum requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-5, including, but not limited to, citizenship, age, and examination in physiology, hygiene, and substance abuse requirements;

3. Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 when a GPA of 4.00 equals an A grade for candidates graduating on or after September 1, 2016, in a bachelor's degree program, higher degree program, or a State-approved post-baccalaureate certification program.

i. A candidate whose college transcripts demonstrate completion of all requirements for graduation prior to September 1 in any year, but whose bachelor's or higher degree was conferred between September 1 and December 31 of the same year, shall be deemed to have graduated prior to September 1 of the same year.

ii. A candidate who does not meet the 3.00 GPA requirement shall meet the exception criteria at (b) below;

4. Satisfy the endorsement requirements and exceptions pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-9, 10, and 11, including, but not limited to, passing the appropriate State test(s) of subject matter knowledge and completing the required subject-area course requirements; and

5. Achieve a minimum score established by the Department on a Commissioner-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills, except:

i. A candidate may demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language and in mathematics by achieving a minimum score established by the Commissioner on the SAT, ACT, or GRE pursuant to (a)5i(1) below.

(1) The Department shall maintain on its website a list of Commissioner-determined qualifying minimum scores for each test, which shall be the top-half percentile score for all test takers in the year the respective test was taken, for each year such data is available.

(2) A candidate shall qualify for the exception at (a)5i above only if the candidate achieves at least the minimum qualifying score posted pursuant to (a)5i(1) above; or

ii. A candidate may hold a master's or terminal degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 from an accredited institution of higher education.

(b) The following exceptions shall apply to the 3.00 GPA requirement at (a) above:

1. A candidate graduating before September 1, 2016, shall achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 when a GPA of 4.00 equals an A in a bachelor's degree program, higher degree program, or a Commissioner-approved post-baccalaureate certification program.

2. A candidate with a GPA that is below 3.00, but at least 2.75 when a GPA of 4.00 equals an A grade, and whose score on the appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge exceeds the passing score by 10 percent or more shall meet the requirements at (a)2 and 4 above.

3. A candidate may have a cumulative GPA lower than 3.00, but equal to or higher than a 2.75 if the candidate is sponsored by a CE educator preparation program prior to applying for a CE, so long as the candidate is employed while participating in the CE educator preparation program. The candidate shall submit to the Department documentation of enrollment with the candidate's other certification documentation.

i. Candidates sponsored for the purpose of meeting the exception set forth in this section shall make up no more than 10 percent of a CE educator preparation program's annual accepted candidates.

(c) A candidate who has graduated from an accredited college or university that does not award grades and does not calculate GPAs shall be exempt from the requirements at (a)3 above.

1. Upon application, the candidate shall provide the Office with an original registrar's letter from the college or university bearing the college or university seal and clarifying the institution's policy regarding GPAs.

2. The candidate shall satisfy all other requirements for certification, without exception.

(d) The GPA requirements and their exceptions at (b) and (c) above shall apply to all relevant sections at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8, 9, 10, and 11.

(e) The candidate shall ensure official test scores are transmitted to the Office from the test vendor.

(f) A candidate who meets all requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.2(a)1 through 5 but did not take a state-approved performance assessment because it was not required for educator preparation program completion or for completion of an out-of-State certification program, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.2(b), shall be issued a CE. The candidate shall meet all requirements for provisional and standard certification, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.4 and 8.7, respectively, but shall be exempt from:

1. CE requirements at (a) above;

2. The provisional certificate requirement to be enrolled in a CE educator preparation program, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.4(a)4;

3. The provisional certificate renewal requirement to be enrolled in or to have completed a CE educator preparation program, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.5(b)4; and

4. The standard certificate requirement to complete a CE educator preparation program, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7(a)4 ii.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:9B-8.3

Amended by R.2006 d.170, effective 5/15/2006.
See: 37 N.J.R. 4612(a), 38 N.J.R. 2126(a).
Rewrote the first, second and last sentences in (b)1.
Amended by R.2008 d.7, effective 1/7/2008.
See: 39 N.J.R. 3441(a), 40 N.J.R. 113(b).
In (a), substituted "holder of a CE or CEAS" for "provisional teacher"; in (b)1, inserted "or 90 hours", substituted "in preparation for" for "shall take place prior to the time at which", "to take" for "takes" and "professional support and instruction" for "pre-professional support, instruction and clinical experiences and study"; in (b)2, inserted "or proportionally longer if the provisional teacher holds a part-time teaching position"; in (b)3, substituted "administrative designee" for "administrator"; in (b)4, substituted "A minimum of" for "Approximately" and updated the N.J.A.C. reference; in (d), substituted "providers" for "regional training centers"; and deleted (e).
Amended by R.2009 d.24, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 4856(a), 41 N.J.R. 128(a).
Deleted former (b)1; recodified former (b)2 through (b)4 as (b)1 through (b)3; in (b)3, substituted "Except for (b)4 and 5 below, a" for "A" and updated the N.J.A.C. reference; and added (b)4 and (b)5.
Administrative correction.
See: 42 N.J.R. 936(a).
Amended by R.2010 d.294, effective 12/20/2010.
See: 42 N.J.R. 1654(a), 42 N.J.R. 3058(b).
In (b)5i, deleted "four-year" following "accredited".
Amended by R.2013 d.091, effective 7/1/2013.
See: 45 N.J.R. 152(a), 45 N.J.R. 1605(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2014 d.073, effective 5/5/2014.
See: 45 N.J.R. 2524(a), 46 N.J.R. 761(a).
Section was "Requirements for State-approved district training programs". Rewrote the section.
Repeal and New Rule, R.2015 d.196, effective 12/7/2015.
See: 47 N.J.R. 1730(a), 47 N.J.R. 2989(a).
Section was "Requirements for provisional teacher program".
Administrative change.
See: 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).
Petition for Rulemaking.
See: 51 N.J.R. 899(a).
Petition for Rulemaking.
See: 52 N.J.R. 72(a).
Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020), effective 6/30/2020.
See: 52 N.J.R. 1480(a). Terminated effective 8/31/2021. See 53 N.J.R. 1655(a).

Amended by 55 N.J.R. 853(a), effective 5/1/2023