License Renewal Information

Automated Phone Number to Access License Information

The Board of Educational Examiners offers an "educator license information line." This allows educators to check on the status of their licenses and endorsements.

This line will not provide access to the licensing staff.
You may contact the licensing staff Monday through Friday at 515-281-3245.

For more information, visit the Board of Educational Examiners' Web Page http://www.state.ia.us/boee/

Recently Governor Vilsack signed legislation changing the expiration date of all teaching licenses. Previously all licenses expired on August 31. All teaching licenses will expire at the end of the practitioner's birth month.

This legislation includes Initial licenses, Standard licenses, Master Educator licenses, Administrator licenses, Evaluator licenses, Conditional licenses, Emergency licenses, Postseconary licenses, and Occupational licenses.

Coaching Authorizations and Paraeducator Certificates expire five years after issuance and will not be impacted by this legislation. Renewal date is determined by issue date, not by birth date.

For more detailed information about license renewal dates, please visit the Board of Educational Examiners' web page http://www.state.ia.us/boee/.

Renewal Deadline

• Application for renewal must be submitted to the Board of Educational Examiners no later than the date of expiration of a practitioner's license.
• Application must be complete, including appropriate fee and all necessary transcripts.
• Incomplete applications may be returned to the applicant.
• Late Fee: Effective September 1, 2000, an additional fee of $25 per calendar month (not to exceed $100) shall be imposed for an application submitted after the date of expiration of the practitioner's license.
• Waiver of the late fee will be granted only upon showing extraordinary circumstances which render imposition of the fee unreasonable.

Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Training Requirements
There are major changes in the child abuse training that will affect several school employees.

In the past, the child abuse training was a condition of employment only. Licensed school employees were the only population required by code to take the child abuse training. The changes in the new law are listed below.

The training now requires training in child abuse as well as dependent adult abuse.
The child and dependent adult abuse training received by educators has to be approved by the abuse education panel established by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
The training is still a condition of employment in the fact that all individuals with a license, authorization or certificate from the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) must receive the child and dependent adult abuse training within six months of their employment.

The training is also now a condition of licensure renewal. Effective September 1, 2002, all applicants renewing a license, authorization (this includes coaches), or paraeducator certificate must submit documentation of completion of the child and dependent adult abuse training approved by the state abuse education review panel. A waiver of this requirement may apply under the following conditions with appropriate documentation of any of the following:
(1) A person who is engaged in active duty in the military service of this state or of the United States.

(2) The application of the rule would impose an undue hardship on the person for whom the waiver is requested.

(3) A person who is practicing a licensed profession outside this state.

(4) A person who is otherwise subject to circumstances that would preclude the person from encountering the approved child and dependent adult abuse training in this state.

If a district plans to provide the mandatory child and dependent adult abuse training, you must submit an application for approval to Mary Anderson from DPH and it must include both child and dependent adult abuse training. Application materials are available at the abuse education review panels web site at:
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/bhpl/abuse_ed_review.asp

There are three frequently asked questions:

1. Is the child and dependent adult abuse training required before receiving the first coaching authorization, paraeductor certificate, or teaching license?

No, the training is required within the first six months of employment and upon renewal.

2. If my license expires during the 2002-2003 school year and I sat through the child abuse training in August of 2001, will I have to take the new child and dependent adult abuse training before I renew my license, authorization or certificate?

Yes, you will have to take the new training approved by the state abuse education review panel and submit the certificate of completion with your renewal application.

3. If I have a permanent professional teaching license, will I ever have to take the new child and dependent adult abuse training?

Yes, the training is a condition of employment as well as a condition of licensure. You will need to take the training every five years and place the documentation in your file at the district level.

If you have questions, you may call the Department of Education at 515-281-3245 or visit the Board of Educational Examiners' Web Page.

License Renewal Requirements
Our page gives a brief description of renewal requirements for each type of license.
For more detailed information about license renewal, please click to visit the Board of Educational Examiner's web page.

Need an application form?
Contact the Board of Educational Examiners at (515) 281-3245 or click here to visit their web site.

Initial License

• Course work is not required for license renewal during the first two years.
• Until July 1, 2003, a person holding the Initial License may apply for the Standard License. After July 1, 2003, evaluators must verify that the applicant meets the Iowa teaching standards. In lieu of this verification, the applicant must provide evidence of three years' successful teaching experience in a nonpublic school or three years successful teaching experience within the last five years in an out of state K-12 educational setting.

Standard License

• Teachers holding this license need six semester credit hours every five years.
• A recent change in the ruling allows all six credits to be earned through Heartland's approved Staff Development program.
• Credits earned through a college or university program may also be used for license renewal.
  (Although graduate credit is not required for relicensure, it may be required by your district for salary or personal reasons.)
• Courses should be selected in a practitioner's endorsed area or should add breadth and depth to an individual's teaching.

Master Educator License

• Teachers holding this license need four semester credit hours every five years.
• The four credits may all come from Heartland's approved Staff Development program.

Substitute License
There are two options for renewing a substitute teaching license:
(1) One credit earned through Heartland's approved Staff Development program, a community college, or a four-year institution.
(2) Verification of at least 30 days of substitute teaching during the term of the license.

Administrator License

• School Administrators who received administrative endorsements after July 1, 1985, are required to take four semester credit hours every five years.
• All of the hours required may be taken from Heartland's Staff Development Program.
• The four credit hours of coursework taken to meet the new evaluator requirements may be used to renew the administrator license.
  For more information, visit the Board of Educational Examiners' Web Page.

Evaluator License
Updated information coming soon

Adding New Endorsements
To add new endorsements to your license, you need to follow one of the four options listed below.

Option 1
Identify with a recognized Iowa teacher preparation institution,
Meet that institution's current requirements for the endorsement desired,
Receive that institution's recommendation.

Option 2
Identify with a recognized Iowa teacher preparation institution;
Receive a statement that you have completed the equivalent of the institution's approved program for the endorsement sought.

Option 3
Identify with a recognized teacher education institution;
Receive a statement that based on the institution's evaluation of your preparation, you have completed all of the Iowa requirements for the endorsement sought.

Option 4
If you cannot obtain a recommendation for an endorsement from an institution, and you can document that all Iowa requirements have been met:

You can apply for the endorsement by filing transcripts and supporting documentation for review.
You MUST attach a letter of rejection from an institution that offers the endorsement.
Upon receipt of all materials, the staff of the board of educational examiners will review the documents to determine if all Iowa requirements have been met.

If you have questions, you may call the Department of Education at 515-281-3245 or visit the Board of Educational Examiners' Web Page.

Coaching Authorization

As of April 28, 1993, school districts may employ a person holding a coaching authorization as a head coach in any interscholastic athletic activity.

For more information about coaching authorizations or endorsements, go to the Heartland coaching page or visit the Board of Educational Examiners' web page.

For assistance from Heartland AEA:

Click Professional Development to send an e-mail inquiry.
Call AEA 11 at 515-270-0405 or 1-800-255-0405, ext. 4701.