NAC391.0583. Special qualifications licensure: Qualifications; areas of endorsement; duties of employing school district or private school; requirements of licensee following issuance; validity.

     1. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall issue a special qualifications license to teach to a person who submits an application which is accompanied by proof satisfactory to the Superintendent that the applicant satisfies the requirements of:

     (a) Paragraph (g) or (j) of subsection 1 of NRS 391.019; and

     (b) Paragraph (h) of subsection 1 of NRS 391.019.

     2. The Department shall develop and maintain a list of acceptable professional licensing boards for purposes of paragraph (h) of subsection 1 of NRS 391.019.

     3. A special qualifications license must contain an endorsement for the subject area and grade level for which the licensee may teach that is based upon:

     (a) The field of study of the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree held by the licensee; and

     (b) The relevant work experience of the licensee.

Ê The endorsement placed on a special qualifications license authorizes the licensee to teach only at the grade level and in the subject area designated on the license.

     4. The subject areas for which an endorsement to the special qualifications license may be issued are:

     (a) English, including, without limitation, reading, composition and writing.

     (b) Mathematics.

     (c) Science.

     (d) Social studies, including, without limitation, history, geography, economics and government.

     (e) Arts and humanities, including, without limitation, music, theater and visual arts.

     (f) Computer education and technology.

     (g) Health.

     (h) Physical education, including, without limitation, dance.

     (i) Foreign language.

     (j) Career and technical education.

     5. If a school district or a private school that is licensed pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS employs a person who holds a special qualifications license, the school district or private school shall:

     (a) Provide the holder of the special qualifications license at least 120 hours of training and orientation before he or she begins teaching.

     (b) Assign a teacher who is unconditionally licensed to provide assistance, guidance and training to the holder of the special qualifications license during the first 2 years of employment as a teacher with a special qualifications license.

     (c) Assist the holder of the special qualifications license in the development of an individualized plan for professional development to be carried out during the first 3 years of teaching with a special qualifications license.

     6. The holder of a special qualifications license issued pursuant to subsection 1 who holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution must, during the first 2 years for which the license is valid, complete 9 semester hours from a regionally accredited postsecondary educational institution with a teacher education program approved by the Department. The 9 semester hours must include:

     (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), if the endorsement on the license is in a subject area listed in paragraphs (a) to (i), inclusive, of subsection 4:

          (1) Three semester hours of teaching methods in the subject area of the endorsement; and

          (2) Six semester hours of professional course work in at least two of the following subjects:

               (I) Classroom management;

               (II) Instruction of pupils with disabilities;

               (III) English as a second language;

               (IV) Technology in the classroom;

               (V) Reading or writing in the licensee’s area of endorsement; or

               (VI) Instructional methods for pupils who are socially or economically disadvantaged.

     (b) If the endorsement on the license is in career and technical education:

          (1) Three semester hours in a course involving career and technical education teaching methodology; and

          (2) Six semester hours of professional course work in at least two of the following subjects:

               (I) Professional career and technical education;

               (II) Applied or work-based learning; or

               (III) Pupil organization and management in career and technical education.

     7. A special qualifications license is valid for 3 years and may be renewed by showing evidence of professional growth in the area of endorsement during the term of the special qualifications license.

     (Added to NAC by Comm’n on Prof. Standards in Education by R183-05, eff. 12-29-2005; A by R066-10, 10-15-2010)