# Title 15.1 — Elementary and Secondary Education

## Chapter 15.1-18 — Teacher Qualifications

### § 15.1-18-01. Early childhood education teaching license.

The education standards and practices board shall issue an optional early childhood
education teaching license or endorsement to an applicant who meets the requirements set by
the board. The optional early childhood education teaching license may be used in nonparental
settings such as early childhood programs, preschool programs, and head start programs.
### § 15.1-18-02. Prekindergarten and kindergarten teacher requirements.

In order to teach prekindergarten and kindergarten, an individual must be:
1. Licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board or approved to
teach by the education standards and practices board; and
2. a. Have a major in elementary education and a kindergarten endorsement;
b. Have a major equivalency in elementary education and a kindergarten
endorsement;
c. Have a major in elementary education and an early childhood education
endorsement;
d. Have a major equivalency in elementary education and an early childhood
education endorsement;
e. Have a major in early childhood education;
f. Have a major equivalency in early childhood education; or
g. Have a minor in early childhood education.
### § 15.1-18-02.1. Grades one through twelve - Teacher requirements.

1. An individual who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board
or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board may teach any
grade from one through eight, provided the individual meets any requirements
established in accordance with section 15.1-18-10 and has:
a. A major in elementary education; or
b. A major equivalency in elementary education.
2. An individual who is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board
or approved to teach by the education standards and practices board may teach any
grade from five through eight, provided the individual has:
a. A major in middle level education; or
b. A major equivalency in middle level education.
3. An individual who is licensed to teach at the secondary level by the education
standards and practices board or approved to teach at the secondary level by the
education standards and practices board may teach any area at any grade from five
through twelve, provided the individual has:
a. A major in the area being taught;
b. A major equivalency in the area being taught;
c. A minor in the area being taught; or
d. A minor equivalency in the area being taught.
### § 15.1-18-03. Grades nine through twelve - Teacher qualifications - Exceptions.

Repealed by S.L. 2003, ch. 157, § 11.
### § 15.1-18-04. Student teacher - Eminence-credentialed teacher - Legal authority and

status.
1. An individual assigned as a student teacher or employed as an eminence-credentialed
teacher has the same legal authority and status as a licensed teacher employed by the
school district. The authority extends to all aspects of student management and
discipline, the handling of confidential student records, and to all legal authority
granted to a licensed teacher in the state.

2. An individual assigned as a student teacher or employed as an eminence-credentialed
teacher must be deemed a licensed teacher employed by the district with respect to
acts performed by the individual at the direction of or with the consent of the district
employees under whose supervision and control the individual performs duties,
whether or not the duties are performed entirely in the presence of district employees
assigned to supervise the individual.
3. An individual assigned as a student teacher or employed as an eminence-credentialed
teacher must be deemed an employee of the school district for purposes of liability
insurance coverage under sections 32-12.1-05 and 39-01-08.
4. For purposes of this chapter, "eminence-credentialed teacher" means an individual
who provides teaching services in accordance with subsection 21 of section
15.1-09-33.
### § 15.1-18-05. Special education strategist credential.

Repealed by S.L. 2025, ch. 186, § 1.
### § 15.1-18-06. Provisional special education strategist credential.

Repealed by S.L. 2025, ch. 186, § 1.
### § 15.1-18-07. Elementary school teacher qualifications.

Repealed by S.L. 2017, ch. 138, § 4.
### § 15.1-18-08. Middle school teacher qualifications.

Repealed by S.L. 2017, ch. 138, § 4.
### § 15.1-18-09. High school qualifications.

Repealed by S.L. 2017, ch. 138, § 4.
### § 15.1-18-10. Specialty areas - Teacher qualification.

(Effective through July 31, 2031)
Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter:
1. An individual may teach art, business education, computer education, a foreign
language, music, physical education, special education, and technology education at
any grade level from kindergarten through grade eight, provided the individual:
a. Is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board;
b. Is approved to teach in that area by the education standards and practices board;
and
c. Meets all requirements set forth in rule by the superintendent of public instruction.
2. An individual may teach Native American languages provided the individual is an
eminence-credentialed teacher.
3. An individual may teach in the areas of trade, industry, technical occupations, or health
occupations, provided the individual has been issued a license to teach in such areas
by the education standards and practices board.
4. An individual may teach in any subject, except elementary education, special
education, mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, if the individual:
a. Has a permit issued by the board and has a high school diploma;
b. (1) Possesses at least four thousand hours over five years of relevant work
experience in the subject area to be taught; or
(2) Possesses a certificate, permit, or degree in the subject area to be taught;
and
c. Enrolls in the North Dakota teacher support system approved mentor program,
expensed to the sending district.
5. An individual may teach special education using a teaching authorization under this
subsection for a time not exceeding two years. An individual may obtain a special
education teaching authorization if the individual:
a. Is currently enrolled in a bachelor's program with a major in special education;

b. Has successfully completed all professional education coursework, special
education major-specific coursework, and student teaching; and
c. Has passed the tests required by the education standards and practices board,
including the content area test.
6. The board of a school district may authorize an individual to teach under subsection 4
for one year, up to a maximum of three years, if:
a. The administrator of a school within the district submits a written request to the
education standards and practices board which indicates the administrator is
unable to locate a qualified applicant and requests the education standards and
practices board issue a permit;
b. The individual successfully completes a background check conducted by the
education standards and practices board; and
c. The education standards and practices board issues a permit to the individual.
7. For an individual authorized to teach under subsection 6, the board of a school district
may authorize the individual to teach for an additional four years, up to a maximum of
seven years, if the individual also is enrolled in a teacher education program.
8. The board may adopt rules to administer teaching permits under this section.
9. The board of a school district may terminate the employment of an individual with a
teaching permit issued under this section at will.
Specialty areas - Teacher qualification. (Effective after July 31, 2031) Notwithstanding
the requirements of this chapter:
1. An individual may teach art, business education, computer education, a foreign
language, music, physical education, special education, and technology education at
any grade level from kindergarten through grade eight, provided the individual:
a. Is licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board;
b. Is approved to teach in that area by the education standards and practices board;
and
c. Meets all requirements set forth in rule by the superintendent of public instruction.
2. An individual may teach Native American languages provided the individual is an
eminence-credentialed teacher.
3. An individual may teach in the areas of trade, industry, technical occupations, or health
occupations, provided the individual has been issued a license to teach in such areas
by the education standards and practices board.
4. An individual may teach in any subject, except elementary education, special
education, mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, if the individual:
a. Has a permit issued by the board and has a high school diploma;
b. (1) Possesses at least four thousand hours over five years of relevant work
experience in the subject area to be taught; or
(2) Possesses a certificate, permit, or degree in the subject area to be taught;
and
c. Enrolls in the North Dakota teacher support system approved mentor program,
expensed to the sending district.
5. An individual may teach special education using a teaching authorization under this
subsection for a time not exceeding two years. An individual may obtain a special
education teaching authorization if the individual:
a. Is currently enrolled in a bachelor's program with a major in special education;
b. Has successfully completed all professional education coursework, special
education major-specific coursework, and student teaching; and
c. Has passed the tests required by the education standards and practices board,
including the content area test.
### § 15.1-18-11. Rural school districts - Federal flexibility.

The education standards and practices board may extend the effective dates for any
provision in this chapter if the United States secretary of education by rule, policy, or guidance
authorizes such extension.

### § 15.1-18-12. Military spouses.

Notwithstanding contrary provisions of this chapter regarding licensure qualifications,
section 43-51-11.1, regarding licensure of a military spouse, applies to an applicant's
qualifications for licensure.
