Foreign-Trained
First Time Applicant
Please note: in order to start an application for any type of certification with NDE, you need to be in the United States. Please do not start an application until you have made it to the U.S.
Who Applies?
- This process is for any applicant who has been foreign trained (gone to a university out of the country).
Where is it valid?
- It depends on the certificate that the applicant qualifies for.
When does it expire?
- It depends on the certificate that the applicant qualifies for.
What are the requirements?
- Before you apply, you need to be in the United States and have been given a social security number.
- Apply through TEACH portal once inside the United States – TEACH Portal Website.
- What you apply for will be dependent on what you plan on doing. If you plan to sub, you will want to apply for a substitute permit. If you plan to teach, you will want to apply for an initial teaching certificate.
- Pay application fee.
- Submit Official Transcripts from Colleges or Universities- These transcripts must be in English and evaluated.
- If transcripts are in English, they still need to be evaluated by an approved organization. To have transcripts translated and evaluated, please reach out to one of our approved organizations. The organization will then send the translated transcript and evaluation to NDE.
- We need transcripts evaluated to show that the degree awarded matches the requirements for a degree in the United States.
- Meet the Human Relations Training Requirement*
- Meet the Special Education Requirement*
- Submit 2 sets of full fingerprints that have been taken while in the United States- Fingerprints.
- If applying for a teaching certificate, submit an Institutional Verification Form to confirm endorsement. This form should be filled out signed and returned by your college or university IV Form.
- If applying for a teaching certificate, submit Employment Verification Form and a copy of your teaching license/certificate. Have the school district from your home country fill out the form and send it over to us at nde.tcertweb@nebraska.gov – Employment Verification Form.
- Submit Legal Documents for employment in the United States (i.e. employment authorization card, permanent resident card, U.S.A. Visa).
- Front and back of documents must be submitted in color.
- NDE is required to run a DHS SAVE Background check. This process could take up to 6 weeks.
- *If you don’t meet these requirements but have a job offer, your district may request a conditional.
- Additional forms may be required by your analyst. Please see Supporting Forms on our website if additional forms are requested.
FAQ
What can I do if I can’t yet create an account?
- If you are not in the U.S. and do not have a SSN, you cannot start an application but you can start gathering items that will need to be submitted like verification of employment experience, institutional verification forms and previously held teaching certificates. All forms can be found on the supporting forms section of our website: Supporting Forms – Nebraska Department of Education
What do I have to do in the U.S.?
- You have to get fingerprinted and apply when you are in the United States. You do not need to do these in Nebraska but you will have to be on U.S. soil to complete these portions.
Can I get a certificate/permit if I don’t have employment authorization?
- No, as a Nebraska State agency, we are required to run a DHS SAVE background check. We cannot issue certificate or permits to applicants who are not eligible to work in the United States.
Will I need any additional coursework?
- You may possibly need to take a course to meet our human relations training requirement and special education requirement. We will look at your education credential evaluation report to determine if you will need those additional courses.
Do I need a job offer in Nebraska to qualify?
- You do not need a job offer in Nebraska to qualify for a certificate/permit. You will need to have employment authorization through immigration but you do not need a specific job offer.
What documents are required for DHS verification?
- The more documents we have, the better (and sometimes faster) the results. We can accept: Valid EAD cards, I797 cards or paperwork, I94 documentation, U.S. Visas, J1 documentation or certificate of naturalization.
Why am I required to have an ECE report done?
- A education credential evaluation report not only translates but also evaluates the courses compared to requirements in the United States. We require both. We also need transcripts evaluated course-by-course.
What if I have a teaching certificate from another state?
- If you have a valid teaching certificate in another state, you may be able to use reciprocity. Please see out-of-state applicant on our website for more information. Out-of-State Certification – Nebraska Department of Education