Equivalent Professional Development

What is equivalent professional development? 

• Equivalent professional development is defied in 92 NAC 21: 002.15 as:
  (a) structured professional development learning that supports teacher or administrator practices and improvements in student learning outcomes with fifteen (15) contact hours of such professional development verified by a Nebraska school administrator being equivalent to one semester hour OR
  (b) two (2) years of full-time employment as a teacher or administrator being equivalent to three (3) semester hours.

Who uses equivalent professional development? 

• Equivalent professional development can be used for teachers or administrators who are needing to renew their teaching or administrative certificates but do not have the 0.5 FTE years of experience in the last 5 years to renew.

How does equivalent professional development work? 

• All equivalent professional development being used to renew a teaching or administrative certificate but have taken place within 5 years from the date of the application.
• All equivalent professional development needs to be signed off by a school district administrator verifying the professional development.

Does an applicant have to participate in equivalent professional development? 

• No. In order to renew a teaching or administrative certificate, an applicant needs to have one of the following:
  • o.5 FTE in the past five years in their respective field OR
  • 6-semester credit hours OR equivalent professional development

What if an applicant has a job but has not completed the equivalent professional development hours? 

• Any applicant who has a job but has an expired teaching or administrative certificate is eligible for an alternative permit. This allows them two years to complete the credit hours, equivalent professional development or combination of both.