Out-of-State Certification
First Time Applicant
Nebraska now offers reciprocity for applicants that hold a valid, unencumbered, regular teaching certificate from another state that was obtained through completing an educator preparation program.
To qualify with an out-of-state Teaching Certificate here in Nebraska:
- Apply through our TEACH portal
- Email or upload your current, valid out-of-state teaching certificate to nde.tcertweb@nebraska.gov
- If you have employment experience, please have your current district fill out this form: Verification of Employment Experience
- Get your fingerprints taken and sent to us for a background check. More information on that process can be found here: Fingerprinting – Nebraska Department of Education
Some additional options:
- Initial Teaching Certificate- If you are graduating from out-of-state and do not hold a teaching certificate from another state, you will want to apply for the Initial Teaching Certificate.
- Alternative Program Teaching Permit- If you have an expired out-of-state teaching certificate, or you completed an alternative certificate program from another state, you will need to apply through the Alternative Program Teaching Permit.
- Administrative Certificate- If you are wanting to come to Nebraska with an administrative certificate, you will either need to meet our requirements found here under Administrative Certificates OR qualify for Nebraska Entry Administrative Permit OR apply for an Alternative Program Administrative Permit.
FAQs
Can I use my out-of-state experience to qualify for a standard or professional teaching certificate?
- If you have out-of-state experience, you may send in a signed verification of employment experience form. As long as the school meets our requirements, we may use that experience to move an applicant to a standard or professional.
I hold a professional in my home state, why don’t I hold one here?
- Each state has different requirements and different names for their teaching certificates. Nebraska requirements for a professional teaching certificate may not be the same as those of your home state. If you are unsure or you think you may have been given an incorrect certificate type, please reach out to us at nde.tcertweb@nebraska.gov.
I have a substitute permit in another state. Can I use reciprocity?
- Reciprocity is for teaching certificates only. If you are looking to substitute teach, you will need to check out our substitute teacher requirements.
Do I need to take a content test?
- Nebraska no longer requires content test for teaching certificates.
What if my endorsements aren’t accepted in Nebraska?
- We do our best to match the endorsement from out-of-state with what we offer here in Nebraska but we don’t always have a direct match. Before you apply, if you are unsure about your endorsement, you can check out what endorsements Nebraska offers here: Endorsements – Nebraska Department of Education
Do I need to send in copies of my transcripts?
- If we are able to use reciprocity, no we will not need to have copies of your official transcripts.