State-Specific Licensure Issues

Prospective and current students can find information about Walden programs and licensure requirements specific to their state. The following information is provided as guidance only. Walden cannot guarantee that the information is accurate and current. Prospective students should verify their state’s requirements themselves, prior to enrolling in any degree program. Each state’s agency responsible for the licensing of education personnel can be found here.

Alabama
Information for prospective Alabama students
Contact the Teacher Education and Certification Division of the Alabama State Department of Education at 1-334-242-9935 or www.alsde.edu to verify that these programs qualify for teacher certification, endorsement, and/or salary benefits. Last updated 10/22/09

Georgia
House Bill 455 – Educational Leadership Pay Increases
In April 2009, the Georgia General Assembly passed HB455, which included the following language:

“…an educator's placement on the salary schedule shall not be based on a leadership degree, which shall mean a degree earned in conjunction with completion of an educator leadership preparation program approved by the Professional Standards Commission, if the degree was earned on or after July 1, 2010, unless the educator is employed in a leadership position as defined by the State Board of Education, but shall be placed on the salary schedule position attributable to the educator but for the leadership degree; provided, however, that this shall not apply to an educator who possessed a leadership degree prior to July 1, 2010, regardless of whether or not he or she is in a leadership position."

HB 455 prompted questions regarding its impact on Walden programs, most notably the teacher leadership programs.

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) has recently issued further correspondence stating, “If your doctoral degree in teacher leadership will upgrade your T [teacher] certificate then House Bill 455 will not impact your degree.”

Therefore, HB 455 will not impact the eligibility for salary increases for individuals seeking to upgrade T certificates. We believe this clarification will apply to all Walden programs, including master’s, education specialist, and doctoral programs, and regardless of the specialization.

HB 455 will only impact individuals seeking to upgrade a leadership (L) certificate and obtain the respective salary increase. For these individuals, they will not receive a salary increase unless they are serving in a leadership position. Last Update 11/23/09

Indiana
Indiana requires that online educator preparation programs be accredited by the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or by the Indiana Unit Assessment System (UAS). Walden and Walden’s programs are not currently accredited by NCATE nor have they been approved by the UAS. Due to our regional accreditation, Indiana teachers may still use Walden programs toward licensure renewal. However, Walden’s state-approved Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching as well as the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation), will not lead to licensure in Indiana. For more information, please refer to the Indiana Department of Education statement. Last updated 10/22/09

Kentucky
Due to a recent change in state regulations, initial and continuing online educator preparation programs originating from outside Kentucky must be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This policy change only impacts individuals beginning their preparation programs on June 1, 2008, and after.

Neither Walden nor its programs are accredited by NCATE. Therefore, Kentucky educators cannot obtain a rank change if they begin a Walden program on June 1, 2008, or after. Furthermore, Walden’s state-approved teacher preparation programs (M.A.T.) in special education and early childhood education will not lead to licensure in Kentucky. For more information, please refer to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. Last updated 10/22/09

Michigan
Michigan teachers seeking to upgrade their provisional certificate to a professional certificate must complete a course specifically in diagnosing and remediating reading disabilities. Walden offers a course that does meet the state requirement that is contained in the Master of Science Elementary Reading and Literacy specialization and Elementary Reading and Mathematics specialization – EDUC 6709 Literacy Development in an Academically Diverse Classroom.  Teachers not enrolled in either of these specializations may complete the course, as a non-degree seeking student, independent from their current degree program.  

If you would like to enroll in the course as a non-degree seeking student,  please contact an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336 or request information.

Please note, teachers who completed EDUC 6679 as a non-degree course also meet the Michigan requirement. However, EDUC 6679 will not be offered in the future and any teachers advised to take the course, who have not yet enrolled, should take EDUC 6709 instead.

Walden will verify that teachers meet the Michigan reading diagnosis requirement as long as they have completed either of these courses. Teachers will need to contact Walden’s compliance officer at educlicensure@WaldenU.edu to verify their completion by signing the appropriate form.

Last Updated 04/28/2010

Mississippi
Students completing Walden’s M.S. in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership (Non-Licensure) (Grades K–12) may apply for administrative licensure in Mississippi. Walden will need to provide these students with an institutional recommendation form and accompanying letter. Students interested in applying for administrative licensure in Mississippi should send those requests to educ.licensure@waldenu.edu. Last updated 10/22/09

New York
TEACH System
Walden receives many questions about its program code for the New York online certification system, the TEACH system. Out-of-state institutions, such as Walden, do not have access to the TEACH system and therefore are not provided with program codes. The state requires that educators completing online programs go through a transcript evaluation pathway. The state advises that educators have their planned program of study approved by the New York State Education Department in advance and that all professional development activities be approved by your district as part of your professional development plan. For more information, please refer to the New York State Education Department. Last updated 10/22/09

Upgrades
Educators can use Walden degree programs and courses to meet the requirements for upgrading from the initial to professional certification in New York, but since Walden is an out-of-state institution, all individuals will have their program evaluated to ensure that the degree program matches the subject and grade level of the certification being upgrading. The New York State Board of Education maintains the authority to require the completion of an additional 12 graduate credit hours if it feels that there is a deficiency between the program an individual completed and the certification being sought. Last updated 10/22/09

Renewals
Since Walden is regionally accredited, educators can use Walden degree programs to meet New York’s renewal requirements. Students should make certain that the degree program being pursued matches the subject and grade level of the certification being renewed. For more information, please click here. Last updated 10/22/09

North Carolina
Educators seeking to have their advanced degree program denoted on their license should submit a request for Walden’s compliance officer to complete Form V to educlicensure@waldenu.edu. Please note that the only programs that will lead to an initial license or new teaching area/endorsement are Walden’s state-approved teacher preparation program, special education endorsement programs, and Education Specialist in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) program. Last updated 10/22/09

Pennsylvania

Walden’s Teacher Preparation Programs are approved as leading to licensure by the Minnesota Board of Teaching. Because Walden University’s Teacher Preparation Programs are not reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, candidates are instructed to apply for Pennsylvania certification as out-of-state graduates of a teacher preparation program.

Renewal credits to meet Act 48 requirements
Pennsylvania-certified teachers must complete 180 hours of professional development activities every five years that is related to an area on the certificate, and complies with the school district’s professional development plan (if they are currently employed in a district). The 180 hour requirement can be met by taking six college or continuing education credits. Educators must develop a Professional Education Plan that is in line with the state and district goals.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, credits obtained by an out-of-state institution may be used to meet your professional development requirements. However, they must be submitted on an official college-sealed transcript directly to: Department of Education, Division of Professional Education and Planning, 333 market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

Since Walden University is an out-of-state institution, it does not have access to the electronic submission features of the Act 48 system. Any coursework completed at Walden will not be communicated to the Department of Education automatically, and must be transmitted manually via the description above.

Information concerning Pennsylvania certificate renewal can be found here.

South Carolina
Educators seeking administrative licensure in South Carolina should be aware that the only program accepted by the state is Walden’s state-approved Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) program. Last updated 10/22/09

Texas
Walden and the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) have created a partnership that leads to the Texas Principal Certification by combining the M.S. in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership with the HCDE Principal Certification Academy. For more information, please click here. Last updated 10/22/09

Washington
The Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board requires all institutions to include the following statement:
Prospective Washington state students are advised to contact the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at 1-360-725-6320 or prof.educ@k12.wa.us to determine whether this education program is approved for teacher certification or endorsements in Washington State. Additionally, teachers are advised to contact their individual school district as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement. Last updated 10/22/09