Online Degree Programs

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) has approved the following policy for the acceptance of on-line teacher education programs to meet Hawaii licensing requirements:

1. The on-line program must have state-approval in the state where the sponsoring institution is located.
   
   
2. The sponsoring institution must be regionally accredited.
   
   
3. The on-line program will be treated as an alternative program. The license applicant must meet the licensing requirements through reciprocity. This means that the applicant must:
   
   
   1. hold a license in the state where the sponsoring institution is located;
      
      
   2. submit a notarized copy of the license for the teaching field for which a Hawaii license is sought;
      
      
   3. fulfill one of the following two items:
      
      
      1. demonstrate a minimum of 3 years of successful teaching under the valid license. The qualifying professional teaching experience is defined as half time or more, at least a semester's length, of satisfactory contracted K-12 teaching experience in the field for which the license is sought. The qualifying experience must also be during the seven years immediately preceding the date of application for a Hawaii license. Form HTSB-LA-4002 must be completed and submitted by the license applicant.
         
         OR
         
         
      2. If applicant is completing the teacher education program, the coordination and supervision of his/her student teaching must meet the following requirement:
         
         
         1. Supervision will be done through an IHE domiciled in Hawaii with state approved teacher education programs or through an out-of-state program coordinator who is based in Hawai`i.
            
            
         2. The sponsoring IHE provides coordination and supervision of the teacher candidate.
            
            
         3. The Hawai`i based program coordinator is a faculty member of the sponsoring IHE.
            
            
         4. Written request, with the documentation on how the supervision will be conducted, is filed with the HTSB 6 months prior to the projected implementation date.