The HTSB's proposed changes will create three tiers of licenses, as follows:

Provisional License

Provisional Licenses will be granted for not more than 3 years to those teachers who:

- Satisfactorily completed a state approved teacher, librarian, or school counselor education program;

- Have met Praxis I requirements;

- Have met the fitness check. (The HTSB will use the Department of Education's current guidelines and procedures relating to criminal history checks until the Board can create its own rules related to determining professional fitness.);

- Pay the licensing fee as established by the HTSB.

Standard License

The proposed changes will ease requirements for out-of-state teachers to obtain a Hawaii teaching license. A teacher can obtain a Standard License in a variety of ways as indicated below.

Standard Licenses will be granted for not more than 5 years to those teachers who meet the requirements in one of the following sets of criteria:

- Satisfactorily completed a State-approved teacher, Librarian, or counselor education program;

- Attained passing scores on the PRAXIS exams;

OR

- Possess a valid National Board Certification in the field for which the license is sought and holds a valid license from a state that participates in the Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Personnel;

OR

- Received the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate (MNTC) designation on his/her valid teaching license from a state that is a signatory to the MNTC program;

OR

- Possess a valid, unrevoked license from another state;

- Completed a State-approved teacher education program;

- Passed all tests required by the state which issued the valid license being used to apply. At a minimum the tests must include a test for content knowledge. For test categories not taken (basic skills, pedagogy, content), the applicant must meet the requirements by the board; and

- Has satisfactory teaching experience in three out of the last five years.

Standard license holders must also have met the professional fitness check and pay applicable licensing fees. Standard licenses may be renewed every five years per procedures set by the Board.

The proposed amendments will create an Advanced License to recognize teachers with advanced degrees of (masters degree or higher) that is related to teaching field.

Advanced licenses will be granted to those teachers who meet the requirements in one of the following sets of criteria:

Advanced license holders must also pass the professional fitness check and pay applicable licensing fees. Advanced licenses may be renewed every five years per procedures set by the Board.