NH Laws/Statutes: RSA Chapters 21-N:9,II(s); 186:8,II; 186:11,X; 189:39

The Administrative Rules require all staff be licensed if a license is required by the NH State Board of Education. Here is a list of roles that require licensure.

Ed 306.15 (e)  Pursuant to RSA 189:24, and in accordance with Ed 500 and Ed 600, the local school board shall require that each professional staff member is certified for assignment by the department.

The rules also provide for a pathway to licensure that authorizes employment before licensure while working on licensure requirements.

In addition, there are rules that specifically authorize employment in limited circumstances (see options below).

Ed 503.02  Sanctions for Teaching Without a Valid Credential

(a)  The board shall revoke the credential of a superintendent who knowingly employs or continues the active employment of an educator who does not hold a valid New Hampshire credential provided the board determines that the superintendent took such action knowingly based on findings of fact or conclusions of law established in accordance with due process rights in Ed 200.

(b)  All fair hearings and notice provisions of Ed 511 shall be met prior to revocation of the superintendent's credential.

 (c)  The superintendent shall remove an individual who knowingly continues employment after the expiration of a New Hampshire credential until such time as the educator obtains a New Hampshire credential pursuant to these rules.

 (d)  This section shall not apply to any teacher who has filed a timely application for credential renewal pursuant to Ed 509.

Ed 504.05

• For candidates that have applied/paid for full licensure, are eligible for full licensure, but need to complete testing requirements to have a license issued.

• NH Testing requirements

Typical examples:

• candidate is eligible for reciprocity from out of state, but has not taken/passed Foundations of Reading

• candidate is a graduate of a NH approved licensure program, has been recommended for licensure, but has not finished testing requirements

Administrative Rule Ed 504.04 – Emergency Authorization was repealed by the State Board of Education as of July 12, 2024. This repeal removes the responsibility of issuing One-Year Certificates of Eligibility from the Department of Education’s Bureau of Credentialing and transfers that responsibility to the local school district.

For candidates that are not eligible for licensure and an SOE is not appropriate/available.

Typical examples:

• long-term subs (more than 20 consecutive days/less than 1 year) that are not eligible for an IPLA

• candidates that have an expired license in the endorsement for hire, but do not have sufficient professional development yet to renew

Please use the link in the left column for processing instructions for a One-Year Certificate of Eligibility.

Ed 306.12(b) effective 8/14/2024

An educator with sufficient content knowledge, as determined by the superintendent, may be assigned to teach in a content area in which they are not credentialed, so long as the total minor assignment(s) is less than 50 percent of the individual’s weekly hours of instruction.

Content knowledge of an educator may be assessed using methods such as, but not limited to:

• Subject/content area tests such as the Praxis II

• Transcript evaluation

• Evidence based assessment of content knowledge under Ed 506, 507, 508 (licensure rules)

Typical examples:

• a licensed Chemistry teacher assigned a section of Physics

• a licensed PE teacher assigned a section of Health

Ed 503.01  Requirement for Employment  (a)  A non-credentialed substitute teacher, paraeducator, or school nurse may be hired for up to 20 consecutive days during the school year in the same position without holding a New Hampshire educator credential issued by the state board.

Typical examples:

• daily sub for different teachers on different days

• vacation sub

Per Ed 503.01 and Ed 306.15 (e) referenced above, any staff member in a role that requires licensure for more than 20 consecutive days must hold full licensure, be working on a plan for full licensure via a Site-Based Licensing Plan, or issued an IPLA or EA, for that role.

Typical examples:

• maternity leave

• sick leave

• leave of absence

• unexpected vacancy

Paraeducator licensure is optional and determined at the local level.

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NH employers may request an application review be expedited for those candidates that have submitted an application/fee/supporting documentation and are potential hires/changes in assignment. Please submit expedite requests through our Help Desk and include the candidate’s name and potential assignment, along with Ed ID if known.

Please note: the above are NH credentialing requirements only. Federal law for Special Education, Title I, and Title III (ESOL) may impose additional requirements. Please contact your federal program DOE staff member for further assistance.

Other staff/assignments that are entered in the Educator Information System (EIS) that do not require licensure would be entered in the submission course as “Other Non-Credentialed Role” and specific information can be placed in the local class fields. Please note, experience in an “Other Non-Credentialed Role” does not meet the experience requirement for any of the endorsements that require educator experience.