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."

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) is expected to provide more specific details clarifying the intent of this language. It is Walden’s interpretation that this means educators seeking to upgrade from an L5 to a L6 or L7 will not receive an increase in pay by completing an “educational leadership” degree unless they are actually employed in leadership positions. In our opinion, teachers taking Walden degree programs to upgrade from the T5 to a T6 or T7 will still receive their upgrade and respective increase in pay according to the salary schedule as teachers. It is important to note that none of Walden’s programs will allow a teacher to obtain an L certification. Again, this is Walden’s unofficial interpretation of the language and Georgia educators should stay apprised of any official clarification from the Georgia PSC. Walden will update this site once more information is available, but Georgia educators are encouraged to check the PSC Web site often. Last updated 10/22/09

Principal Preparation Program Will Not Lead to Leadership Certification in Georgia
Walden’s state-approved principal Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) will not lead to the leadership (L) certification in Georgia because the state requires that all leadership preparation programs be offered by a National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)-accredited institution or that the individual program be approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Walden University and its programs are not accredited by NCATE or approved by the Georgia PSC. Last updated 10/22/09

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
Due to a recent change in state regulations, Michigan teachers seeking to upgrade their provisional license to a professional license must complete a course in diagnosing and remediating reading disabilities. Walden offers a course that does meet the state requirement; however, this course must be completed individually since it is not part of any current degree program. Following is the course description for EDUC 6679. If you would like to enroll in the course, please contact your enrollment advisor.

EDUC 6679 Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disabilities Through Differentiated Instruction (3 sem. cr.)
This survey course helps K–12 classroom teachers understand more about their students’ reading difficulties in order to provide differentiated instruction in the classroom. Teachers learn how to identify student reading behaviors and patterns and how to apply visual and auditory discrimination tools to assist in student learning. They plan lessons that integrate remediation of reading problems, identify reading comprehension strategies and techniques, learn to recognize concepts and applications of fluency and content area vocabulary, and understand spelling and writing processes and applications. In addition to course activities, teachers complete weekly fieldwork assignments to apply what they learn in actual practice. Teachers may use their own school for required classroom fieldwork. This course has been developed to meet the standards for the Michigan state reading requirement, Public Act 118.

Teachers who complete this course will need Walden’s compliance officer to verify their completion via an application form. Please send requests to complete the verification to educlicensure@waldenu.edu. Last updated 10/22/09

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

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