WCSD Licensing Department

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    ** The ETS/Praxis company is offering a large selection of their most popular Praxis tests remotely. You can read more about the tests being offered and registration details on the Praxis Nevada website. Please click here for a list of testing resources from ETS/Praxis. Resources include information on accommodations, test preparation webinars and Kahn Acadmey's free supports for the Praxis Core tests.    

    ** Please note: the Nevada Department of Education’s online licensure portal OPAL is not used to verify years of service for the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). 

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    Thank you for your interest in the Washoe County School District. In order to receive a Teaching or Administrative contract, the applicant must hold a valid Nevada Department of Education teaching license. Please visit the Nevada Department of Education’s Educator Licensure Website for additional Information. 

    Responsibility for securing, maintaining and renewing licenses rests solely with the professional employee. Did you know that you have the ability to check the status of your license online? Click to visit the teacher license lookup. When looking for your license, you only need to enter the first two letters of your first and last name to search.

    Are you a current WCSD teacher who recently renewed your teaching license? If so, please notify the Washoe County School District Licensing/Compliance technician, Debbie Walter (DWalter@washoeschools.net) so she can update your employee file.

     

    Applying for Teacher Licensure in Nevada

     

    Out of State Teachers

    For details and an application checklist, please visit the Nevada Department of Education's (NDE)  Out of State New Teacher web page.

    Initial Licensure Procedures

    1. The procedures for teacher licensing can be found on the NDE's Educator Licensure web page.
    2. All applications for licensure, additional endorsements and licensure renewals are completed online through the state’s licensure portal OPAL.
    3. Tips for Applying for Licensure:
      • Official transcripts of all credits completed above high school. You will need to submit official copies of all higher education transcripts to the state. If you are having them sent directly to the NDE from the institution or from a transcript clearing house you will send them to transcripts@doe.nv.gov. If you are mailing official transcripts you will send them to the following address: Attn: Office of Educator Licensure, Nevada Department of Education, 2080 East Flamingo Road, Suite 210, Las Vegas, NV 89119
      • Fingerprinting – You must be fingerprinted every time you apply for licensure in Nevada. This is separate from fingerprinting done by the Washoe County School district and should be completed through an approved fingerprinting vendor within 7 days after you complete the licensure application and pay the application/renewal fee.
      • Teacher Licensing Fees (non-refundable):
        • New Teaching License/Substitute Teaching License $180
        • Renewal of Teaching License $150.00
        • Additional Endorsement $50.00
        • Extension on existing license $30.00 (see website for details)

     

    Renewal Licensure Procedures

    For questions on the licensure renewal process, please contact the Nevada State Department of Education - Office Of Teacher Licensure

    • Las Vegas (702) 486-6458
    • Carson City (775) 687-9115
    • License@doe.nv.gov

     All applications for licensure renewals are completed online through the state’s licensure portal OPAL

     

      *** New Licensure Renewal Guidelines***

    On July 1, 2019, The Commission on Professional Standards (COPS) and the Legislative Council Bureau (LCB) adopted regulatory changes to the requirements for Nevada Department of Education licensure. You can follow this link to read the exact language as it was passed by both COPS and LCB.

    For a copy of the Nevada Department of Education's Education Licensure Renewal brochure, click here.

    As Washoe County School District continues to receive additional guidance from the Nevada Department of Education, we will be updating the licensing webpage.

    *** Licensure Renewal Q&A***

  • How do I obtain a copy of my MyPGS transcripts?

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      • You can download a copy of your MyPGS transcripts and upload them directly to your Nevada Department of Education OPAL porta. Here are the directions for this process.

     
    Comments (-1)

  • I have a 10-year professional license. Do I need 15 hours of professional development each year?

    Posted by:
      • If your license was issued/last renewed on or after 7/1/2019, you are required to complete 15 hours of professional development each calendar year for a total of 150 hours.
      • If you license was issued/last renewed on or before 6/30/2019, you are required to complete a total of 90 hours (6 credits) of professional development
    Comments (-1)

  • Do the Safe Schools trainings that I am required to take count as renewal hours?

    Posted by:
      • No. These trainings do not meet the Nevada Standards for Professional Development and cannot count towards renewal hours.
    Comments (-1)

  • Do the professional learning activities I completed since my last license renewal count?

    Posted by:
      • If you have taken credits with a college, university or in-service credits since your license was last issued, those can be used for your renewal. If your MyPGS transcript reflects other professional development trainings, also earned since your last renewal, you can use those hours as well.
    Comments (-1)

  • What is required for me to renew my license the next time I need to renew?

    Posted by:
      • If your licenses was issued before June 30, 2019, you will need to provide EITHER 6 credits or 15 hours per year of professional development for a total of 90 hours. If you have earned 4 credits, you can earn 2 additional credits and meet the renewal requirements. Or provide proof of 30 hours of professional development or 1 credit and 15 hours of professional development. If you currently have Provisional or Non-Renewable license, you only need to satisfy the provisions specified on your license.  
    Comments (-1)

  • What "counts" for professional development?

    Posted by:
      • Teaching a course at a regionally accredited college or university in a subject that the licensee holds a license or endorsement area while holding a masters or more advanced degree with a letter from supervisor or department head at the college attesting to the course being taught
      • Completing coursework at a regionally accredited college or university in any subject directly related to the profession of education or the area for which the licensee is endorsed with an official transcript
      • Completing professional development to retain an occupational license for licensees who have an occupational license that is directly related to their educator license or endorsement areas with a valid copy of current occupational license
      • Completion of National Board Certification or successor organization with a valid copy of certificate
      • Developing and delivering in-service training(s) within their field(s) of specialization with a dated letter from supervisor attesting that training was provided
      • Participating in professional learning communities, educational work groups or review boards with a letter or certificate from supervisor or provider showing date(s) and number of participating hours
      • Attending and completing In-service training provided by any person or entity including without limitation: a college, university, school or school district, regional training program, employee organization, educational conference, or approved online provider with a letter, certificate, or transcript from provider showing date(s) and number of instructional hours for activity
    Comments (-1)

  • Do PLC's count for professional development?

    Posted by:
      • As a district we are committed to our PLC communities and are working towards a system that ensures the collaboration and learning at each site meets the requirements set by NDE. With current work continuing, the goal is to begin providing documentation to allow for PLCs to count for your license renewal. If you have PLC time on your MyPGS transcript, you can use those hours for the renewal process.
    Comments (-1)

  • Do professional learning days during the year count towards my renewal hours?

    Posted by:
      • As WCSD moves forward, the professional learning days before students return and on election day will be established in MyPGS and will be trackable to be used to meet this requirement for licensure. If you attended a training on August 6-9 2019, you should see those courses on your MyPGS transcript which allow them to be counted.
    Comments (-1)

  • I have a non-renewable license, how does this affect me?

    Posted by:
      • Before you can convert your non-renewable license to a standard license you need to satisfy any provisions listed on your license (Parental Involvement, Praxis Tests etc.) You do not need to complete additional hours/credits when converting a non-renewable license to a standard license.   
    Comments (-1)

  • What documentation is needed to satisfy the renewal requirements?

    Posted by:
      • Courses taken at a college/university – Official transcripts
      • Teaching at a college/university – a dated letter from your supervisor at the college or university or the department head
      • National Board Certification – Valid copy of your certificate
      • Developing and delivering in-service training – a dated letter from your supervisor attesting to the training
      • Professional learning through WCSD - a copy of the certificate of credit that you received (if course offered for credit), or download a PDF copy of your MyPGS transcript.
    Comments (-1)

  • I am working on my National Board Certification (NBC) and will complete it before my renewal

    Posted by:

     

      • Your NBC will satisfy the professional development requirements for your license renewal if it was completed after your license was last issued.
    Comments (-1)

  • What if I can't complete 15 hours in a particular year?

    Posted by:
      • The state allows for a one (1) year “carry-over”. For example if you are unable to complete 15 hours in 2021, you would need to complete 30 hours in 2022. This is only permitted to happen once per license renewal. And the hours have to be earned the year after not the year before. The Nevada Department of Education will allow for a 6 month extension on your license, however the cost will changed from the renewal cost to the standard application fee.  
    Comments (-1)

  • My license doesn't say I need 15 hours to renew, does this apply to me?

    Posted by:
      • If you hold any license other than a provisional license, you will need to submit hours/credits to renew. If your license was most recently issued prior to 7/1/2019, you will need to submit a total of 90 hours or 6 credits of professional development. If your license was issued on or after 7/1/2019, you fall under the new renewal requirements and will need to submit 15 hours of professional development each calendar year (January-December).
    Comments (-1)

  • What is the "year" for the purposes of renewal?

    Posted by:
      • In the new regulation, a year is defined as a calendar year, January-Dec.
    Comments (-1)

  • Am I still required to complete 15 hours per year if I am on a leave of absence?

    Posted by:
      • Yes. The requirement is valid for each calendar year your license is valid. If you are on a leave of absence and are unable to complete the 15 hours during that calendar year, you will be required to earn 30 hours during the next calendar year. This exception is available once per license cycle.
    Comments (-1)

  • The information I submitted with my renewal was rejected, what do I do now?

    Posted by:
      • First, review the documents that you have submitted. Be sure your MyPGS transcript was submitted as a PDF, not a screen shot. Your college/university transcripts must be official transcripts and mailed or sent from your school in an E-Verify format directly to NDE. If you have reviewed your documents and still do not understand why they were not accepted, please contact the Washoe County School District Human Resources at 348-0321 or email HR Technician, Licensing Debbie Walter at dwalter@washoeschools.net.
    Comments (-1)

  • Do college or university courses count for renewal?

    Posted by:
      • College/University coursework in a subject that is directly related to “the profession or education or the area for which the license is endorsed” can be used towards your renewal. Keep in mind that you must complete 15 hours each calendar year. Taking a 3 credit course will only count for one year’s 15 hours if your license was issued on or after July 1, 2019.
    Comments (-1)

  • What if I lose the documentation proving my completion of professional learning requirements?

    Posted by:
      • Uploading your documents to OPAL when they are received will help alleviate this stress. However, if you received a certificate for a course that is in MyPGS, your MyPGS transcript will satisfy the requirement for license renewal purposes as well. If the course was not in MyPGS, you will need to contact the provider of the course and follow their process to request documentation.
    Comments (-1)

  • How should I keep track of my professional learning hours?

    Posted by:
      • We encourage you to upload any documentation you receive into your OPAL account as soon as you receive them. Then set a reminder to check annually that you have met the requirement each year for the 15 hours.
    Comments (-1)

  • Do the professional learning hours completed for renewal count toward salary advancement?

    Posted by:
      • Any professional learning hours you complete during contract time will not be count towards salary advancement. Please check the Washoe Education Association's negotiated Agreement for information on salary advancement.
    Comments (-1)

  • What will the District do to support me in meeting this requirement?

    Posted by:
      • The District offers a wide range of trainings which can be found in MyPGS. In addition we partner with RPDP, WEA, UNR among many others to offer continued professional growth opportunities. These opportunities can also be found in MyPGS.
    Comments (-1)

  • Can I complete more than 15 hours per year to satisfy the total requirement?

    Posted by:
      • You can complete as many hours per year as you like, however, for license renewal purposes, the Nevada Department of Education will not allow those additional hours to be counted for future years.
    Comments (-1)

  • Can the District provide me a letter that documents that I have met the requirements for renewal?

    Posted by:
      • Your MyPGS transcripts are an approved document to verify your professional growth for the Nevada Department of Education. Because Human Resource cannot verify your site base trainings, we are unable to provide written documentation as evidence for this requirement. Human Resource Staff and school administrators are working on ways to ensure that teachers receive the necessary documentation to verify completion of professional development hours. Over the next few months we are working to find additional ways to support our staff for their license renewals.  
    Comments (-1)

  • Who is responsible for tracking my professional development activity?

    Posted by:
      • It is the educator’s responsibility to complete 15 hours of professional development activity each calendar year (January – December) and upload proof of such activity into their OPAL account.
    Comments (-1)

  • I have a provisional license, do I need to complete those provisions and 15 hours of PD?

    Posted by:
      • If you have a provisional license you will not need to complete the 15 hours. However if you have a standard or professional license and added an endorsement to your license which resulted in a provision(s) being added, you will need to satisfy the provision(s) to maintain that endorsement in addition to completing your 15 hours per year for license renewal.
    Comments (-1)

  • I currently have a Retiree or a Substitute teaching license, what do I need to do?

    Posted by:
      • You are not subject to these renewal requirements if you have a Retiree or Substitute License.
    Comments (-1)

  • I am a School Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, does this impact my renewal?

    Posted by:
      • With this change to the regulation, you can now use the same continuing education credits to renew your Professional license and your Nevada Department of Education license.
    Comments (-1)

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