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). 

    *** 

    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

    Please visit the Nevada Department of Education's (NDE) New Teacher web page for details on applying for your Nevada teaching license. 

    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 a new license or renew an existing license 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 completing the licensure application and paying the application/renewal fee.
      • Teacher Licensing Fees (non-refundable):
        • New Teaching License/Substitute Teaching License $200
        • Renewal of Teaching License $170.00
        • Additional Endorsement $70.00
        • 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***

     

    Effective September 16, 2024, RO88-23 updated the renewal requirements listed in NAC 391.065 and 391.080 to allow a licensee to obtain continuing education at any time during the licensure period. Additionally, this regulation updated the continuing education requirements to equal 90 clock hours, 6 semester credits or a combination of the two. Credits are generally equivalent to 15 clock hours. For additional information please visit the Licensure Renewal page of the Nevada Department of Education's website: license renewal 

     

    *** Licensure Renewal Q&A***

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

    Posted by:
      • You can download a copy of your MyPGS transcripts and upload them directly to your Nevada Department of Education OPAL porta. You can download a copy of your MyPGS transcripts from the Professional Learning tab of your MyPGS portal. 
    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 education related 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 training, earned since your license was last issued, you can use those hours as well. Hours and credits must have been completed after your license was most recently issued. MyPGS hours coded as ESP cannot be used towards licensure renewal.  
    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:
      • Professional Learning days listed on your MyPGS transcript are accepted by the Nevada Department of Education towards required renewal hours. 
    Comments (-1)

  • I have a non-renewable/provisional 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 and/or renewal requirements listed on your license (Parental Involvement course, Multicultural Education course, Praxis Tests etc.) You do not need to complete additional professional development 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)

  • Am I still required to complete professional development if I am on a leave of absence?

    Posted by:
      • To renew your Nevada Department of Education license, you must submit verification of completion of the required professional development. The regulation change provides some leeway on when you complete your professional development, but you must complete the hours/credits to renew your license. If you are on a leave of absence, you may consider completing your professional development through one of the approved vendors found on the state's Approved Continuing Education Providers  website.
    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 the HR Licensing Analyst, 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. 
    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 documents you receive into your OPAL account as soon as you receive them, or designate a folder on your computer to store all completed professional development for your current license cycle, so it is easy to verify and retrieve. 
    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 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. Since Human Resource cannot verify your site based training, we are unable to provide written documentation as evidence for this requirement. 
    Comments (-1)

  • Who is responsible for tracking my professional development activity?

    Posted by:
      • It is the educator’s responsibility to track and upload proof of required professional development into their OPAL account.
    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)

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Web-Accessibility

  • The District prohibits bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation in any of its educational programs/activities, employment, and employment opportunities.  For the District's full Notice of Non-Discrimination statement as well as methods to address questions and concerns please visit our Notice of Non-Discrimination and Web Accessibility page.

    For more information, visit the Civil Rights Compliance Department page.
     

    El Distrito prohíbe la intimidación, la intimidación cibernética, el acoso, el acoso sexual, la discriminación y / o las represalias en cualquiera de sus programas / actividades educativas, empleo y oportunidades de empleo. Para obtener la declaración completa del Aviso de No Discriminación del Distrito, así como los métodos para abordar preguntas e inquietudes, visite nuestra página de Notice of Non-Discrimination and Web Accessibility

    Para más información visite   Civil Rights Compliance Department page.