A provisional license is issued by a school division to individuals who have been hired and have not met all the requirements for a full license. The provisional license is valid for three years and is not renewable.
A conditional license is much like the provisional license except it is reserved for special education teachers who have not met all of the requirements for a full license. To be hired as a conditional special education teacher, course work MUST be completed in foundations of educating students with disabilities and legal aspects of special education. Mason’s EDSE 501 Introduction to Special Education will meet both of these requirements.
Provisional and conditional licenses are not renewable. Collegiate Professional and Postgraduate Professional Licenses must be renewed every five years.
Shortage areas are those endorsement areas (such as mathematics, science,
and special education) for which schools don’t have enough licensed teachers.
A license is the document that gives you the authority to teach. An endorsement is the grade level or subject area that you may teach and is printed on the license. A certificate is awarded to experienced teachers who complete the certification process through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Yes! Mason’s programs make it possible for you to do both at the same time! But keep in mind that the state’s evaluation of transcripts may result in the requirement of a course(s) that is different from the course(s) in Mason’s state-approved program.
If you are not currently teaching, a state-approved program will lead directly to a full license. If you are currently teaching on a provisional license, completion of a state-approved licensure program (including an internship) will also lead directly to a full license AND the results of the transcript evaluation done for your provisional license can be ignored. In other words, no matter what the state or school division said you needed, it will not be necessary if you complete the state-approved program. Again, you must complete the entire state-approved licensure program including the internship. You do not need to complete the entire master’s degree, except in Mason's Early Childhood Education (UTEEM) program.
Your transcripts must be evaluated to see if you have met the endorsement area requirements. Transcript evaluation is also a requirement for application to Mason’s teacher licensure programs.
If you complete a state-approved program, Mason’s Licensure Specialist will submit the application at your request. If you are pursuing or have a provisional license, your hiring school division must submit your application.