License & Certification

• Educators on a continuing license must complete 90 clock hours of Professional Development every 5 years. 

• Enter hours AND upload documentation in Deeds 3.0. PLEASE keep copies of documentation.

• Clock hours cannot be verified until you have applied for your renewal.

• HR does not receive notifications from Deeds regarding clock hours or license expiration. 

If you are a brand new educator or have more than one year but less than four years of licensed teaching experience, you have an Initial License and must: 

• Must complete the Praxis and coursework

• Must complete 4 years of mentoring with 2 summatives per year

• Once all mentoring requirements are marked complete and the educator is within 60 days of their license expiration, they must log into DEEDS 3.0 and apply for an upgrade to a continuing license and complete the criminal disclosure.  Here is a link to the user’s guide for upgrading your license: https://www.doe.k12.de.us/cms/lib/DE01922744/Centricity/Domain/512/LC%20User%20Guides/UGUpgrades.pdf

UPGRADING TO A CONTINUING LICENSE

The Upgrade of an Initial License may occur upon the expiration of the Initial License, completion of all mentoring requirements, and the completion of yearly summative evaluations in which the educator has not received more than one (1) unsatisfactory annual evaluation, as defined by DPAS II or a state-approved alternative educator evaluation system, during the period of initial licensure. This process is often referred to as moving from an Initial License to a Continuing License.

In order to be issued a Continuing License, an educator must:

• Complete the approved Comprehensive Induction Program (referred to as the Mentoring Program), if required. Details about this program should be discussed with your Human Resource Department or reviewed by visiting the Comprehensive Induction Program (CIP) website.

• Receive no more than one unsatisfactory annual evaluation during the period of the Initial License.

This completion process is managed through the educator's school district.  Provided that all the above requirements have been met, the educator's Mentoring status will be marked to show that summative evaluations are complete and the Mentoring Program is complete.

To apply for an Upgrade to a Continuing License, the educator must log into their DEEDS Educator Dashboard and click the "Upgrade My License" button, which will appear in the upper right hand section of the screen under "What Can I Do Today?"  DEEDS will guide the educator through the criminal conviction disclosure process. This button becomes available approximately six months prior to the expiration date of the Initial License.

At the end of the month that the license expires, DEEDS will automatically issue an email with the new license attached.

You will need to apply for your renewal in DEEDs 3.0. It no longer happens automatically.

To renew a Continuing License, an educator must:

• Complete the approved Mentoring Program, if required.

• Fulfill the 90 clock hour professional development requirement.

  • At least one-half of the required hours (45 hours every 5 years) shall be in activities relating to the educator’s work with students or staff.

  • Clock hours shall comply with requirements detailed in 14 DE Admin. Code 1511 Issuance and Renewal of Continuing License.

  • Completion of requirements, detailed in 14 DE Admin. Code 1511 Issuance and Renewal of Continuing License shall be uploaded by the educator in their DEEDS Educator Dashboard, Clock Hours tab.

    • If the educator is employed by a Delaware public/charter school, the human resources office will be responsible for review, verification, and approval of the clock hours.

    • If the educator is not employed by a Delaware public/charter school, the Department will be responsible for review, verification, and approval of the clock hours.

  • Clock hours must have taken place during the term of the current Continuing License and must be approved prior to the issuance of the renewed Continuing License.

To apply for Continuing License renewal, the educator must log into their DEEDS Educator Dashboard and click the "Renew My License/Permit" button, which appears in the upper right-hand section of the screen under "What Can I Do Today?"  DEEDS will guide the educator through the criminal conviction disclosure process. This button becomes available approximately six months prior to the expiration date of the Continuing License.

At the end of the month that the license expires, DEEDS will automatically issue an email with the new license attached.

• A temporary credential issued to an educator who holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License, but lacks the necessary skills and knowledge to immediately meet certification requirements in a specific content area. 

• This temporary credential provides the educator with a limited time to meet the requirements for certification in the specific content area.  Emergency Certificates are not issued for all content areas. Please refer to the specific content area requirements for eligibility. 

• The Emergency Certificate is valid for one school year and can be renewed if progress towards certification is being made. To file an extension, proof of progress must be submitted. 

Career & Technical Teachers:

The following items must be sent. To ensure speedy processing, please ensure that you follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

• Official Transcript(s) – minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree.

• Student Teaching on an official transcript.

• Copy of current and valid out-of-state teaching license, if applicable.

• Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) - if you have one or more years of out-of-state teaching experience while holding a valid teaching license.

• Test scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request. Visit the Testing Guidelines page for more information.
  
  

Skilled & Technical Sciences Teachers:

The following items must be sent, if relevant and applicable. Documentation requirements align to the STS Candidate – Licensure/Certification Checklist as it will be helpful in providing the applicant with a list of requirements towards certification completion and in guiding the applicant through the documentation requirements. This form will be completed by either the HR department or the Delaware Department of Education once all requirement documents are received. To ensure speedy processing, please ensure that you follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

• Professional and Occupational License(s)

  • State license or registration certificate if required by law.

  • Candidate should note the following: In occupations where a state license or registration is required by law, all applicants for Skilled and Technical Sciences certification shall present a valid and current Delaware license or registration upon application for teaching credentials and must be renewed as required by law.

• Educational Requirements – Part #1 (refer to STS Education Requirements for clarification.)

  • Copies of all professional, occupational, and/or instructor licenses – Delaware or out-of-state; preferably current

  • Documents of any career-related credits or training related to the career area of certification

  • Documents of any career-related credits or training related to the career area of certification and related to the practice of teaching or instructing others

• Educational Requirements – Part #2 (refer to STS Education Requirements for clarification.)

  • Official transcript(s) reflecting any college coursework or technical training that has been successfully completed (minimum of two years training or coursework)

• Experience Requirements

  • Experience must be documented by using the following forms.

    • Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – if applicable.

    • Form E/NT (Verification of Non-Teaching Experience) – if applicable.

  • Candidate should note the following:

    • Candidate must demonstrate that they have six years of work experience in an area related to the STS career area; two of the years must be within the last five years OR

    • Candidates must demonstrate that they have six years of work experience by teaching in or direct supervision of educators in an area related to the STS career area; two of the years must be within the last five years.

Paras need to apply for:

• Para Permit  (license)

• Instructional Paraeducator - Regular Education  (certificate)

• Service Paraeducator - Student Support   (certificate)

• Title I Paraeducator   (certificate)

Renewal:

• Paraeducators need 15 clock hours every 5 years for renewal. 

• Permits may be renewed 6 months prior to expiration.

• Graduate salary increments are available at Bachelors +15, +30, +45 and Master's, +15, +30, +45, and Doctorate levels.  

• Please have your official transcripts sent directly to HR. Master's transcripts must specify conferred. 

• The deadline for incremental increases is typically the end of May. 

• If there is an approved education increase that results in a salary increase after May, the salary increase would begin at the start of the following school year.