• Continuing License

  • Continuing License Requirements

    Prior to the Department issuing a Continuing License, all applicants must meet the following requirements:

    • Submit a complete application on the Department approved application form to the Department in DEEDS.
    • Submit verification from the school district, charter school, or other employing authority of satisfactory DPAS annual summative evaluations for the period of initial licensure.

    NOTE: An applicant with more than one unsatisfactory DPAS annual summative evaluation during the period of initial licensure is ineligible to be issued a Continuing License.

    Applicants from Another Jurisdiction

    The Department may issue a Continuing License to an applicant who meets current Delaware reciprocity provisions and who also is currently licensed as an educator in another jurisdiction with more than four years of successful credentialed teaching experience who provides the Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) documentation in DEEDS and having had received at least two satisfactory evaluations from the other jurisdiction.

    Experienced educators who have been out of the profession for less than five years must meet the following:

    • Within the first year of employment, successfully complete an approved mentoring program which focuses on current best practices in curriculum, instruction and assessment and aligned to state and national standards.

    Upon request by the applicant and employing authority, the Department may extend the time to complete the approved mentoring program for a period of up to one year upon a showing of exigent circumstances.

    Experienced educators coming from another jurisdiction with an expired license shall apply for an Initial License and meet current license and certification requirements.

    A Continuing License is valid for five years unless extended, revoked or suspended.

    Educators with Expired Delaware Licenses applying for their Original Continuing License

    The Department may issue an original Continuing License to a qualified educator who holds a Delaware certificate issued by an education certifying board prior to July 13, 1971 or who previously held a valid Delaware Standard or Professional Status certificate that has expired.

    As a condition of maintaining the original Continuing License (which has expired), an educator shall successfully complete a year of an approved mentoring program within the first year of re-employment.

    Upon request by the applicant and employing authority, the Department may extend the time to complete the approved mentoring program for a period of up to one year upon a showing of exigent circumstances.

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  • Continuing License Documentation Requirements

    Educators shall provide evidence that all mentoring and annual summative evaluation requirements have been successfully met.

    A Continuing License is valid for five years unless extended, revoked or suspended.

    Renewal of a Continuing License

    The Department may renew a current Continuing License for an additional five years for a qualified educator who has fulfilled the 90 clock hour requirement for professional development and all other applicable requirements. At least one-half of the required clock hours (45 every 5 years) for educators shall be earned by activities relating to the educator's work with students or staff. Satisfactory evidence of such completion should be submitted to the Department in DEEDS with the application for renewal. The 90 clock hours of professional development must have taken place during the term of the current Continuing License.

    Renewal of Expired Delaware Continuing License

    The Department may issue a Continuing License to a qualified educator who previously held a Delaware Continuing License that expired not more than five years before the renewal application, with the following conditions:

    • Prior to renewal of the Continuing License, the educator shall provide to the Department evidence of successfully completing 90 clock hours of professional development during the five years preceding the renewal application.
    • If the educator has been out of the profession for less than four years since the expiration of the Continuing License, the educator shall, within the first year of employment, successfully complete an approved mentoring program which focuses on current best practices in curriculum, instruction and assessment and aligned to state and national standards.
    • Failure to successfully complete an approved mentoring program shall result in the suspension of the License.
    • If the educator has been out of the profession for more than three years since the expiration of the Continuing License, the educator shall, within the first year of employment, successfully complete a year of an approved mentoring program required of educators on an Initial License.
    • Failure to successfully complete the approved mentoring program shall result in the suspension of the License.

    The Department may not reissue a Continuing License to an educator who previously held a valid Continuing License that has been expired for more than five years prior to application for renewal. These educators must re-apply for an Initial License and meet current licensure and certification requirements.

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Last Modified on July 19, 2022