Iowa Teaching License for First Time Applicants

The Initial License is the regular license issued to practitioners who have completed an approved teacher education program. It is valid for two years. It may be renewed twice. The two-year term of the license begins when the Initial License is issued. The Initial License is required for any contracted teaching position in the State of Iowa. The holder of an Initial License can also substitute teach with that license. The Initial License can be converted to a Standard License upon evidence of the completion of the required years of teaching experience and verification that the applicant meets the Iowa teaching standards. The Standard License requires completion of course work to renew every five years for as long as you wish to retain a valid Iowa license.

The Substitute License is valid for five years and for not more than 90 days of teaching in one assignment during any one school year. This license may be renewed every five years. The Substitute License is usually not recognized as a regular teaching license outside the state of Iowa.

Specific information regarding requirements for and renewal of Iowa teaching licenses can be found on the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners website.

Fingerprinting/Background Information

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners requires fingerprinting and criminal history background information on all first time applicants for an Iowa teaching license. The University of Northern Iowa provides on-campus fingerprinting sessions every fall and spring semester. Teacher education students should sign up to attend a fingerprinting session the semester before student teaching. Information on fingerprinting sessions can be obtained from the following location:

          University of Northern Iowa
          Office of Teacher Education
          159A Schindler Education Center
          Cedar Falls, IA  50614-0602
          Phone: (319) 273-2265

Institutional Recommendation

First time applicants for an Iowa teaching license must be recommended to the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) by the institution where the applicant completed an approved teacher education program. Applicants who have completed UNI's approved teacher education program will be recommended by UNI for the appropriate endorsement(s) based on the teaching major(s) and minor(s) completed. Endorsements are the subject area and grade level a practitioner is authorized to teach in the State of Iowa. Practitioners must teach only in the areas for which they are endorsed. Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education majors must also successfully complete the appropriate PRAXIS II exam and the score received by UNI to be recommended for an Iowa teaching license.

Out-of-state licensure/certification applications frequently request a recommendation from the "Recommending Institution" signed by the Registrar, Dean, or Certification Official. UNI is the "Recommending Institution" for applicants that have completed UNI's teacher education program. Out-of-state applications should be sent to the following location for processing:

          University of Northern Iowa
          Office of the Registrar
          115 Gilchrist Hall
          Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0006

Additional Endorsements

Additional endorsements, besides those obtained by completing teaching majors and teaching minors, can be obtained by completing the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners' minimum requirements. Minimum requirement endorsement information can be found at http://www.boee.iowa.gov/addition.html. A Record Analyst in the Office of the Registrar (Registrar@uni.edu or 319-273-2241) must complete a transcript evaluation to determine that an endorsement based on BOEE minimum requirements has been completed. If the minimum requirements are satisfied, UNI will notify the BOEE that the applicant  has completed the appropriate endoresement(s). The number of endorsements requested does not affect the amount of the initial fee. All completed endorsements can be applied for on the initial application form with the initial $85 fee. Endorsements added after an initial license has been issued require a fee of $50 per endorsement.

A minimum requirement endorsement will not be listed on an official UNI transcript since the endorsement was not based on the completion of an approved UNI program. An endorsement based on minimum requirements will appear on the Iowa teaching license issued by the BOEE. State of Iowa minimum endorsements are recognized only in the State of Iowa, while UNI approved program endorsements may be accepted outside of Iowa.

Receipt of Iowa License

Licensure recommendations for an initial Iowa license are sent to the BOEE by a Web process for applicants who have applied for an Iowa Teaching license. Licenses are mailed directly from the BOEE to the applicant at the address provided on the "Application for Licensure" form. Applicants should anticipate receiving the license approximately two to four weeks after the official end of the semester.

Important: Upon receipt of the license, check that all of the information on the license is accurate. If any corrections are necessary, contact the UNI Office of the Registrar immediately. Corrections made to a license after 30 days from the issue date may result in additional fees.

Directory Information

The following information may be useful for future contacts regarding Iowa teaching licensure:

          Board of Educational Examiners Licensure
          Grimes State Office Building
          400 East 14th Street
          Des Moines, IA  50319-0146
          Phone: (515) 281-3245
          Website: http://www.boee.iowa.gov/