State Board of Education Approves New License Area
At its October 2008 meeting, the State Board of Education approved a proposal to establish a combined teaching license in Health and Physical Education. Separate licenses in Health Specialist and in Physical Education are still available, but the new license was approved to address the large number of physical education teachers who are assigned to teach health. In December 2008, the Board adopted new standards for teacher education programs in health, physical education, and health and physical education. Colleges and universities are being encouraged to establish the new combined health and physical education programs as they revision their teacher licensure programs.
Through June 30, 2012, individuals who are licensed to teach physical education and assigned to teach health may be issued the new license in health and physical education upon the recommendation of their employing school system and
- one year of the successful teaching of health in the public schools (to be determined by the employing LEA) and
- completion of three renewal credits in health education completed through a recognized health education services provider, such as but not limited to, professional development/courses provided by universities, the Department of Public Instruction, the DHHS Division of Public Health, the NC School Health Training Center, the NC Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and LEA designed in-service conducted by a licensed health educator.
After June 30, 2012, completion of an approved program in health and physical education or passing the appropriate Praxis II exam will be required to convert the physical education license to the health and physical education license. Either the health specialist license or the combined health and physical education license will be needed to teach health.
If you have questions about the new license, please work with your LEA Human Resources Department first. For additional information and comments please feel free to contact, Paula Hudson Collins, Sr. Policy Advisor for Healthy Responsible Students in the NC State Board of Education Office at pcollins@dpi.state.nc.us or by calling 919-807-4068. |
