The New Jersey Department of Education has proposed regulations to implement a law that Gov. Phil Murphy signed last year that states that, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the New Jersey State Board of Education will not require a candidate for a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing in a career and technical education endorsement area to complete a commissioner-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills to obtain a standard career and technical education certificate, including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test.
P.L. 2021, c.420 states that instead, a candidate must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the use of English language and mathematics through an alternate measure, according to an NJDOE advisory.
The NJDOE’s proposed regulations provide provisional CTE educators who have met all other certification requirements other than taking and passing the Praxis Core test an alternate pathway to standard certification. The “alternate measure” means any demonstration of basic skills proficiency, other than an assessment, that is approved by the department, including, but not limited to:
- A portfolio of work products as approved by the superintendent of a candidate’s employing school district.
- Obtainment of an occupational license/industry certificate.
- An industry certificate or registration.
Guidance for Provisional CTE Teachers
Provisional CTE teachers who have not yet met the basic skills requirement are not required to take the Praxis Core to obtain standard certification. Upon the adoption of regulations to implement the alternate measure, provisional CTE teachers seeking a standard certificate may submit an occupational license/industry certificate, or successfully complete the educator preparation program portfolio process in lieu of successful completion of the Praxis Core test.
Provisional CTE teachers must submit a copy of their occupational license/industry certificate to their employing school district for verification. Educator preparation programs will confirm completion of the portfolio with the NJDOE. All documentation for standard certification must be submitted prior to the provisional license expiration date, which is July 31.
Guidance for Districts
When initiating the conversion to the standard certification process through NJEdCert for provisional CTE teachers, districts should confirm with provisional CTE teachers or educator preparation programs that the basic skills alternate measure has been met through the traditional or alternate pathways described above.
For questions regarding the CTE basic skills alternate measure, contact the Office of Recruitment, Preparation and Certification at 609-292-2070 or via email.