§ 70-6-197. Persons subject to licensure and certification procedures.

A.  All students graduating from an accredited institution of higher education approved or accredited by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation for the preparation of educational personnel on or after September 1, 1999, and seeking to enter the public education system as a teacher shall be subject to the assessment, certification and licensing procedures established in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act.  Except as provided for in subsection B of this section, all students graduating from an accredited institution of higher education prior to September 1, 1999, and seeking to enter the public education system as a teacher shall be subject to the assessment, licensing and certification requirements in effect before July 1, 1997.

B.  Any person who graduates from an accredited institution of higher education prior to September 1, 1999, and seeks certification or endorsement subsequent to September 1, 1999, to teach a subject area which the teacher was not certified to teach prior to September 1, 1999, following completion of the required higher education shall be required to successfully complete the competency examination for such subject area prior to receiving such certification or endorsement.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 18, eff. July 1, 1995.