Returning secondary educators

Renew

Secondary Renewal Certificate

Requirements for Certification Renewal

To renew your secondary CTE certificate you must fill out and submit the secondary renewal application and complete the equivalent of six (6) credit hours taken during the validity period of the certificate. At least three (3) credits must be educationally- or content-focused credits taken for university or college credit and documented on an official transcript. The remaining three (3) credits may be transcripted credits or may be represented by any of the following:                                                                                         

Forty-five (45) hours of attendance at approved conferences, in-service trainings, or other workshops, or 
One-hundred-twenty (120) educational- or content-related back-to-industry hours, or
- Do not use back-to-industry hours if you also have a Degree Based Career Technical and/or Standard Instructional Certificate)

Any combination of the above, where one (1) transcripted credit = fifteen (15) hours of conference, in-service training, or other workshop participation = forty (40) hours of back-to-industry work.

Secondary Credential Renewal Information

Apply for a renewal if you work in grades 6-12 and hold a five-year renewable certificate that expires Aug. 31 of the current year. You can check your certificate’s validity period using the Certification Lookup Tool. Do not apply for renewal before Jan. 1 of the year your certificate expires as it will be returned to you. If you don’t renew your certificate before it expires, you’ll have to complete an application for “reinstatement.”  

There’s no additional fee to apply for additional endorsements and/or certificates when you renew your certificate. However, appropriate documentation must be included to verify the additional endorsement requirements have been met. 

To renew your certificate, follow the instructions in the application packet. All required documents, including transcripts, must be included for an application to be considered complete. If your application is complete, your certificate will be mailed 2-3 weeks after clearing the background check.  

Application and Renewal Forms

Secondary Degree Based Career Technical Renewal Application Packet

Secondary Occupational Specialist Renewal Application Packet

CTE Professional Development Activity Form 

Fillable Professional Development Plan 

Reinstate

Secondary Reinstated Certificate

Requirements for Certification Reinstatement

Because your educator’s certificate has lapsed, you now need to apply for the “reinstatement” of your certificate. Complete the application associated with your certificate, marking the “reinstatement” checkbox in Section I: Type of the applicaton. You need to complete another background investigation check, which means re-fingerprinting and completing the BIC packet. Visit the Idaho Department of Education’s website for more information. 

To renew your reinstated certificate, you must complete the equivalent of six (6) credit hours taken during the validity period of the certificate. At least three (3) credits must be educationally- or content-focused credits taken for university or college credit and documented on an official transcript. The remaining three (3) credits may be transcripted credits or may be represented by any of the following:                                                                                          

Forty-five (45) hours of attendance at approved conferences, in-service training, or other workshops, or

One-hundred-twenty (120) related back-to-industry hours, or 
- Do not use back-to-industry hours if you also hold a Degree Based Career Technical or Standard Instructional Certificate.

Any combination of the above, where one (1) transcripted credit = fifteen (15) hours of conference, in-service training, or other workshop participation = forty (40) hours of back-to-industry work.

In addition to the requirements above, you must provide our office with two (2) years of successful teaching evaluations from a supervisor.

Secondary Credential Reinstatement Information

Use this application if your five-year Idaho CTE certificate has expired. You’ll be issued a nonrenewable, three-year CTE Interim Certificate. During the validity period of this certificate, you must meet all requirements for your specific certificate and endorsement areas to apply for a five-year renewable certificate later.  

Important: If you’re applying for reinstatement, you must be working in an instructional position before being issued a three-year CTE Interim Certificate to ensure you can complete two years of performance evaluations. 

Under Section I: Type, mark your application as “Reinstatement.” All required documents must be included in one packet. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Applications

Secondary Degree Based Application

Secondary Occupational Specialist Application

Revise

Secondary Revised Certificate

Requirements for Certification Revision

All required documents must be included in one packet for an application to be considered complete. Supporting documents justifying the request for new endorsements must be included as attachments to the application. Under Section I: Type, mark your application as a “revision.” 

Secondary Credential Revision Information

Use this application if you hold a five-year renewable Idaho certificate and want to add a new certificate(s) and/or endorsement(s). 

If revisions or additions to an Idaho credential are requested when the credential is being renewed, the revisions or additions can be made at no additional cost provided the applicant meets current standards. 

Applications

Secondary Degree Based Application

Secondary Occupational Specialist Application

Alternative Authorization

Lifetime Certificate

Secondary Lifetime Certificate

The Idaho Lifetime Certificate (§33-1204, Idaho Code) for secondary educators and administrators is in effect and available to be awarded as of July 1, 2025.

Qualifications

This certificate is available to be awarded to those who have accumulated twenty-five (25) or more years of certified, public-school experience who meet the renewal or interim certificate requirements for the following certificate types:

Standard Instructional Certificate
Degree Based Career Technical Certificate
Standard Occupational Specialist Certificate
Advanced Occupational Specialist Certificate
Pupil Service Staff Certificate
Career Technical Education Administrator Certificate

An educator with 25 years or more of certified, public-school experience may apply for a lifetime certificate as early as January

Who is eligible?

Current Five-year Renewable Certificate

To apply for the lifetime certificate, renewal requirements must be met. Idaho experience will be verified by assignment data housed within the Idaho Department of Education (Department) and Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (Division).

Unofficial transcripts may be submitted.
- Forty-five (45) clock hours may be used for three of the six credits. Submit an in-service form.
- Administrator and CTE Administrator require a three-credit teacher evaluation course based on the statewide framework.
- Dyslexia course may be required. Please check the website for requirements.

Reinstatement

An educator with an expired Idaho certificate and 25 years or more of certified experience in Idaho public schools can apply for the lifetime certificate if their renewal credit requirement has been met within the last five (5) years. Idaho experience will be verified by assignment data housed with the Department and Division.

If the renewal credit requirement has not been met, the individual can apply for reinstatement of their certificate. The individual may apply for the lifetime certificate once the conditions of reinstatement have been completed. NOTE: Reinstatement conditions include completion of six (6) professional development credits and two (2) years of proficient evaluations.
Out-of-State Certificate
- An educator who’s certified public school experience occurred in other state(s) must include a signed Certificated Professional Experience Report from each prior out-of-state, public-school employer with their lifetime certificate application. The Idaho experience plus the out-of-state experience must equal a total of 25 years or more. Idaho experience will be verified by assignment data housed at the Department and Division.
- An educator with a valid out-of-state certificate and 25 years or more of out-of-state experience is not yet eligible for a lifetime certificate. The educator can apply for a three (3)-year Idaho interim certificate, allowing them time to meet Idaho-specific conditions. The educator can apply for the lifetime certificate once the interim certificate conditions have been completed. The educator must include a signed Certificated Professional Experience Report from each prior out-of-state, public-school employer with their lifetime certificate application.

Can a Lifetime Certificate be revised?

Yes. A lifetime certificate can be revised to add endorsements upon completion of all requirements as outlined in Idaho Code, IDAPA 08.02.02.21 and Board Policy IV.D – Educator Preparation and Certification and Board Policy VII.C – Career Technical Educator Certification.

Professional/Occupational licensing requirements

A lifetime certificate holder must continue to comply with and maintain any professional licensing requirements, specific endorsement requirements, specialized training required by Idaho Code, the Department, Division, or any other special or specific requirements.