16 KAR 6:020. Written examination prerequisites for occupation-based career and technical education teachers

      Section 1. (1) All new information technology, industrial education, health science, human service, and public service teacher applicants, and other applicants for occupation-based career and technical education teacher certificates both with and without a teacher preparation degree, and out-of-state applicants for occupation-based career and technical education certification with less than two (2) years of teaching experience shall successfully complete the appropriate written tests prior to initial Kentucky certification.

      (2) Each applicant without an educator preparation degree shall successfully complete either the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) or the COMPASS Test for communication skills and general knowledge.

      (3) All applicants shall demonstrate subject matter competency via passage of the specialty test in the occupational area for which certification is to be granted or completion of the appropriate state or national industry licensure, certification, or registration as established in this administrative regulation.

      (4) The certificates, examinations, or prerequisites shall be divided into the following three (3) categories:

      (a) Industrial education and information technology:

      1. National Occupational Competency Testing Institute's (NOCTI) Teacher Occupational Competency Test (TOCT) if one (1) corresponding to the teaching specialty is available;

      2. Kentucky Department of Education or Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment developed or identified assessment corresponding to the teaching specialty;

      3. Appropriate state or national industry licensure, certification, or registration; or

      4. Minimum postsecondary educational attainment in a related area of study;

      (b) Health science and human services.

      1. The appropriate state or national industry licensure, certification, or registration; or

      2. Minimum postsecondary education attainment in a related area of study; or

      (c) Public-service. The appropriate state or national industry licensure, certification, or registration.

 

      Section 2. The Education Professional Standards Board shall require the specialty tests and passing scores or other examination prerequisites identified in this section for each new teacher applicant and each teacher seeking an additional certificate.

      (1) Preprofessional Skills Test:

      (a) Reading - 167;

      (b) Mathematics - 166; and

      (c) Writing - 167;

      (2) In lieu of the Preprofessional Skills Tests identified in subsection (1) of this section, a new teacher applicant may meet the testing requirement by obtaining the following COMPASS Test scores:

      (a) Reading - 78;

      (b)1. Prealgebra - 48; or

      2. Algebra - any reported score; and

      (c) Writing - 68.

      (3) Specialty area tests or other examination prerequisites for industrial education certification:

      (a) Auto body technology and collision repair and refinish:

      1. NOCTI Collision Repair/Refinishing Technology Test - 61; or

      2. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification;

      (b) Automotive technology:

      1. NOCTI Automotive Technology Test - 63; or

      2. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification;

      (c) Aviation flight technician. Federal Aviation Administration certified commercial license with instructor endorsement;

      (d) Aviation maintenance technician. Federal Aviation Administration certified airframe and power plant;

      (e) Building and apartment maintenance. NOCTI Building Trades Maintenance - 52;

      (f) Construction Carpentry. NOCTI Carpentry - 58;

      (g) Computer Aided Drafting and Drafting technology. NOCTI Technical Drafting - 62;

      (h) Diesel technology:

      1. NOCTI Diesel Mechanics - 62; or

      2. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification;

      (i) Digital media. No test identified;

      (j) Electrical technology. NOCTI Electrical Technology Construction - 45;

      (k) Engineering technology. Bachelor’s degree in engineering or engineering technology;

      (l) Environmental technology. No test identified;

      (m) HVAC and Air conditioning technology. No test identified;

      (n) Heavy equipment. Commonwealth of Kentucky license for equipment taught;

      (o) Industrial chemical technology. Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or related sciences;

      (p) Industrial electronics technology. No test identified;

      (q) Industrial maintenance technology. NOCTI Industrial Maintenance Mechanic - 44;

      (r) Interior finishing and design. No test identified;

      (s) Machine tool technology. NOCTI Precision Machining - 50;

      (t) Major appliance technology. No test identified;

      (u) Manufacturing. NOCTI Industrial Maintenance Mechanic - 44;

      (v) Marine technology. No test identified;

      (w) Masonry - No test identified;

      (x) Metal fabrication. No test identified;

      (y) Multimedia technology:

      1. Macromedia Certified Professional; or

      2. Adobe Certified Expert;

      (z) Plastics technology. No test identified;

      (aa) Plumbing technology. NOCTI Plumbing - 55;

      (bb) Printing technology. No test identified;

      (cc) Small engine and motorcycle repair technology:

      1. NOCTI Small engine technology - 71; or

      2. Equipment and Engine Training Council (EETC) Outdoor Power Equipment Certification;

      (dd) Visual communication art.

      1. NOCTI Advertising and Design - 69; or

      2. Adobe-certified expert in Photoshop or Illustrator;

      (ee) Welding:

      1. NOCTI Welding - 53; or

      2. American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welder; or

      (ff) Wood manufacturing technology. No test identified;

      (4) Specialty area tests or other examination prerequisites for health science and human service:

      (a) Allied health sciences. Active licensure, certification, or registration by a state or nationally-recognized accrediting agency as a professional health care practitioner following completion of a minimum of an associate degree or technical diploma preparation program;

      (b) Barbering. A license for teacher of barbering issued by the Kentucky Board of Barbering;

      (c) Biomedical sciences. Baccalaureate or higher degree in biomedical or health science area;

      (d) Culinary arts. In the field of culinary arts, an individual shall provide proof of one (1) of the following prerequisites:

      1. NOCTI Commercial Foods - 55; or

      2. American Culinary Federation Professional Certification;

      (e) Cosmetology. A license for instructor of cosmetology issued by the Kentucky Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists;

      (f) Health science. An active Registered Nurse License in Kentucky and meet applicable accrediting body state and federal requirements; or

      (g) Practical nursing. An active Registered Nurse License in Kentucky and baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing;

      (5) Specialty area tests or other examination prerequisites for public service:

      (a) EMS training. First Responder Instructor Certification and EMT Instructor Certification by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services;

      (b) Fire and rescue training. State Fire Commission Instructor Certification;

      (c) Law Enforcement. Certification as a police officer or police instructor from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council; or

      (6) Specialty area tests for information technology:

      (a) Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA):

      1. A+ Certification;

      2. Security+ Certification; or

      3. Network+ Certification;

      (b) Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA);

      (c) Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP);

      (d) Novell Certified Administrator (CAN); or

      (e) NOCTI Computer Technology Test - 63.

 

      Section 3. A teacher applicant in any occupation-based career and technical education program for which no appropriate specialty test is yet available shall not be required to take a specialty test, except for research and validation purposes. After a new program has been piloted and fully implemented, a test shall be developed or identified and a new teacher applicant shall be required to pass a designated specialty test.

 

      Section 4. (1) An applicant for initial certification may take the written tests on any of the dates established by the Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment, with the tests to be administered on a regular basis.

      (2) Public announcement of testing dates and locations shall be issued sufficiently in advance of testing dates to permit advance registration as required by the Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment.

      (3) An applicant shall seek information regarding the dates and location of the tests and make application to the Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment for the appropriate tests prior to the deadlines established and sufficiently in advance of anticipated employment.

      (4) Applicants shall authorize test results to be forwarded to the Education Professional Standards Board.

 

      Section 5. Applicants shall pay an examination fee directly to the testing agency for the required tests. The testing agency shall publish the examination fee with the publication of testing dates.

 

      Section 6. An applicant who fails to achieve at least the minimum score on any of the appropriate examinations may retake the test or tests during one (1) of the scheduled test administrations. All retakes shall meet the regularly scheduled testing dates. Initial certification shall not be granted until acceptable scores are achieved in each of the required areas.

 

      Section 7. Assessment Recency. (1) An applicant for initial or additional Kentucky teacher certification shall comply with the assessment recency requirements established in this section.

      (2) A test established in this administrative regulation shall be valid for five (5) years from the test administration date.

      (3) A passing score on a test established in this administrative regulation and completed on or after January 1, 2002 shall be valid for five (5) years from the test administration date.

      (4)(a) A teacher shall complete application for certification to the Education Professional Standards Board within the five (5) year validity period of the test and the passing score.

      (b) A teacher who fails to complete application for certification to the Education Professional Standard Board within the five (5) year validity period of the test and the passing score shall retake the appropriate test or tests and achieve the appropriate passing score or scores required for certification at the time of application.

      (5) The test administration date shall be established by the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute or other authorized test administrator.

 

      Section 8. The Education Professional Standards Board in conjunction with the Department of Workforce Investment shall collect data and conduct analyses of the impact of these tests as to permit a review of this administrative regulation on a regular basis. (23 Ky.R. 2356; eff. 1-9-97; Am. 24 Ky.R. 1950; 2374; eff. 5-18-98; 26 Ky.R. 1037; 1416; eff. 1-18-2000; 28 Ky.R. 2070; 2343; eff. 5-16-2002; recodified from 704 KAR 20:475, 7-2-2002; 33 Ky.R. 830; 1270; eff. 12-1-06; Am. 37 Ky.R. 1318; 1622; eff. 2-4-2011.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 161.020, 161.028, 161.030

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 161.028, 161.030

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 161.030(3)(a) requires that all new teachers, including out-of-state teachers with less than two (2) years' experience, successfully complete appropriate written tests prior to initial certification in Kentucky and serve a one (1) year internship. This administrative regulation establishes the tests and passing scores for occupation-based career and technical education teachers certified under 16 KAR 2:020.