Information for All Applicants

A criminal background check is a requirement of all applicants for Nevada Department of Education licensure pursuant to NRS 391.033. In all cases, you will also have to background for your employer. Please note that your employer and the NDE do not share your information and you will (in most cases) be required to do two separate background checks. Failure to background check for the NDE will result in denial of licensure and then you will need to reapply and repay the fees.

• For more information about criminal background checks and fingerprinting, please visit the Background Process page link.

You must meet all requirements for academic preparation, student teaching, and competency testing for the specific area of licensure for which you are applying. In some cases, full-time contracted teaching experience may waive student teaching requirements, please see NAC 391.042 for more information.

• NAC 391.042
• Verification of Teaching/Work Experience

Licensure Guide for Initial Applications and Reapply Applications

• Initial Licensure Guide

Information on Adding Additional Endorsements

If you are applying for an additional endorsement or area of licensure to your existing Nevada educator license, you will need to register for your online profile through OPAL add these endorsements on during the application process please make sure to include:

• Proof of completion of all academic requirements for licensure in the specified area(s), in the form of original transcripts issued by a regionally accredited college or university and bearing the college or university seal. Electronic transcripts are acceptable if sent directly to the Department of Education from the issuing institution or a recognized clearinghouse such as eScript. Our email address for electronic transcripts is: transcripts@doe.nv.gov. 
• Competency testing score reports, if required.
• Verification of teaching experience or work experience (for Administrators and Business & Industry), if applicable.

Areas of Licensure

Please go back to the home page and look at the types of licenses and endorsements which the Nevada Department of Education offers.

Reciprocity of Licensure within the United States and Territories

If you are applying for a license with Nevada and currently hold valid, non-conditional, non-provisional licensure from another jurisdiction within the US or US territory, you may be eligible for reciprocal licensure. Reciprocal licensing, in most cases, will waive testing requirements for Nevada and allow NDE staff to do the evaluation based on a license for license basis. Licenses and endorsements will be reciprocated to the closest available license and endorsement available per Nevada regulations. When applying for reciprocal licensure, original transcripts are still required as well as a valid copy of any/all current licenses applicants hold. The license(s) held must be uploaded during the application process into the OPAL system as PDF document(s) in the “experience” section under the “out of state licensure” area in OPAL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know what testing is required for Nevada licensure
A: Please visit the Competency Testing link for more information on this.

• Competency Testing

Q: Which licenses or endorsements should I apply for?
A: All license and endorsement requirements are detailed on the Educator Licensure home page.

Q: How is reciprocity determined?
A: Our analysts attempt to match your currently valid licenses and/or endorsements to what our state has available and issue them based on Nevada’s licenses and/or endorsements.