20-4-106. Classifications of teacher and specialist certificates. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue teacher certificates and the board of public education shall adopt teacher certification policies on the basis of the following classifications of teacher certificates:
(a) The class 1 professional certificate may be issued to an otherwise qualified applicant who has completed a teacher education program that includes a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 1 year of study beyond the degree in a unit of the Montana university system or an equivalent institution. The professional certificate may be endorsed for elementary instruction, for secondary instruction, or both, and for specified subject fields on the basis of the applicant's academic and professional training and according to the board of public education policy for teacher certification endorsement.
(b) The class 2 standard certificate may be issued to an otherwise qualified applicant who has completed a 4-year teacher education program and who has been awarded a bachelor's degree by a unit of the Montana university system or an equivalent institution. The standard certificate may be endorsed for elementary instruction, for secondary instruction, or both, and for specified subject fields on the basis of the applicant's academic and professional training and according to the board of public education policy for teacher certification endorsement.
(c) The class 3 administrative and supervisory certificate may be issued to an otherwise qualified applicant who is eligible for a teacher certificate endorsed for teaching in the school or schools in which the applicant would be an administrator or would supervise. The applicant must also possess the training and experience required by the policies of the board of public education for an endorsement as superintendent, principal, or supervisor.
(d) The class 4 vocational, recreational, or adult education certificate may be issued to an otherwise qualified applicant who has the qualifications of training and experience required by the United States office of education or the qualifications required by the special needs of the several vocational, recreational, or adult education fields and who can qualify under the policy of the board of public education for the issuance of this classification of teacher certification.
(e) The class 5 provisional certificate may be issued to an otherwise qualified applicant who can provide satisfactory evidence of the intent to qualify in the future for a class 1 or a class 2 certificate and who has completed a 4-year college program or its equivalent and holds a bachelor's degree from a unit of the Montana university system or its equivalent. The provisional certificate may be endorsed for elementary instruction, for secondary instruction, or both, and for special subject fields on the basis of the applicant's academic and professional training and according to the board of public education policy for teacher or specialist certification endorsement.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue specialist certificates, and the board of public education shall adopt specialist certification policies. The specialist certificate may be issued to an otherwise qualified applicant who has the training, experience, and license required under the standards of the board of public education for the certification of a profession other than the teaching profession.
(3) For purposes of evaluating the qualifications of applicants for either teacher or specialist certificates, a year means the instructional period consisting of three quarters or two semesters or other terms that are recognized as an academic year by any unit of the Montana university system or equivalent institution.