UPDATE - May 11, 2026 

Due to necessary security updates by OMES, the launch of OECS 2.0 has been moved to early June. In an effort to maximize workflow, the Emergency Certification Portal is now open until May 25th for districts desiring to submit emergency certification requests for the June State Board of Education (SBE) meeting. It is highly suggested that renewals are your priority during this window. Only fully completed requests will be sent to the SBE for their June 25th meeting. At a later date, further guidance will be sent to inform districts of when the emergency portal will reopen under OECS 2.0.

Emergency Certification Portal: Revised Opening Date & Transition to OECS 2.0

We recognize that the adjusted timeline affects your planning, and we appreciate your patience. This transition represents the most significant upgrade to the certification system in over 16 years, and it will bring meaningful improvements to how districts and educators manage every stage of the application process.

To support the transition, live training webinars and downloadable user guides will be available at launch, and the Teacher Certification Customer Service team will be ready to assist throughout the rollout.

In the meantime, districts should ensure they have collected all documentation of progress (i.e. test score reports) from teachers who will be renewing their emergency certification for the upcoming school year. As a reminder, renewal applications must be submitted no later than June 30. New emergency certification requests will continue to be accepted after that date.

We are confident that OECS 2.0 will make the certification process faster, clearer, and more manageable for districts and educators alike. Thank you for your continued partnership, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.