Out-of-Country Reciprocity

1. The US equivalent of at least a bachelor’s degree (or master’s degree for advanced/specialty areas), as determined by an approved reputable educational credential service; and
2. Documentation from an approved reputable educational credential service that you are certified or authorized to teach in a PK-12 setting in a foreign country; and
3. Two years of PK-12 teaching experience within the last five years.

If you do not meet all three of the above requirements, then you can pursue one of the alternative certification pathways.

• In addition to the list above, applicants must have lawful presence in the US and be proficient in spoken and written English. By submitting an application for certification, you affirm your command of spoken and written English is equivalent, at a minimum, to competence under the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) oral and written English proficiency assessments, or similar reputable English language competence examination, subject to approval of OSDE.

Please keep in mind it is the applicants’ responsibility to have any/all credentials, letters, documents, etc. translated by a reputable educational credential evaluation service.

• Foreign Evaluation from an approved reputable educational credential service* verifying 1) your university degree(s) and 2) your certification/authorization to teach PK-12
  • *Must be from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and the official document must be sent by either mail, or email directly from the company to TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov
  • *Please note, not all NACES members provide the service to verify certification/authorization to teach
  • *Course-by-course evaluation with a GPA is recommended, so it can be used for alternative pathways if you cannot be approved for reciprocity
• Lawful presence (e.g. valid Employment Authorization or Permanent Resident card)
• Proof-of-Teaching form verifying two years of PK-12 teaching experience within the last five years
• Letter of recommendation from a national, regional or local education official or school administrator who worked with or evaluated you in a professional capacity; signed, dated, and on letterhead
• Letter of good standing as a member of the teaching profession whose teaching certification has not been revoked or suspended; signed, dated, and on letterhead; can be from the licensing authority that issued your out-of-country certification or the school system where you were most recently employed

Please keep in mind it is the applicants’ responsibility to have any/all credentials, letters, documents, etc. translated by a reputable educational credential evaluation service.

Then, complete the following:

1. Complete a certification or dual background check (if not currently certified in Oklahoma). Instructions are available here.
2. Order official transcripts from any US colleges/universities attended to be sent directly from the university to TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov (if applicable).
3. Apply online in OECS through the Educator Application Wizard for Out-of-Country Reciprocity. You will be required to upload the supporting documents during the application process.
4. Once your application has been processed, a certificate (or advisement letter) will be issued in OECS and available in the Print History tab. You will receive an email notifying you when something is available to view.

• No, not for the area(s) reciprocated. Testing and/or coursework may be required for any areas that could not be reciprocated or for new areas you wish to add.

• If Early Childhood, Elementary Education, or Special Education were granted on your Oklahoma certificate through reciprocity, then Early Childhood and/or Elementary Education can be added after passing the Oklahoma subject area test.
• Secondary/PK-12 areas, inlcuding Special Education, can be added after passing the Oklahoma subject area test. If the professional education assessment (APK/PPAT/OPTE) is not required in Oklahoma for the area(s) received through reciprocity, then it must be passed prior to adding these areas.

• Teaching credit can be granted only for out-of-state/country teaching experience obtained in an accredited school system while holding valid certification or its equivalent. For the purpose of state salary increments and retirement, no teacher shall be granted credit for more than five (5) years of out-of-state/country teaching experience.
• Visit the School Personnel Records office webpage or email schoolpersonnel@sde.ok.gov with any questions about teaching experience record requirements.

• No. Electronic transcripts from a US college/university will only be accepted if sent directly from the university to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
• After you have an OECS account, place a new official transcript order with TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov as the direct recipient.
• Most colleges use Parchment or Student Clearinghouse to send digital transcripts.

• No. All applications for Out-of-Country Reciprocity are now online.
• Apply online in OECS through the Educator Application Wizard.

1. Create a Single Sign-On (SSO) account to access the Oklahoma Educator Credential System (OECS).
2. If you have never submitted an application to Teacher Certification before, Step 3 will ask, “Would you like to access your Oklahoma certification records?” You must select the third option and enter your full social security number to create an SSO log in AND an OECS file. If you receive a red banner stating that a record already exists, then you will select the second option to link your new SSO log in with your existing OECS file.
3. Once you are in your SSO account, click EDU-Educator under Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System.
4. Then click Educator Application Wizard.