Preliminary Teaching License Instructions

• TSPC Dashboard:
  • After logging into your eLicensing account, select “Applications” and, in the upper right-hand corner, select “Submit New Application.”
• New License/Registration/Certificate:
  • The category of license you are applying for is “Teacher.”
• License History Questionnaire:
  • Select the “I have either: Held an Oregon Educational License (or) Completed an Oregon-approved Educator Preparation Program…” box.
• License History:
  • If you have completed the TSPC clinical practice registration and background check within 3-years of the application, select “Add a License” and fill in the required information selecting “Clinical Practices” in the License Category. (This will help you avoid being re-charged the fingerprinting fee.)
    • The start date for your clinical practice registration is either listed in the email you received from TSPC with your clearance or is the date the email was sent to you from TSPC.
    • The end date for your clinical practice registration is 3-years from the date it was issued (or from the start date).
  • If you have held any other TSPC-issued license(s) such as a Restricted Teaching License, Restricted Substitute Teaching License, or any type of emergency license, enter those here.
• Work History:
  • Only add paid employment that required you to hold a TSPC-issued license, including if you worked on a Restricted Teaching License, Restricted Substitute Teaching License, or any type of emergency license issued by TSPC.
  • Do not enter student teaching, practica, unpaid internship, or volunteer experiences in school districts.
  • Do not enter work experiences that required licenses and certificates issued by other State of Oregon agencies such as the Oregon Department of Education; only list paid employment that required you to hold a TSPC-issued license.
• Education History:
  • Add your Lewis & Clark Preliminary Teaching License program by selecting “Post-Bac Program.”
    • The MAT degree is not required in order for you to apply to TSPC for the Preliminary Teaching License.
  • Add all the degrees you’ve been awarded that are new since you last applied to TSPC. (If you have never applied to TSPC before, you will enter all degrees conferred.)
    • Degrees could include associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as well as any advanced degrees earned.
    • If you apply to TSPC after your MAT has been awarded, you can list that degree here, as well, although the MAT degree is NOT required for the Preliminary Teaching License.
• License Type:
  • Select “Preliminary Teaching” under “License, Certificate, or Registry Type.”
  • Select “Add Endorsement” and the endorsement in which you have completed your Preliminary Teaching License program.

Because you have completed what TSPC calls a “post-bac” licensure program, your MAT degree does not need to be awarded in order for you to apply to TSPC for the Preliminary Teaching License.

HOWEVER, you MUST follow the instructions in STEP 2, below, to ensure that you select “post-bac” when you apply for your Preliminary Teaching License. If you select “master’s,” your license application will be held up as you correct this mistake with TSPC staff.

If you accidentally selected “master’s” instead of “post-bac” in your eLicensing application, send an email to online.tspc@tspc.oregon.gov to request that TSPC change the application from “master’s” to “post-bac.” (Suggestion: Make the subject line clear, for instance: “Request to Switch App From Master’s to Post-Bac.”)

Approximately 4 - 6 weeks.

There is a law in Oregon that allows teachers to work for up to 90-days, with school district permission, if they have an active application with TSPC and have passed their background check but haven’t yet been issued their license. If it is coming close to your report date and your license hasn’t been issued, touch base with your human resource office to see how they would like to proceed.

If you have a pending application for a restricted or substitute license but now want to switch to the Preliminary Teaching License, send an email to online.tspc@tspc.oregon.gov to request that TSPC change the license type when they issue the license. (Suggestion: Make the subject line clear, for instance: “Request to Switch App From Sub License to Preliminary Teaching License.”)

You will need to send TSPC updated Lewis & Clark transcripts and a PEER form (see details in the instructions, below).

You may request a 30-day review if TSPC received your Program Completion Report (PCR) and you’ve sent TSPC your updated official transcripts within 30-days of issuing your restricted or substitute license. Send an email to online.tspc@tspc.oregon.gov (Suggestion: Make the subject line clear, for instance: “Request for a 30-Day Review.”)