Montana Code 20-4-104. Qualifications
20-4-104. Qualifications. (1) A person may be certified as a teacher when the person satisfies the following qualifications. The person:
Terms Used In Montana Code 20-4-104
- Board of public education: means the board created by Article X, section 9, subsection (3), of the Montana constitution and 2-15-1507. See Montana Code 20-1-101
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- System: means the Montana university system. See Montana Code 20-1-101
- Teacher: means a person, except a district superintendent, who holds a valid Montana teacher certificate that has been issued by the superintendent of public instruction under the provisions of this title and the policies adopted by the board of public education and who is employed by a district as a member of its instructional, supervisory, or administrative staff. See Montana Code 20-1-101
- United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- University: means the university of Montana-Missoula. See Montana Code 20-1-101
(a)is 18 years of age or older;
(b)is of good moral and professional character;
(c)(i) has completed the teacher education program of a unit of the Montana university system or an essentially equivalent program at an accredited institution of equal rank and standing as that of any unit of the Montana university system, and the training is evidenced by at least a bachelor’s degree and a certification of the completion of the teacher education program, except as provided for in 20-4-106(1)(d);
(ii)possesses a current certification from the national board for professional teaching standards;
(iii)possesses a current educator license from another state or country and successful experience as determined by the board of public education; or
(iv)has completed the alternative teacher certification and endorsement program provided for in 20-4-120; and
(d)has subscribed to the following oath or affirmation before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths:
“I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support The Constitution of the United States of America and The Constitution of the State of Montana.”
(2)Any person may be certified as a specialist when the person satisfies the requirements of subsections (1)(a) and (1)(b) and the requirement for a specialist certificate provided in 20-4-106(2).