TEACHING BARRIERS REMOVED FOR VETERANS

Gov. Terry Branstad announced a new effort Thursday to eliminate licensing barriers for qualified veterans and military spouses who want to teach in Iowa. The governor said the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has created a new military exchange license for veterans and military spouses who have teaching credentials but face new licensure requirements when they move to Iowa. The new military exchange license enables veterans and military spouses to teach up to three years without taking any additional college courses. The license also is offered at a reduced cost of $85 instead of $210. The military exchange license is a three-year license. After three years, the license can be converted to a one-year license, giving license-holders full authority to teach while they take the required classes. Once the requirements are met, the license can be converted to a regular Iowa teaching license. Eligible applicants must have completed a teacher preparation program through a college or university and must have been a licensed teacher in another state.