Teacher certification.

    (1)   Certificate required.  No person shall serve as a teacher in any elementary or secondary school within the Federated States of Micronesia, except at the post-secondary level, for a period exceeding 90 days without first having obtained a National teacher certificate from the Department.  The certificate shall be issued without cost to the teacher, in such form as the Secretary determines.  The qualification requirements for such certification shall be established by the Secretary in cooperation and consultation with the state Directors of Education.

    (a)   Upon a finding of good cause shown, the Secretary of Education may, on an individual basis, issue a temporary waiver of the certification requirement herein, but in no case shall such waiver exceed a period of one year.

    (2)   Existing certificates remain in effect.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, certificates issued to teachers in the Federated States of Micronesia pursuant to laws in effect prior to the effective date of this act shall remain in effect until they expire, at which time the provisions of this act and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, shall control.

    (3)   Revocation or suspension.  Any certificate issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked or suspended by the Secretary if he determines that the teacher is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.  Such revocation or suspension proceedings shall comply with the procedures for agency action set forth in sections 108 through 110 of title 17 of this code, or with such other administrative procedures as may be provided by subsequent enactment.

    (4)   Assurance; Penalty.  Each State Director of Education shall ensure that all teachers, at both public and private schools in the Federated States of Micronesia, shall be appropriately certified and in possession of a valid teacher certificate as required.  Upon a finding, after notice and a hearing conducted consistent with the provisions of section 109 of title 17 of this code, that any person has served as a teacher without a valid certificate issued under this chapter, the FSM Secretary of Education may withhold or withdraw accreditation, under section 108 of this chapter, of the school where such person has served.

Source: PL 8-132 § 6.

FSM TEACHER CERTIFICATION POLICY (As Amended, 2008)