Part Time Teaching Licenses: New Hampshire

Analysis of New Hampshire's policies

New Hampshire does not offer a license with minimal requirements that would allow content experts to teach part time.

Recommendations for New Hampshire

Offer a license that allows content experts to serve as part-time instructors.
New Hampshire should permit individuals with deep subject-area knowledge to teach a limited number of courses without fulfilling a complete set of certification requirements. The state should verify content knowledge through a rigorous test and conduct background checks as appropriate, while waiving all other licensure requirements. Such a license would increase districts' flexibility to staff certain subjects, including many STEM areas, that are frequently hard to staff or may not have high enough enrollment to necessitate a full-time position.

State response to our analysis

New Hampshire stated that background checks are required for all educators. The state also asserted that any content expert may pursue alternative certification. "Additionally, schools are allowed to place professionals in a given field in a position for one year. The professional could choose to pursue licensure after the first year."

Last word

A part-time instructor certificate would fill the gap between placing unlicensed professionals in short-term positions and standard certification for all teachers, whether through a traditional or an alternate route. This license would allow content experts who may not be interested in teaching full time and thus are unlikely to be willing to complete a preparation program, even through an alternate route, to teach.