Q: Why are Statements of Professional Recognition now required to be renewed.
A:

1) Comply with requirements to complete background checks on all license individuals in schools providing educational services to PK-12 students in Iowa.

2) Verify the licensure of individuals providing educational services through their respective licensing boards.

3) Verify properly licensed individuals providing education services to PK-12 students in Iowa schools and Area Education Agencies.

4) Update contact information on all licensed education providers in Iowa.

An $85.00 processing fee, the same as the renewal of a teaching or administrative license.

Five years.

1) Verify proof of valid license through the Iowa Department of Public Health (copy of updated license with expiration date).

2) A copy of the Child/Adult Dependent Abuse training certification no older than 5 years.

3) Application for renewal of a Statement of Professional Recognition.

4) A check for $85.00 processing fee.

Yes, a form letter with directions as to how to access individual SPR information will be sent to all individuals who hold SPR’s in Iowa in the Spring of 2009, providing the Board of Educational Examiners has a current mailing address. This information will also be sent to Human Resources Directors of AEA’s and major school districts that employ individuals with SPR’s Information on how to access individual expiration information from the Board of Educational Examiners Website will be included. Each individual will be responsible for looking up their expiration date and renewing their SPR prior to expiration.

You may verify the expiration date of your SPR on the Board of Educational Examiners web site (www.boee.iowa.gov) by clicking on the “Search for Information on a Teacher’s, Administrator’s, Coach’s License or Assignment” and following the direction. You may also contact Mike Cavin at (515) 281-3437 or mike.cavin@iowa.gov.

All individuals providing educational support in the following areas are required to hold a Statement of Professional Recognition:

1) Physical Therapy
2) Occupational Therapy
3) Special Education Nursing

All individuals providing educational support in the following areas are required to hold EITHER a Statement of Professional Recognition, or an Iowa Teaching License or a Professional Service License with an Endorsement in:

1) Speech Language Pathology
2) School Social Work
3) School Audiology

All individuals providing the above services whether employed directly by the Area Education Agency, local School District, or sub-contracted by either.

If an SPR was issued to an Education Support Staff member during the year listed below in the “SPR Issued” column, the SPR will expire in the corresponding “To expire” column.

School Audiologist.

Authorization. The holder of this endorsement (or statement of professional recognition) is authorized to serve as a school audiologist to pupils with hearing impairments from birth to 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accord with Iowa Code section 256B.8).

If a person has completed a master’s in audiology but has not completed the education sequence or chooses not to be certified, a license must be obtained from the Iowa state board of speech pathology and audiology examiners, Iowa department of public health. Additionally, the person is required to obtain a statement of professional recognition (SPR) from the board of educational examiners.

Procedure for acquiring the statement of professional recognition: The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter requesting that the authorization be issued. The following documents must be included:

1. A copy of a temporary or regular license issued from the division of licensure, Iowa department of public health.

2. An official transcript reflecting the master’s degree in audiology.

A temporary SPR will then be issued for one school year. An approved human relations course must be completed before the start of the next school year. The applicant must provide evidence that:

(1) The human relations component has been fulfilled within the required time frame, and

(2) The class of license from the division of licensure is regular in the event a temporary license was issued initially.

a. Authorization. The holder of this endorsement (or statement of professional recognition) is authorized to serve as a speech–language pathologist to pupils from birth to 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accord with Iowa Code section 256B.8).

If a person has completed a master’s in speech pathology but has not completed the education sequence or chooses not to be certified, a license must be obtained from the Iowa state board of speech pathology and audiology examiners, Iowa department of public health. Additionally, the person is required to obtain a statement of professional recognition (SPR) from the board of educational examiners.

Procedure for acquiring the statement of professional recognition. The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter requesting that the authorization be issued. The following documents must be included:

1. A copy of a temporary or regular license issued from the division of licensure, Iowa department of public health.

2. An official transcript reflecting the master’s degree in speech pathology.

A temporary SPR will then be issued for one school year. An approved human relations course must be completed before the start of the next school year. The applicant must provide evidence that:

(1) The human relations component has been fulfilled within the required time frame, and

(2) The class of license from the division of licensure is regular in the event a temporary license was issued initially.

Authorization. The holder of this authorization can serve as a school occupational therapist to pupils with physical impairments from birth to 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accord with Iowa Code section 256B.8).

The legalization for this support personnel is through a statement of professional recognition (SPR) and not through teacher licensure.

Program requirements.

(1) Degree or equivalent baccalaureate in occupational therapy.

(2) Hold a valid license to practice occupational therapy in Iowa as granted by the division of licensure, state department of health.

Procedure for acquiring a statement of professional recognition (SPR):

The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter to the board of educational examiners, licensure bureau, requesting that the authorization be issued. Additionally, these documents must be submitted:

1. A copy of a temporary or regular license from the division of licensure, Iowa department of public health.

2. An official transcript.

A temporary SPR will then be issued for one school year if the class of license from the department of public health is temporary.

3. A regular SPR will be issued with verification of a regular license and at least a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.

Authorization. The holder of this authorization can serve as a school physical therapist to pupils with physical impairments from birth to 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accord with Iowa Code section 256B.8).

The legalization for this support service personnel is through a statement of professional recognition (SPR) and not through teacher licensure.

Program requirements.

(1) Degree or equivalent baccalaureate in physical therapy.

(2) Holds a valid license to practice physical therapy in Iowa as granted by the division of licensure, Iowa public health department.

Procedure for acquiring a statement of professional recognition (SPR):

The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter to the board of educational examiners, licensure bureau, requesting that the authorization be issued. Additionally, these documents must be submitted:

1. A copy of a temporary or regular license from the division of licensure.

2. An official transcript.

A temporary SPR will then be issued for one school year if the class of license from the department of public health is temporary.

3. A regular SPR will be issued with verification of a regular license and at least a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy.

Authorization. The holder of this authorization is authorized to serve as a special education nurse to pupils requiring special education from birth to 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accord with Iowa Code section 256B.8).

The legalization for this support service personnel is through a statement of professional recognition (SPR) and not through teacher licensure.

Program requirements. Degree—baccalaureate in nursing or master’s in nursing.

c. Other.

(1) Current licensure in the state of Iowa by the board of nursing.

(2) Two years’ experience in public health nursing including service to schools or as a school nurse.

Temporaries. A professional registered nurse who does not meet the criteria of 15.3(4)“c.” The applicant must complete six semester credits of graduate or undergraduate coursework in special education within one school year after receiving temporary authorization.

Procedure for acquiring a statement of professional recognition:

The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter to the board of educational examiners requesting that the statement of professional recognition be issued. Additionally, these documents must be submitted:

1. A copy of the license issued from the Iowa board of nursing.

2. An official transcript.

3. Verification of 15.3(4)“c”(2).

A temporary SPR will then be issued for one school year. An approved human relations course must be completed before the start of the next school year.

Authorization. An individual who meets the requirements of paragraph 15.3(15)“b” or 15.3(15)“c” is authorized to serve as a school social worker to pupils from birth to the age of 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accordance with Iowa Code section 256B.8).

Procedure for acquiring a statement of professional recognition:

Statement of professional recognition (SPR). The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency or local education agency must submit an application requesting that the authorization be issued. The application must include:

(1) An official transcript that reflects the master’s degree in social work; and

(2) The licensed independent social worker (LISW) or licensed master social worker (LMSW) license issued by the Iowa board of social work examiners.

School Nurse. A person who has passed the registered nurse examination and is licensed by the Iowa board of nursing may obtain a statement of professional recognition (SPR) from the board of educational examiners.

Authorization. The holder of an SPR is authorized to promote the health and safety of the students in an accredited school district, including providing medical treatment as allowed under the authority granted by virtue of holding a license from the Iowa board of nursing.

Requirements.
a. Applicant has passed the registered nurse examination, is licensed by the Iowa board of nursing and has a baccalaureate degree.
b. While employed by an accredited K-12 school district, applicant maintains licensure with the Iowa board of nursing.

Validity. The school nurse SPR shall be valid for five years.

Local requirements. A school district may require an SPR, but the board of educational examiners does not require an SPR for nurses working in a school district.