AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Two of the highest areas of demand for employment and career opportunities are in the fields of health science and technology. Recruiting high quality teachers in these areas is challenging for a number of reasons, one of these being that candidates are required to have a bachelor's degree in order to receive the health science technology certification. This rule effectively eliminates registered nurses with an associate's degree from teaching courses that they are qualified to perform in a clinical setting. The bachelor’s degree requirement for teacher certification is also limiting the number of potential health science professionals entering the teaching profession. Since many registered nurses hold an associate’s degree rather than a bachelor’s degree, and because of the nursing shortage, registered nurses who hold a minimum associate’s degree with two years of health science work experience should be eligible to receive the health science technology certification.
H.B. 3573 will allow individuals with an associate’s degree, a health profession license, and two years of wage earning experience in the area of the license to obtain health science technology certification; thus, creating more opportunity for many associate degree health professionals to become teachers in this critical shortage area. This change will allow a registered nurse with an associate’s degree to become certified, while their license credential would allow them to teach all courses to include practicums.
H.B. 3573 amends current law relating to the requirements for obtaining a health science technology education teaching certificate and to the scope of courses a person may teach holding a technology applications teaching certificate.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) in SECTION 1 (Section 21.044, Education Code) of this bill.
Rulemaking authority of SBEC is restricted in SECTION 1 (Section 21.044, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Reenacts Section 21.044, Education Code, as amended by Chapters 635 (S.B. 866) and 926 (S.B. 1620), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, and amends it as follows:
Sec. 21.044. EDUCATOR PREPARATION. (a)-(c) Makes no change to these subsections.
(d) Redesignates existing Subsection (b) as Subsection (d). Makes no further change to this subsection.
(e) Requires the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), in proposing rules under this section for a person to obtain a certificate to teach a health science technology education course, to specify that a person is required to have an associate degree or more advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education; current licensure, certification, or registration as a health professions practitioner issued by a nationally recognized accrediting agency for health professionals; and at least two years of wage earning experience utilizing the licensure requirement.
(f) Prohibits SBEC from proposing rules for a certificate to teach a health science technology education course that specify that a person is required to have a bachelor's degree or that establish any other credential or teaching experience requirements that exceed the requirements under Subsection (e).
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0486, as follows:
Sec. 21.0486. TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS CERTIFICATION. Authorizes a person who holds a technology applications certificate issued under this subchapter to, in addition to teaching technology applications courses as authorized under the certificate, teach courses in principles of arts, audio/video technology, and communications, and principles of information technology.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.