Renew

How to Renew a North Dakota Teaching License

Step-by-step NDTeach renewal for five-year licenses: gather six transcripted semester hours, document 30 contracted days, apply six months early, pay $140.

Key details for How to Renew a North Dakota Teaching License
NDTeach entry Begin Application → Renew License (ESPB renewing page)
Transcripts Unofficial transcript usually accepted for renewal (ESPB transcripts page)
Timeline May start ~6 months before expiration

Sources checked November 2026

Teacher scrolling through an online licensing portal on a laptop
Sections6

North Dakota teachers renewing a five-year license file online through ND Teach, not through a paper packet mailed to Bismarck. ESPB's renewing a license page is the operational source for button names and timing. Administrative code in NDAC ch. 67.1-02-02 defines the six semester hours, contracted days, and fees behind those screens.

Before you start

Gather four items before you click Begin Application:

  1. Six semester hours of re-education credit completed during the current license dates under 67.1-02-02-05(2) with subjects that meet 67.1-02-02-05(2)(a) (details on graduate credits that count).
  2. College or state-approved alternative program transcripts showing those hours (67.1-02-02-04(2)(a)(2)). ESPB's transcripts page notes that an unofficial transcript will work for most renewals.
  3. Evidence of at least thirty contracted days in North Dakota during the renewal period when you hold a standard five-year license (types of licenses).
  4. Payment for the $140 five-year renewal fee when requirements are complete before expiry (67.1-02-02-04(2)(a)(1)), plus the $100 late fee if you are already past expiration per ESPB.

ESPB allows you to start about six months before your expiration date. Use the renewal calculator if you want a checklist view of hours and days before you buy another course.

NDTeach renewal clicks

Follow ESPB's published sequence on the renewing a license page:

  1. Sign in to your ND Teach account linked from ESPB licensure pages.
  2. Select Begin Application.
  3. Choose Renew License.
  4. Answer the eligibility questions. ESPB states that the online application will ask questions to help determine the appropriate license for which you are qualified, because requirements differ by license type.
  5. Upload transcripts and any supplemental files the questionnaire requests.
  6. Pay the renewal fee shown in the cart. The five-year base amount is $140 in NDAC when you are on time.
  7. Submit and save the confirmation screen. ESPB notes you can view application status after submission.

If you hold a reciprocal license, ESPB lists separate steps such as uploading new unofficial transcripts for reciprocal plan requirements and completing mandated reporter training when it appears on your plan.

Transcripts and credit proof

Request transcripts from the registrar or clearinghouse that holds your renewal courses. For North Dakota University System schools, ESPB points to Campus Connection or Parchment on its transcripts page. Out-of-state colleges may use the National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, or the registrar.

Match course completion dates to your current license effective and expiration dates. Credit earned after expiration or before the license was issued will not satisfy 67.1-02-02-05(2) even if the subject is relevant.

When a vendor markets "graduate credit," verify the hours will appear as semester hours on the university transcript ESPB expects, not as a separate certificate. Our credits that count guide walks through that distinction.

Contracted-day documentation

ESPB's five-year renewal path assumes thirty days under contract. Districts vary in how they confirm employment; keep your own records of contract start and end dates, FTE status, and leave without pay that might interrupt a day count.

If you taught fewer than eighteen months in North Dakota during the measurement window, NDTeach may route you to a two-year renewal with the $65 fee in 67.1-02-02-04(1)(a) instead of the five-year track.

After you submit

Monitor ND Teach for deficiency notices. ESPB may request clarification if transcript titles do not obviously relate to education or your endorsement.

If you missed the expiration date, finish the packet anyway but budget for the $100 late fee described on ESPB's renewing page before the license can issue.

For dollar amounts in table form, see fees and deadlines. Return to the renewal overview for links to credit shopping guides.

Common renewal mistakes to avoid

Buying a "PD certificate" that never posts semester hours to a college transcript is the most expensive error. NDAC 67.1-02-02-05 names semester hours, not clock hours printed by a private vendor.

Another frequent miss is completing strong graduate work after the license expiration date. Hours must fall within the dates of the license you are renewing.

Teachers who split time between states should still document North Dakota contracted days when they claim a five-year renewal tied to ND employment. Keep substitution logs only if ESPB accepts them toward your specific question set in NDTeach.

If you are on a probationary path, plan for eight semester hours total per 67.1-02-02-04(2)(c) rather than stopping at six.

North Dakota PD is an independent guide. ESPB staff answer case-specific questions through official ESPB contact channels listed on nd.gov.

Sources checked November 2026

Quick answers

Do I mail paper forms for a standard renewal?

ESPB directs standard renewals through the ND Teach online account. Keep PDF copies of uploads you attach.

Which transcript format does ESPB prefer?

ESPB says an unofficial transcript will work for most renewals, while an official transcript is needed when you are adding a degree.

What if I am short one semester hour?

Finish the credit before you submit, or ESPB may deny renewal, or you may agree to a two-year probationary license that requires eight semester hours (67.1-02-02-04(2)(c)).