Initial educator certificate for occupational subjects in technical education and career schools

(a) As used in this section, “occupational subject” includes, but is not limited to, automobile servicing, carpentry, plumbing, culinary arts, electronics, cosmetology and public safety. (b) The State Board of Education may issue an initial educator certificate for occupational subjects in technical education and career schools to an applicant who has (1) obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent, (2) completed five years of experience in the field for which the certificate is sought, which may include not more than two years of in a registered apprenticeship, work-based learning program or other specialized schooling, (3) completed a minimum of six semester hours of credit teaching vocational and industrial education, and (4) completed a course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than three semester hours, which shall include study in understanding the growth and development of exceptional children, including children with a disability, gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs children in the regular classroom. An initial educator certificate for occupational subjects in technical education and career schools shall authorize the holder to teach an occupational subject in the Technical Education and Career System. (c) An applicant who is otherwise eligible for an initial educator certificate for occupational subjects in technical education and career schools, but is deficient in meeting the course requirements to the extent of not more than six semester hours of credit, as described in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, and a course of study in special education, as described in subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section, may be issued an interim educator certificate, valid for one year, which may be reissued for a second year by the Commissioner of Education. If the holder of such interim educator certificate fails to meet such course requirements at the expiration of such interim educator certificate, the commissioner shall prevent the holder from serving in the employ of a board of education in a position covered by the initial educator certificate for occupational subjects in technical education and career schools, except that the course work in which the applicant is deficient may be deferred for one additional year for good cause shown.