North Dakota Credential Guide
English Learner Endorsement Requirements in North Dakota
Issued by North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board.
North Dakota’s English Learner endorsement adds to a professional teaching license. Its study requirement includes field experience, and the state allows a Praxis route under stated conditions.
Official sources reviewed . Requirements can change, so confirm your route with the issuing agency before enrolling.
Endorsement Completion Window
An Incomplete EL Endorsement Can Expire Before Your License
North Dakota adds its English Learner endorsement to a regular teaching license. The full preparation includes 16 semester hours across multicultural education, second-language foundations, linguistics, methods, assessment and at least two credits of EL field experience.
Apply through ND Teach with official evidence of the required course areas and field experience. Confirm the current endorsement fee in the live application.
The state may add the endorsement for two years. Finish the missing study or Praxis 5362 within that window, or the endorsement expires and drops from the license.
Record the endorsement deadline separately from your base-license renewal date. The current web page and an older PDF display different fee amounts, so use ND Teach for the amount due.
North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board, checked September 29, 2026: English Learner endorsement, EL endorsement form and license FAQs.
North Dakota Requirements
Confirm Your Professional License Area
The endorsement starts from a valid professional license in one of the listed age or grade areas.
Qualifying license
North Dakota requires a valid educator professional license with an early childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary major or endorsement.
North Dakota Requirements
Plan Study and Field Experience Together
The 16-semester-hour study requirement includes work with English learners. Check how your provider documents the field-experience credit.
Approved study
The English Learner endorsement requires 16 semester hours of approved study.
Field experience
The published endorsement requirements include a two-credit field experience.
North Dakota Requirements
Ask When Praxis Can Substitute for Coursework
The test option applies under the conditions in the state application. It is not a reason to skip checking your transcript.
Praxis substitution
North Dakota allows the applicable Praxis assessment to substitute for incomplete endorsement coursework under the conditions in its application.
North Dakota Requirements
Keep the Professional License Current
Adding this endorsement does not change the renewal cycle of the underlying license.
License renewal
The endorsement does not change the renewal cycle of the underlying North Dakota professional license.