Iowa Provisional Teaching License
Iowa Doesn't Have a Single "Provisional License"
If you're searching for an Iowa provisional teaching license, you're going to hit a wall — because the Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) doesn't issue a credential by that name. What Iowa has instead is a set of four distinct temporary or conditional credentials, each designed for a specific situation. Picking the wrong one wastes your application fee ($120, non-refundable), so understanding the differences before you apply matters.
Regional Exchange Teaching License
This is the credential most out-of-state teachers end up with. When you apply through reciprocity and the BoEE's transcript review finds coursework gaps — maybe you're missing Iowa's human relations component or an exceptional learner course — they issue a two-year Regional Exchange Teaching License instead of a full Standard License.
The Regional Exchange License lets you teach full-time in Iowa classrooms while you complete the missing coursework. You'll need to close every gap within the two-year window, then apply to convert to a Standard License. Track the term using the issue and expiration dates in the BoEE record.
Expect to pay the $120 application fee plus a $60 out-of-state evaluation fee, on top of background check costs ($35 state fee plus $34.35 to Fieldprint).
Conditional License — Class B
The Class B is for currently licensed Iowa teachers who need to teach outside their endorsed subject area. Maybe your district lost its physics teacher mid-year and you're the chemistry teacher they want to reassign — the Class B Conditional License makes that legal for up to two years.
The requirements are specific: you must already hold an active Iowa teaching license, have completed at least 50% of the coursework for the new endorsement area, and have a formal job offer from a district in that endorsement area.
This credential is non-renewable. You have two years to finish the remaining endorsement coursework and add the endorsement to your standard license.
Free Download
Get the Iowa — Teacher Certification Route Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Temporary Initial Teaching License
This is the newest option, created under House File 255 (effective July 1, 2024). It's issued to candidates who complete an approved non-university alternative certification program — one that has been in business for at least 10 years and operates in at least five states.
HF 255 completers receive a Temporary Initial Teaching License that authorizes teaching in the approved subject areas and grade levels. The path to a Standard License requires completing a mentoring and induction program or accumulating three years of successful teaching experience.
One critical restriction: HF 255 license holders cannot teach special education until they complete a specialized clinical practicum, even if their alternative program covered special education content.
Executive Director Decision Conditional License
This is the emergency option, and it's the most restrictive. When a district can prove it ran a genuine search and found zero fully endorsed candidates, the BoEE's Executive Director can grant a one-year, non-renewable license that allows an already-licensed Iowa teacher to cover a position outside their endorsement area — even without the 50% coursework threshold required for a Class B.
The trade-off: because there's no coursework prerequisite, this credential is valid for only one year with no renewal option. The teacher must complete endorsement coursework during that year or the district needs to find a permanent hire.
Which Temporary Credential Fits Your Situation?
| Your Situation | Credential | Valid For | Renewable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-state teacher with coursework gaps | Regional Exchange Teaching License | 2 years | No — convert to Standard |
| Iowa teacher covering a new subject area (50%+ coursework done) | Class B Conditional License | 2 years | No |
| Alternative program graduate (HF 255) | Temporary Initial Teaching License | Varies | Transitions to Initial/Standard |
| Iowa teacher filling an emergency vacancy | Executive Director Decision License | 1 year | No |
Converting to a Permanent License
Every temporary credential above is designed as a bridge, not a destination. The conversion path depends on which credential you hold:
Regional Exchange holders need to complete identified coursework deficiencies and apply for a Standard License. If you have three or more years of out-of-state teaching experience, you may qualify for testing exemptions that speed this up.
Class B holders must finish the remaining endorsement coursework within two years. Once complete, you add the new endorsement to your existing license — a $50 fee, plus $60 if you're requesting a direct state transcript audit rather than going through an institution.
Temporary Initial holders transition through the standard mentoring and induction pathway, with three years of teaching experience qualifying them for Standard License conversion.
For a complete breakdown of every Iowa license type, conversion timeline, and fee — including the Fieldprint codes and portal steps most guides leave out — the Iowa Teacher Certification Guide walks through each pathway from application to Standard License.
Get Your Free Iowa — Teacher Certification Route Checklist
Download the Iowa — Teacher Certification Route Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.