Teacher certification; competency examination; exception; effective date; emergency.

HB 1394 amends Oklahoma's teacher certification rules to exempt graduates of Oklahoma Commission-approved teacher preparation programs from passing the competency exam for standard certification. It also allows non-native English speakers employed in foreign language immersion programs to take the exam in their native language, with restrictions limiting such teachers to those specific programs. Additionally, the bill creates an exception for teachers with advanced degrees in substantially comparable fields, allowing them to bypass certain subject-area exams. These changes directly affect teacher candidates, school districts hiring educators, and the Oklahoma Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability.