(a) The department shall issue a preliminary teacher certificate to an out-of-state teacher who meets the requirements of this section. To be eligible for a preliminary teacher certificate, a person shall

(1) have received at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association or approved by the commissioner;

(2) hold a valid teacher certificate issued by another state;

(3) have submitted fingerprints to the department to be used for a criminal history background check and been found by the department to be suitable for employment as a teacher under AS 14.20.020(f);

(4) have paid the fee required by the department under AS 14.20.020(c).

(b) An out-of-state teacher who has been issued a preliminary teacher certificate under this section shall pass the competency examination designated by the board under AS 14.20.020(i) within one year after the date the preliminary teacher certificate was issued. If the teacher does not pass the examination, the department shall immediately revoke the teacher's preliminary teacher certificate.

(c) The preliminary teacher certificate issued under this section must contain the same endorsements as those on the current valid teacher certificate issued by the other state.

(d) A teacher holding a preliminary teacher certificate issued under this section may be employed to provide instructional services for a school district or regional educational attendance area only if the teacher certificate issued by the other state is valid at the time the teacher commences to provide instructional services for the school district or regional educational attendance area.

(e) Employment under a preliminary teacher certificate shall be considered in determining whether a teacher qualifies for tenure under AS 14.20.150. However, a teacher may not be granted tenure unless the teacher holds a teacher certificate issued under AS 14.20.020.

(f) A preliminary teacher certificate and any endorsements issued under this section are valid for three years and may not be renewed. The department may not issue a provisional certificate or a temporary certificate to a teacher who has held a preliminary teacher certificate.