(1) The department of education is designated as the sole agency authorized to issue the following types of special services licenses to persons of good moral character:

(a) Initial special services license. (I) The department of education, in its discretion, may issue an initial special services license to any applicant who:

(A) Has been awarded an appropriate degree from an institution of higher education;

(B) Has met the standards of the state board of education concerning academic and professional preparation and experience and performance as appropriate for the subject matter area or areas for which such initial special services license is to be endorsed;

(C) Has demonstrated professional competencies in subject areas as specified by rule and regulation of the state board of education pursuant to section 22-60.5-212.

(II) An initial special services license shall be valid in any school districts that provide, or charter schools that provide or participate in, an approved induction program for special services providers or have obtained a waiver of the approved induction program requirement pursuant to section 22-60.5-114 (2). Any initial special services license issued pursuant to this subsection (1)(a) shall be valid for a period of three years after the date of issuance and is renewable only once for an additional period of three years; except that, if an initial special services licensee is unable to complete an induction program for reasons other than incompetence, the state board of education may renew the licensee's initial special services license for one or more additional three-year periods upon the initial licensee's showing of good cause for inability to complete an approved induction program.

(III) For purposes of this paragraph (a), in establishing standards pursuant to sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) concerning academic and professional preparation and experience and performance with regard to school psychologists, school social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school nurses, the state board of education shall not require an applicant for an initial special services license who holds a valid Colorado license or registration or valid national certificate to take and achieve a passing score on an assessment of basic skills.

(b) Professional special services license. (I) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1)(b)(I.5) of this section, the department of education may, in its discretion, issue a professional special services license to any applicant who:

(A) Holds a valid initial special services license; and

(B) Has completed an approved induction program for special services providers and has been recommended for licensure by the school district, charter school, or the institute that provided such induction program; except that the applicant need not complete an approved induction program as an initial special services licensee if the applicant previously completed an induction program while employed under an emergency authorization or a temporary educator eligibility authorization or if the school district or charter school in which the applicant is employed has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement pursuant to section 22-60.5-114 (2). If the applicant is employed by a school district, charter school, or the institute that has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement, the applicant shall demonstrate completion of any requirements specified in the school district's or charter school's plan for support, assistance, and training of initially licensed educators.

(I.5) The department of education may issue a professional special services license to an applicant who meets the requirements specified in section 22-60.5-111 (4)(c)(II) or (5)(e)(II).

(II) (A) Except as otherwise provided in sub-subparagraph (B) of this subparagraph (II), any professional special services license issued pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be valid for a period of five years after the date of issuance and is renewable as provided in section 22-60.5-110.

(B) Any professional special services license issued pursuant to this paragraph (b) which is held in conjunction with a master certificate pursuant to section 22-60.5-211 shall be valid for a period of seven years after the date of issuance and is renewable as provided in section 22-60.5-110.

(2) The state board of education is authorized to establish, by rule and regulation, such other requirements for licenses specified in subsection (1) of this section as it deems necessary to maintain and improve the quality of administration and supervision of education instructional programs; except that the state board of education may not require any person applying for a professional special services license to demonstrate professional competencies.

(3) (a) The department of education may, at its discretion, issue an initial special services license provided for in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section to any applicant from another state or country whose qualifications meet or exceed the standards of the state board of education for the issuance of an initial special services license.

(b) (I) The department of education may issue a professional special services license to any applicant from another state if:

(A) The applicant holds a license or certificate from that state that is comparable to a special services license in this state and the standards for the issuance of such license or certificate meet or exceed the standards of the state board of education for the issuance of a professional special services license; and

(B) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3)(b)(III) of this section, the applicant has had at least three years of successful, evaluated experience within the previous seven years as a special services provider in an established elementary or secondary school and can provide documentation of such experience on forms provided by the department.

(II) An applicant for a professional special services license pursuant to this paragraph (b) need not have:

(A) Completed an approved induction program for special services providers;

(B) Held an initial special services license pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section; or

(C) Demonstrated professional competencies in subject areas as specified by rule of the state board of education pursuant to section 22-60.5-212.

(III) (A) If the applicant is a military spouse, the special services provider experience required pursuant to subsection (3)(b)(I)(B) of this section need not be continuous, but must have occurred within the previous seven years.

(B) As used in subsection (3)(b)(III)(A) of this section, "military spouse" means a spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to Colorado, is domiciled in Colorado, or has moved to Colorado on a permanent change-of-station basis.

(4) The state board of education is authorized to enter into interstate reciprocal agreements in which the department of education agrees to issue initial special services licenses to persons licensed as special services providers in another state.

(5) Repealed.