An Act to Foster Career and Technical Education in Maine Schools by Creating an Additional Pathway to Certify Industrial Arts Teachers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0617
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: CARLOW, BRAKEY, JAVNER, NESS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13011

Legislative Document
No. 617
H.P. 394
House of Representatives, February 14, 2023
An Act to Foster Career and Technical Education in Maine Schools 
by Creating an Additional Pathway to Certify Industrial Arts 
Teachers
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CARLOW of Buxton.
Cosponsored by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: JAVNER of Chester, NESS of Fryeburg.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §13011, sub-§6-C is enacted to read:
6-C.  Additional pathway for industrial arts endorsement.  The state board shall 
adopt rules to amend the credentialing of education personnel to create a pathway for a 
teacher to obtain an endorsement on a teaching certificate for a component of industrial arts 
as defined by the department with an experiential laboratory that includes, but is not limited 
to, automotive body repair, diagnostics and mechanics; welding; electrical; carpentry; and 
computer-aided design.  At a minimum, rules adopted pursuant to this subsection must 
include the following qualifications in order for a teacher to be eligible for an endorsement:
A.  A completed apprenticeship registered with a statewide or national apprenticeship 
and training organization;
B.  A completed 2-year degree or certificate from a technical institution accredited by 
a national association of career and technical schools or similar organization;
C.  Completion of a minimum number of hours of paid applied employment or teaching 
in the area for which the endorsement is sought; and
D.  Completion of a minimum number of hours of experience learning the trade or craft 
in the area for which the endorsement is sought.
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules to amend the credentialing 
of education personnel to create a pathway for a teacher to obtain an endorsement on a 
teaching certificate for a component of industrial arts with an experiential laboratory that 
includes, but is not limited to: automotive body repair, diagnostics and mechanics; welding; 
electrical; carpentry; and computer-aided design.  Rules must include at least the following 
qualifications for a teacher to be eligible for an endorsement:  a completed apprenticeship 
registered with a statewide or national apprenticeship and training organization; a 
completed 2-year degree or certificate from a technical institution accredited by a national 
association of career and technical schools or similar organization; completion of a 
minimum number of hours of paid applied employment or teaching in the endorsement area 
being sought; and completion of a minimum number of hours of experience learning the 
trade or craft for which the endorsement is sought.