20-4-127. (Effective July 1, 2024) Certification reciprocity for military members, military spouses, and veterans -- requirements. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue a teacher certificate and endorsement or specialist certificate as provided by Title 20 to a person:

(a) who is certified and endorsed in good standing in another state or a United States territory as a teacher or specialist; and

(b) (i) who is a member of the armed forces of the United States or whose spouse is a member of the armed forces of the United States;

(ii) who is subject to military orders for a change of station to a duty station in this state, who is in the process of a change of station to a duty station in this state, who has been honorably discharged and is relocated to this state, or whose spouse is the subject of a military transfer to this state;

(iii) who is the spouse of a military member, and the spouse left employment to accompany the military member to this state; or

(iv) who is the dependent of an active-duty member of the United State armed forces who has been transferred to Montana, is scheduled to be transferred to Montana, is domiciled in Montana, or has moved to Montana on a permanent change-of-station basis.

(2) In issuing a certificate and endorsement under subsection (1), the superintendent of public instruction may:

(a) issue the person a certificate and endorsement if the superintendent of public instruction determines the requirements for certification and endorsement in the other state are substantially equivalent to the requirements in this state; or

(b) if the requirements for certification and endorsement are not substantially equivalent, issue the person a temporary teacher certificate and endorsement or specialist certificate to authorize the person as a teacher or specialist while completing any specific requirements by the office of public instruction.

(3) The provisions of subsection (1) do not apply to a person whose teacher certificate or specialist certificate is not in good standing with another state or who is subject to pending charges or final disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct or impairment.