Professional Fitness Information
- What is Professional Fitness?
All educators applying for a Hawaii License or Permit must undergo a suitability review. The suitability review is an evaluation of a person’s character traits and conduct to decide whether that individual is likely to act with integrity and efficiency in their job. All applicants are required to self-disclose by answering the below Professional Fitness Questions on their application(s).
Any falsification or deliberate misrepresentation, including omission of a material fact, in completion of these questions, can be grounds for refusal to renew, suspend, deny, condition, or revoke a license, certificate, or permit.
- 8-54-9.16 (c) Reporting of violations:
Licensed educators, permit holders and emergency hires who may have engaged in action that could result in denial, non-renewal, revocation, or suspension of a license shall be
required to report to the board, in a manner provided for by the board,
within thirty (30) calendar days of the event, the following:
- Been terminated or not rehired for cause;
- Resigned under threat of termination or non-employment for cause; and
- Been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor
- Professional Fitness Questions:
Applicants must answer ALL questions. If you have already reported an incident that has been resolved with the HTSB, you may answer ‘No’. Only select ‘Yes’ for new incidents.
- Have you ever had a professional license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent, suspended, revoked, sanctioned, or disciplined by receiving any other adverse action, restriction, or special condition?
- Have you ever been denied a professional license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent, even if the license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent was later issued with or without conditions or limitations?
- Have you ever surrendered or relinquished a professional license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent, following an allegation of misconduct, during an investigation into allegations of misconduct, or to avoid having adverse action taken on your license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent?
- Do you have any current investigative or disciplinary action pending against a professional license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent, or against an application for a professional license, certificate, permit, or *equivalent?
- Have you ever been dismissed, resigned, or retired from employment following an allegation of misconduct, during an investigation into allegations of misconduct, or to avoid being terminated?
- Have you been convicted or pled “nolo contendere” (no contest) to a felony or misdemeanor?
- Have you ever withdrawn or been dismissed from an educator preparation program following an allegation of misconduct, during an investigation into allegations of misconduct, or to avoid being expelled from a program?
*equivalent– may include any document authorizing a person to perform professional duties requiring a license issued by a state or jurisdiction, including but not limited to teachers, school librarians, or school counselors in a P-12 school setting.