2017 Legislative Changes to Academic Behavioral Strategist (ABS) Licensure

Requirements
TO: Special Education Directors

FROM: Special Education Division

DATE: August 8, 2017

The 2017 Omnibus Education Bill repealed requirements for individuals seeking to renew their Academic
Behavioral Strategist (ABS) license. Based on the Laws of Minnesota 2017, First Special Session, chapter
5, article 3, section 32, the Board of Teaching completed rulemaking on July 24, 2017, to amend
Minnesota Rule 8710.5050, subpart 4.

An ABS license, effective immediately, can be renewed without requiring the candidate to hold or be
recommended for licensure in another licensure field. Individuals with a current ABS license will be
receiving correspondence informing them that the following renewal condition, listed on their license,
will be removed and an updated license will be generated with no cost to them.

After five years of initial ABS licensure, renewal requires having or adding a full professional license in
one of the following licensure fields: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Developmental Disabilities (DD),
Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD) or Learning Disabilities (LD).

When adding a license, please refer to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website for a list
of approved "Special Ed: Added to ABS" licensure programs in the disability-specific area you are seeking
and request guidance from a Minnesota college or university offering the program to determine the
additional preparation needed.

If individuals are currently in an approved licensure program, to add one of the fields listed above, they
will need to decide whether to continue with the program. Adding a special education field through the
expedited “additional to ABS” licensure programs is still an option, but no longer required for licensure
renewal.

Questions or concerns? Contact Educator Licensing via email at​ mde.educator-licensing@state.mn.us​, or

by phone at 651-582-8691.

Becca Jackson, Minnesota Department of Education’s special education workforce specialist, welcomes
questions you may have related to workforce issues. Contact her ​via email​ or phone at 651-582-8409.