House Bill No. 1394 amends the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, specifically Section 6-187, to exempt certain teacher candidates from the requirement to pass the professional education examination for standard certification. The bill stipulates that teachers who have successfully completed and graduated from an Oklahoma Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA) accredited higher education teacher preparation program will not be required to take this examination. Additionally, it maintains that no teacher candidate shall be eligible for certification until they have successfully completed the competency examination, with exceptions for those applying to the alternative placement program.

The bill also outlines provisions for non-native English speakers, allowing them to take the subject area competency examination in their native language if they are employed in a foreign language immersion program. Furthermore, it grants the State Board of Education the authority to issue emergency or provisional certificates under specific conditions and allows for exceptions to certification examination requirements for candidates who are deaf. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.