(1) In addition to certificates issued pursuant to section 79-806 to 79-815, the Commissioner of Education shall, subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, issue an alternative certificate to teach on a full-time basis to any applicant who:

(a) Possesses a baccalaureate degree; and

(b) Has successfully completed an alternative teacher certification program operated by an organization that satisfies the following criteria:

(i) The organization operates in at least five states;

(ii) The organization has operated an alternative teacher certification program for at least ten years; and

(iii) The program requires candidates to pass a subject area examination and the pedagogy examination, known as the professional teaching knowledge examination, to receive a certificate under such program.

(2) A certificate issued under this section only authorizes an individual to teach the subject and educational levels for which the individual has successfully completed an alternative teacher certification program.

(3) Issuance of an alternative certificate to teach pursuant to this section shall be subject to a criminal history record information check pursuant to section 79-814.01 and payment of any required fees.

(4) An individual who receives an alternative certificate to teach pursuant to this section shall:

(a) Participate in a school district clinical experience for one semester in such individual's first semester of employment as a teacher pursuant to this section; and

(b) Be subject to the same certification criteria as an individual who completes a traditional teacher preparation program if converting the alternative certificate to teach to a standard certificate to teach.