You're considered to have
received full state certification even if you received your certification through alternative routes to certification or by passing the state teacher licensing examination.
have obtained
full state certification as a teacher or passed the state teacher licensing examination, and holds a license to teach in that state, except that when used with respect to any teacher teaching in a public charter school, the term means that the teacher meets the requirements set forth in the state's public charter school law; and
If you're a teacher at a public charter school, you are considered to have received
full state certification as a teacher if you meet the requirements set forth in the state's public charter school law.
Under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, to be considered highly qualified, teachers must have: 1) a bachelor's degree, 2)
full state certification or licensure, and 3) prove that they know each subject they teach.
While states have some flexibility in defining a highly qualified teacher, NCLB requires a bachelor's degree,
full state certification, and demonstration of the content knowledge in the subject taught.