1/5 Service Credit

The 1/5 service credit allows teachers working in at-risk schools, in schools not making adequate yearly progress, or in hard-to-fill subject areas to earn 1.2 years of retirement for each year worked.  More than 6,000 of Nevada’s teachers received the 1/5 service credit last year. 

Governor Gibbons is proposing to do away with the incentive altogether.  The Nevada State Education Association supports the continuation and modification of the 1/5 service credit program.   

• The current program encourages veteran teachers to work in at-risk schools.
• The current program encourages teachers to become qualified in hard-to-fill positions.
• Many NSEA members have been vocal in their support for the program.
• When there are nearly 500 teaching vacancies in Clark County alone it is not responsible to be cutting incentives to attract and retain quality teachers to our state.  

The current system requires a teacher to work in Nevada for five years and be vested in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).  NSEA supports the following changes to the current program:

• Expansion to all licensed personnel and not just classroom teachers.
• Change 1/5 service credit to a cash equivalent—this will allow licensed personnel who are not vested in PERS to receive the incentive.
• Anyone currently receiving the incentive will have the option to continue to receive 1/5 credit or they may choose the cash equivalent.