BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Bellevue University has received approval to launch Nebraska’s first new teacher education program in 15 years.

Members of the Nebraska State Board of Education voted unanimously Friday to grant the university provisional approval for the new program.

It will be the 17th teacherprep program in the state. The last one to win final approval was the one at Grace University in 2001.

Bellevue University officials plan to offer a four-year program to certify secondary school teachers.

Provisional approval allows the university to ramp up the program over the next three years with state oversight.

Rod Hewlett, the university’s chief academic officer, said program’s first teachers will be certified 2 1/2 to 3 years from now.