Teachers, lawyers, and doctors – as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act and confirmed by UC Office of Human Resources – are exempt by definition and are not subject to the salary threshold test. To be properly designated as a teacher according to the DOL, an employee must have actual instructional duties. Faculty and instructional academic staff whose primary duties are teaching are exempt regardless of their salaries. Those who support teaching activities without actual teaching interaction are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
In addition, Academic Administrative employees are not subject to the new salary threshold (29 CFR 541.600). These positions involve those “performing administrative functions directly related to academic instruction or training”, which entails work related to the academic operations and functions in a school rather than to administration along the lines of general business operations (Ex: Academic Adviser, Academic Coordinator, Academic Evaluator, etc.).
