Teacher Certification & Licensure
Teacher Certification
Certification is the process by which colleges or universities grant professional recognition to a graduate of their program who has completed required coursework in a particular subject area.
Teaching Credential
A teaching credential is the license conferred by a state to teachers who have completed certain state mandated requirements such as education courses and passed state mandated teaching examinations.
Teachers may earn a credential that allows them to teach the early childhood grades (usually nursery school through grade three); the elementary grades (grades one through six or eight); the middle grades (grades five through eight); a secondary education subject area (usually grades seven through twelve); or a special subject, such as reading or music (usually grades kindergarten through twelve).
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Nationally Certified Educator
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers voluntary national certification for teachers in kindergarten through grade twelve. All states recognize national certification and many states and school districts provide special benefits to teachers holding national certification such as higher salaries. Additionally, many states allow nationally certified teachers to carry a license from one state to another.
To become nationally certified, teachers must compile a portfolio showing their work in the classroom and pass a written assessment and evaluation of their teaching knowledge. Currently, teachers may become certified in one of seven areas, which are based on the age of the students and, in some cases, subject area. For example, teachers may obtain a certificate for teaching English language arts to early adolescents (ages 11-15), or they may become certified as early childhood generalists.
Emergency Teaching Credential
Because of critical teacher shortages, some states extend temporary and emergency licenses that bypass state licensing requirements. These often are granted to individuals to teach in high-need subject areas, such as mathematics, science, special education or bilingual education, or for high-need geographic areas such as urban schools.
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Elementary vs. Secondary Teaching Credentials
Elementary school teaching credentials are usually generalist, which means the teacher can teach a wide variety of subjects. Middle and secondary school teachers specialize in a specific subject, such as English, Spanish, mathematics, history or biology.
Aspiring secondary school teachers either major in the subject they plan to teach while also taking education courses, or major in education and take subject courses.
Endorsements
Endorsements qualify middle school and high school teachers to teach subjects that are not covered in their teaching credential. Generally an undergraduate major meets the requirement of a teaching endorsement. Otherwise teachers will need to take several required courses to qualify for an endorsement in a particular subject.
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Teaching Credential Requirements by State
Each state sets its own requirements for certification, but most require teachers to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college and most require teachers to pass a state-licensing exam. Most states have several levels of credentials for teachers and varying certifications based on the age group or subject area taught.
In order to find out, you'll need to research what your state currently requires for a teaching credential. Find your state's department of education website.
Teaching Credentials from Another State
Many states have reciprocity agreements that make it easier for teachers licensed in one state to become licensed in another. There are over 40 states that have agreed to allow teachers to transfer their license from one state to another.
However, some states consider this transfer only provisional and require individuals to earn the new state's license within the first couple of years of teaching in the new state. To find out if your state has a reciprocity agreement, view our list of state department of education websites.
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Teaching Credentials from Another Country
Most states do not accept licensure from foreign countries, but you may qualify for a provisional teaching certificate, which allows you to teach while completing the education courses that you lack. After you complete your required coursework you'll become fully licensed, which may take only one or two semesters of full-time study.
Teaching Credential Requirements for Private Schools
Private schools are not regulated by state governments and can set their own requirements. While some private schools require credentials to be hired, many do not. You'll need to contact private schools directly to learn what is required to teach in a particular school.
Teaching Credential Requirements for Charter Schools
Charter schools are independent public schools, each governed by a public board of trustees that has the authority to hire teachers according to their own established standards. In some states, charter schools can hire teachers regardless of state certification and licensure requirements. In other states, charter schools are like district schools held to the same state requirements to hire certified and/or licensed teachers.