Teach.org

Licensing and Certification Requirements

To teach, you must have a teaching license/certification. Each state has its own certification requirements, which typically include the following components:

• Education: All states require that you have a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, and have completed a traditional or alternative teacher preparation program. To get your certification you will need to supply college transcripts and other verification.
• Testing: States require that you complete a general teaching certification exam, such as a Praxis test, as well as a content-specific test for the subject(s) that you want to teach.
• Student/Mentored Teaching: Many states require student teaching experience and/or first year mentoring of new teachers.
• Background Check: States conduct criminal background checks and may also confirm citizenship status.

Remember, states are responsible for teacher licensure/certification. Requirements vary from state to state.