State Certification/Licensure

In order to be eligible to assume full teaching responsibilities, teachers must first earn an official "certificate" or "license" to practice in the state. (Some states use the term "license" and others refer to them as "certificates.") The certification/licensure process guarantees that educators meet minimum state standards for essential knowledge and teaching skills and that each student is served by professional staff.

Each state sets its own teacher certification/licensure requirements. Most states require that teacher candidates:

• have at least a bachelor's degree,
• complete an approved teacher preparation program (traditional or alternative),
• have a major in either education or the subject area which they plan to teach,
• meet the state's testing standards, and
• satisfy background clearance requirements to be eligible for a certificate/license.

Links to SREB State and Related Resources

There are usually three different routes by which a candidate can earn a certificate/license in a given state:

• Traditional Route to Certification - For new teachers who graduate with an education-related bachelor's degree from a traditional teacher preparation program
• Reciprocity: Transferring your Certification from State to State - For veteran teachers transferring to a new state
• Alternative Certification / Lateral Entry - For "career changers" with a bachelor's degree in a field other than education