Become a Teacher

Today's classrooms present teachers with more challenges and therefore demand a deeper understanding of successful classroom practices. Dedication and a desire to help children are important, but teachers also need a strong academic background and solid professional preparation.

Whether you are a high school student exploring the possibility of entering the teaching profession, a college student on his/her way to becoming a teacher or a professional looking to change careers, below you will find the necessary steps and websites that will guide you to become a teacher.

Chose a Pathway

There are traditional and non-traditional pathways to teaching.

1. Four- or five-year college degree programs in elementary education or secondary education which lead to certification upon graduation. These programs can vary greatly depending on individual university requirements. 

2. Post-collegiate programs for people who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to enter the teaching field, generally for one year to obtain certification. 

3. Alternative licensing and certification programs in states where there is a shortage of teachers in a particular field. These programs tend to be short-term and intensive in order to get professionals into the classroom quickly. (See below for more information about these programs.)

To explore educational institutions outside your state, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) publishes the Annual Guide to Accredited Institutions that describes the institutions it accredits. Copies are $15 each.

Teaching Certification Requirements

Contact the state Department of Education where you would most like to teach and ask for information on requirements for certification (they should be able to mail you an information packet).

Teaching Certification Application

Upon completion of your state's certification requirements, submit your application for certification to the state. Usually, you can complete and submit a form during the final semester of your program to your school, which will prompt a record review and the school will then forward your application to the state's department of education.

State Teaching information links

Alaska Teacher Certification http://www.educ.state.ak.us 
Arizona Teacher Certification http://www.ade.state.az.us/certification 
Arkansas Teacher Certification http://arkedu.state.ar.us/teachers/index.html 
California Teacher Certification http://www.ctc.ca.gov 
Colorado Teacher Certification http://www.cde.state.co.us:80/index_license.htm 
Connecticut Teacher Certification http://www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/cert/index.htm 
Delaware Teacher Certification http://www.teachdelaware.com 
D.C. Teacher Certification http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/home.html 
Florida Teacher Certification http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00022/home0022.htm 
Georgia Teacher Certification http://www.gapsc.com 
Hawaii Teacher Certification http://doe.k12.hi.us/personnel/teachinginhawaii.htm 
Idaho Teacher Certification http://www.sde.state.id.us/certification 
Illinois Teacher Certification http://www.isbe.state.il.us/teachers 
Indiana Teacher Certification http://www.ai.org/psb 
Iowa Teacher Certification http://www.state.ia.us/educate/programs/boee/index.html 
Kansas Teacher Certification http://www.ksbe.state.ks.us/cert/cert.html 
Kentucky Teacher Certification http://www.kyepsb.net 
Louisiana Teacher Certification http://www.doe.state.la.us/DOE/asps/home.asp?I=CERTIFICATION 
Maine Teacher Certification http://www.state.me.us/education/cert/cert.htm 
Maryland Teacher Certification http://www.msde.state.md.us/certification/index.htm 
Massachusetts Teacher Certification http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html 
Michigan Teacher Certification http://www.michigan.gov/mde/016077-140-5234_5683_14795---00.html 
Minnesota Teacher Certification http://education.state.mn.us/html/intro_licensure.htm 
Mississippi Teacher Certification http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/license 
Missouri Teacher Certification http://services.dese.state.mo.us/divteachqual/teachcert 
Montana Teacher Certification http://www.opi.state.mt.us/cert/index.html 
Nebraska Teacher Certification http://www.nde.state.ne.us/TCERT/TCERT.HTML 
Nevada Teacher Certification http://www.nde.state.nv.us/licensure 
New Hampshire Teacher Certification http://www.state.nh.us/doe/Certification/teacher.htm 
New Jersey Teacher Certification http://www.state.nj.us/njded/educators/license 
New Mexico Teacher Certification http://sde.state.nm.us/divisions/ais/licensure/index.html 
New York Teacher Certification http://www.nysed.gov/tcert/homepage.htm 
North Carolina Teacher Certification http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/licensure/lifaq.htm 
North Dakota Teacher Certification http://www.state.nd.us/espb 
Ohio Teacher Certification http://www.ode.state.oh.us/teaching-profession/Teacher/Certification_Licensure/default.asp 
Oklahoma Teacher Certification http://sde.state.ok.us/home/defaultie.html 
Oregon Teacher Certification http://www.ous.edu/aca/tchred.htm 
Pennsylvania Teacher Certification http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/site/default.asp 
Rhode Island Teacher Certification http://www.ridoe.net/teacher_cert/Default.htm 
South Carolina Teacher Certification http://www.scteachers.org/index.cfm 
South Dakota Teacher Certification http://www.state.sd.us/state/executive/deca/account/certif.htm 
Tennessee Teacher Certification http://www.state.tn.us/education/lic_home.htm 
Texas Teacher Certification http://www.sbec.state.tx.us 
Utah Teacher Certification http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/cert/require/reqs.htm 
Vermont Teacher Certification http://www.state.vt.us/educ 
Virginia Teacher Certification http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html 
Washington Teacher Certification http://www.k12.wa.us/cert 
West Virginia Teacher Certification http://wvde.state.wv.us/certification 
Wisconsin Teacher Certification http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlsis/tel/licguide.html 
Wyoming Teacher Certification http://www.k12.wy.us/ptsb/index.html