After earning a Bachelor’s degree, the next step towards being qualified for a teaching career is obtaining certification. Teaching certification is awarded by a state department of education following completion of a teaching certification program and required testing. Teaching certification programs commonly include education-specific coursework and designated fieldwork. Once certification has been awarded, a prospective teacher can obtain a teaching credential or license from the state.
One of the most important things to remember about teaching certification programs is that they are governed by rules and requirements set on a state-by-state basis. Individual states may revise their certification requirements at any time, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the requirements for the state where you would like to obtain your teaching certification. The links below are provided to help you research certification programs for each state.
- Alabama Teaching Certification Programs: Alabama Department of Education
- Alaska Teaching Certification Programs: Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
- Arizona Teaching Certification Programs: Arizona Department of Education
- Arkansas Teaching Certification Programs: Arkansas Department of Education
- California Teaching Certification Programs: Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- Colorado Teaching Certification Programs: Colorado Department of Education
- Connecticut Teaching Certification Programs: Connecticut State Department of Education
- Delaware Teaching Certification Programs: Delaware Department of Education
- Washington D.C. Teaching Certification Programs: District of Columbia State Superintendent of Education
- Florida Teaching Certification Programs: Florida Department of Education
- Georgia Teaching Certification Programs: Georgia Professional Standards Commission
- Hawaii Teaching Certification Programs: Hawaii Teacher Standards Boards
- Idaho Teaching Certification Programs: Idaho State Department of Education
- Illinois Teaching Certification Programs: Illinois State Board of Education
- Indiana Teaching Certification Programs: Indiana Department of Education
- Iowa Teaching Certification Programs: Iowa Board of Educational Examiners
- Kansas Teaching Certification Programs: Kansas State Department of Education
- Kentucky Teaching Certification Programs: Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board
- Louisiana Teaching Certification Programs: Louisiana Department of Education
- Maine Teaching Certification Programs: State of Maine Department of Education
- Maryland Teaching Certification Programs: Maryland State Department of Education
- Massachusetts Teaching Certification Programs: Massachusetts Department of Education
- Michigan Teaching Certification Programs: Michigan Department of Education
- Minnesota Teaching Certification Programs: Minnesota Department of Education
- Mississippi Teaching Certification Programs: Mississippi Department of Education
- Missouri Teaching Certification Programs: Missouri Department of Education
- Montana Teaching Certification Programs: Montana Office of Public Instruction
- Nebraska Teaching Certification Programs: Nebraska Department of Education
- Nevada Teaching Certification Programs: Nevada Department of Education
- New Hampshire Teaching Certification Programs: New Hampshire Department of Education
- New Jersey Teaching Certification Programs: State of New Jersey Department of Education
- New Mexico Teaching Certification Programs: New Mexico Public Education Department
- New York Teaching Certification Programs: New York State Education Department
- North Carolina Teaching Certification Programs: Public Schools of North Carolina
- North Dakota Teaching Certification Programs: North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board
- Ohio Teaching Certification Programs: Ohio Department of Education
- Oklahoma Teaching Certification Programs: Oklahoma State Department of Education
- Oregon Teaching Certification Programs: Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
- Pennsylvania Teaching Certification Programs: Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Rhode Island Teaching Certification Programs: Rhode Island Department of Education
- South Carolina Teaching Certification Programs: South Carolina Department of Education
- South Dakota Teaching Certification Programs: South Dakota Department of Education
- Tennessee Teaching Certification Programs: Tennessee Department of Education
- Texas Teaching Certification Programs: Texas Education Agency
- Utah Teaching Certification Programs: Utah State Office of Education
- Vermont Teaching Certification Programs: State of Vermont Department of Education
- Virginia Teaching Certification Programs: Virginia Department of Education
- Washington Teaching Certification Programs: Washington Superintendent of Public Education
- West Virginia Teaching Certification Programs: West Virginia Department of Education
- Wisconsin Teaching Certification Programs: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Wyoming Teaching Certification Programs: Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board
