Key Takeaways:
- High school teachers must earn a bachelor’s degree in education, often with a specialization in a content area.
- Completion of supervised teaching and passing state-specific licensure exams are mandatory for certification.
- Some states require a master’s degree for advanced licensure; ongoing education is essential for career advancement.
Becoming a high school teacher brings a wide range of benefits, from enjoying good salaries to doing good things for society. The qualifications for high school teachers are relatively easy to meet, too, particularly if you’re determined to enter the profession.
General Steps Towards The Correct Qualifications for High School Teachers
Aspiring teachers across the United States are well-advised to take note of the following common steps in order to set them up for the proper qualifications for high school teachers.
Featured Programs
1. Earn a bachelor’s in education degree from an accredited program.
Every state requires aspiring high school teachers to possess at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in secondary education. Check with state authorities for specialization requirements in a specific content area, such as science, math, or English. Montana, Nebraska, and New Jersey are among the states that require aspiring teachers to major in a content area.
We strongly suggest earning your bachelor’s degree from an academic program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
You may be asking, “How to get my teaching degree if I already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field?” You can earn a master’s degree in education with a concentration in your preferred content area. Yet another route is earning a bachelor’s degree in your chosen content area, such as biology or chemistry, and completing the required education coursework.
2. Complete student-supervised teaching requirements.
All states require aspiring teachers to complete a specific number of hours of supervised teaching experiences, although the exact number differs. Nevada, for example, requires at least eight semester hours of supervised teaching experience.
3. Pass your state’s specific teacher licensure or certification exams.
Be aware of the specific exams as well as their general content, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and exam dates. Most of the Praxis Subject Tests, for example, are computer-delivered (i.e., can be taken remotely or in person).
4. Complete the teacher licensure or certification requirements in your state.
Every state has its specific documentation requirements, but the most common are a completed application form and application fee, a copy of the required exam scores, and college transcripts.
5. Apply for high school teaching jobs.
With your teaching credentials, you can apply for teaching jobs in high schools – and with the current teacher shortage, it should be easier than expected.
Depending on your state, you may be required to earn a master’s degree to earn a professional teaching license or certification. Examples include Connecticut, Iowa and Georgia.
You must also comply with the renewal requirements of your initial teaching license, although the number of years varies between states. Maryland, Mississippi, and Michigan, for example, have a five-year duration for initial teaching certification, while it’s 1 to 2 years for Minnesota, depending on tier. Continuing education is a must for high school teachers in all states.
Related Articles:
Do I Have What It Takes to Be a Good Teacher? Some Good Teacher Attributes You Need to Have!
7 Key Challenges Facing Early Childhood Education Teachers
Notes on Qualifications for High School Teachers
You may also be asking, “I want to become a teacher. Where do I start?” If you want to test the waters, you can start exploring the two-year teaching degrees first. Begin with an associate degree in education, which can open doors to job opportunities for preschool teachers, teaching assistants, and substitute teachers.
Then, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in compliance with the minimum academic requirement for a teaching license or certification. You will find degree completion programs with a two-year time-to-completion in this regard.
If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in education, you can also complete a master’s in education with a licensure program. Check out the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Tennessee, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for this purpose.
Yet another common question is, “Can I become a teacher online?” Yes, you can. The University of Missouri—Columbia, Arizona State University, and Texas Tech University offer online bachelor’s degrees in education programs.
What about a master’s teacher certification? Yes, of course, you can. You must possess a master’s degree, at least five years of relevant teaching experience, and proof of excellence, among others.
Which is better: A master’s in education vs. a teaching certificate? You can pursue both credentials, particularly if you’re interested in career advancement, such as a master teacher position.
Is the national teaching credential worth pursuing? Yes, if you’re planning on an interstate teaching career. See the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) national teaching credential. As you can tell, there are a wide array of qualifications for high school teachers, but you don’t need to check every single box in order to start your teaching career.
State-by-State Licensure Requirements
| State | Minimum Degree Required | Supervised Clinical Practice Required | Basic Skills Exam | Subject Area Competence Exam |
| Alabama | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | ACT WorkKeys System | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Alaska | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Your choice of approved basic competency exam | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Arizona | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment or National Evaluation Series | Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment or National Evaluation Series |
| Arkansas | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests |
| California | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Choose from any of the approved basic competency exams | California Subject Examinations for Teachers |
| Colorado | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | Choose from any of the approved basic competency exams |
| Connecticut | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is required for a professional teacher’s certificate | Yes | SAT, ACT, GRE, or Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing tests | Your choice in an approved content exam |
| Delaware | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages tests or Praxis Subject tests |
| Florida | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | GRE General Test or Florida General Knowledge Test | Florida Subject Area Test and Florida Professional Educator Test |
| Georgia | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is required for advanced/lead professional certification | Yes | None | Any approved content exam and Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment |
| Hawaii | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is required for advanced license | Yes | An approved option in certification | An approved option in certification |
| Idaho | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Illinois | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | Illinois Licensure Testing System tests and edTPA |
| Indiana | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | State-approved pedagogy/developmental exam | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Iowa | Bachelor’s degree; a master’s degree is required for a Master Educator license | Yes | State-approved pedagogy exam | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Kansas | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Kentucky | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is compulsory for Rank II certification | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing tests or GRE | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Louisiana | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is compulsory for a Level III Professional Certificate. | Yes | SAT, ACT, or Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exams |
| Maine | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Maryland | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is compulsory for the Advanced Professional Certificate | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing tests or ACT or SAT or GRE | American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages tests or Praxis Subject |
| Massachusetts | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is required for a professional license | Yes | None | Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (or similar approved exams), applicants must also pass the Sheltered English Immersion MTEL or another endorsement route |
| Michigan | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree can lead to professional certification | Yes | Michigan Test for Teacher Certification | MTTC content exams |
| Minnesota | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | SAT, GRE Praxis Core, ACT Plus Writing, or Minnesota NES Essential Academic Skills exam | Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examination and MTLE Pedagogy exam |
| Mississippi | Bachelor’s degree, but a Class AA license requires a master’s degree | Yes | SAT, ACT, or Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam |
| Missouri | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Missouri General Education Assessment | Missouri Content Assessment and Missouri Educator Evaluation System for Teacher Candidates exam |
| Montana | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree can lead to a Class 1 Educator License | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Nebraska | Bachelor’s degree, but a Professional Certificate requires a master’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Nevada | Bachelor’s degree, but a Professional License requires a master’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests: secondary and middle school teacher applicants also complete the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam |
| New Hampshire | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | ACT, SAT, GRE, Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing exams | Praxis Subject Tests and Pearson’s Foundations of Reading Test |
| New Jersey | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | SAT, ACT, GRE, or Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading and Writing exams | Praxis Subject Tests and edTPA |
| New Mexico | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree can lead to a Level 3 license | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching |
| New York | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Educating All Students Test | Content Special Test and edTPA |
| North Carolina | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests, Pearson’s Foundations of Reading Test, and Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers or edTPA |
| North Dakota | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Ohio | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Assessment of Professional Knowledge or edTPA | American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages tests or Praxis Subject |
| Oklahoma | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Oklahoma General Education Test | Oklahoma Subject Area Tests and Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination |
| Oregon | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree can lead to a Professional Teaching License | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests and Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment, Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments or |
| Pennsylvania | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Choose from an approved verification option | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Rhode Island | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree can lead to an Advanced Educator Certificate | Yes | None | An approved content exam and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching |
| South Carolina | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests and choose either Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching, edTPA, or PPAT |
| South Dakota | Bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree can lead to an Advanced Teaching Certificate | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests and a choice between PPAT and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching |
| Tennessee | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching |
| Texas | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | An approved content exam and an approved pedagogy test |
| Utah | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | An approved content exam and either the PPAT or edPTA exam |
| Vermont | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Virginia | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment | Praxis Series Reading for Virginia Educators or Praxis Subject Tests |
| Washington | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Washington Educator Skills Tests – Basic | WEST – Endorsements/National Evaluation Series |
| Washington, DC. | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching |
| West Virginia | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | Praxis Core Mathematics, Reading, and Writing | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Wisconsin | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | Praxis Subject Tests |
| Wyoming | Bachelor’s degree | Yes | None | None in general, but certain endorsements require Praxis Subject Tests |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifications for high school teachers in the USA?
- Bachelor’s degree
- Completion of teacher preparation program, if applicable
- Secure a state-issued license or certification
What are the requirements to be a teacher in my state?
Your state has its specific requirements, and you can check them at its State Department of Education websites or by asking your local school district
How hard is it to be a high school teacher?
Being a high school teacher has its fair share of challenges, but just how challenging it is will largely depend on your perspective.
Do you need a PhD to be a high school teacher?
No, only a bachelor’s degree is required.