Teaching Requirements in Nebraska, NE

Nebraska, ranking 38th in population, has 285,542 students. There are 1,294 public schools, broken down into 805 elementary, 105 middle, and 308 high schools. Nebraska has remained right around the national average in the SAT’s, last years students scoring an average 501 in critical reading, 515 in math and 493 in writing. Nebraska has a graduation rate of 83.8% which is above the national average.

Nebraska Teacher Certification Requirements:

  • Class 2 Standard Teaching Certificate (valid for 5 years)
  • Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university
  • Complete an approved Nebraska Teacher Preparation Program
  • Take and pass the Basic Skills Test (PPST)
  • Complete Special Education training
  • Complete Human Relations training
  • Fulfill state fingerprinting requirements
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Complete the certification application packet, including transcripts, certifications, and references
  • Pay any applicable fees

Some districts may require additional training and certification.

Nebraska Teacher Employment Outlook:

Since coming out of the recession Nebraska has been putting more funding towards their education budget. As such, current teachers have seen moderate salary increases and new teachers are being hired. The state has seen average population growth, so the continued need of teachers in order to maintain an acceptable student teacher ratio is almost guaranteed. Nebraska, like most states, does value highly qualified teacher’s, a status which can be obtain through experience, higher degree of qualification, and receiving National Board Certification. The teaching industry has proved to be a relatively stable job market, and even through the budget cuts of the recession teachers have faired well. As in any state, it is a good idea to have a Masters or PhD as that is certainly an eye catcher for prospective employers, as well as providing increased salary opportunities.

Nebraska Teacher Salary Expectation:

Nebraska has remained 38th in ranking for the second year in a row when it comes to teachers salaries, the average salary being $43,943 in 2009-2010 (according to bls.gov). In the last three years teachers in Nebraska have seen an average 4.21% wage increase. Compared to the average wage and cost of living in Nebraska, teachers do make above the state average, and increased pay is possible by getting higher degrees of qualification or National Board Certification.