Find an Education Path For Teaching in Idaho, (ID)

If you decide that you want to be a teacher, there are certain steps to follow. The first step depends on where you are now on the path toward reaching your goal. Please choose the highest level of education that you have achieved and we will guide you through the steps to take as you advance towards a teaching career in Idaho.

Choose Your Highest Level of Education

The information below will help you discover the steps you should take to become a teacher in Idaho.

If You Have a High School Diploma or a GED

After completing secondary school coursework, Idaho high school graduates and students with GED certificates can enter a two-year or community college to earn an Associate degree or certificate, or they can choose to apply directly to a four-year university. Two-year degrees or certificates in the field of education prepare students for careers in the childcare field. Academic Associate degrees offer curricula that fulfill requirements for future educators. These degree programs are designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education.

  1. Decide what grade level and subject area you are interested in teaching.
  2. Aspiring teachers can enroll in community colleges and earn Associate degrees. Some two-year colleges offer programs that lead to certification in the field of Early Childhood Education; others fulfill prerequisites for transferring to four-year colleges.
  3. Contact colleges that fit your needs, and request information to help you make a decision about what college to attend and what degree program to pursue.

If You Have Completed Some College or Earned an Associate’s Degree

One way to get on the path leading to becoming a teacher is to earn an Associate degree at a two-year college where you can complete prerequisites and general education coursework to move forward in your education. An Associate degree can be a major step toward acceptance into a Bachelor’s degree program at a four-year university. Students who are pursuing official certification or licensing to teach in Idaho must earn a Bachelor’s degree. Which steps you will need to take to advance toward your goal will depend in part on what age group, subject area or field of education you hope to teach. The steps below can help you make the appropriate choices.

  1. Many two-year and community colleges offer options to choose from for students who want to become educators. Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS) and other Associate degrees that focus on Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle or Secondary School Teacher Education provide college students with coursework and credits required to transfer into a four-year university or college Bachelor’s degree program. If your plan includes transferring from a two-year to a four-year college, make sure the two-year college you choose provides classes and credits that will satisfy necessary prerequisites.
  2. Investigate various state-approved Bachelor’s degree programs to find out which ones will accept transfer credits from the college you attended. Contact the schools that interest you to request more information.
  3. Some Associate degrees meet general core requirements for Idaho public universities and other state-accredited four-year colleges. When some students graduate from two-year or community college degree programs, they have completed half the coursework required for a Bachelor’s degree. This means students can enter four-year colleges as Juniors and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in only two years. Earning a Bachelor’s degree in an education-related major, will take you closer to your goal of becoming a teacher in Idaho.
  4. Some aspiring teachers who have earned Associate Degrees or credentials in Early Childhood Education choose to seek employment following their two-year college graduation. An Early Childhood Education certificate may qualify you to begin working with infants, toddlers and pre-school children as teaching assistants, para-educators, childcare specialists or teachers in Idaho Early Childhood Education centers and childcare facilities.

If You Have a Bachelor’s Degree

Earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with an education emphasis is a major step toward qualifying for a license to teach in Idaho. Your undergraduate major, as well the minor or content specialization you choose, will determine the next steps you need to take on the path toward teacher certification. The suggestions below are potential routes that can help you discover the best option to choose as you make progress toward meeting your career goals.

  1. If you have earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education that included an accredited Teacher Preparation Program, you have fulfilled the essential academic and teacher preparation requirements. Teacher Preparation Programs include classroom observations, fieldwork, and student teaching. Successful completion of all degree and teacher preparation requirements will qualify you to apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  2. Before prospective teachers can begin their student teaching experience and receive recommended for certification and program completion, they must fulfill the Idaho State Board of Education-approved assessment requirements. The two major teacher qualification tests include:
    • The Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching test and Content Knowledge exams in their chosen areas of certification must be taken and passed by all teaching candidates.
    • The Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment, a three-part assessment that measures a student’s ability to teach literacy, must be taken and passed by all those seeking certification in elementary education, special education and early childhood education.
    • Before entering a teacher education program, some institutions require students to take the Praxis I tests to assess their qualifications.
  3. Receiving a Bachelor’s degree with a major in liberal studies can be an important step toward certification as an Elementary level teacher. Some certification programs recommend the Liberal Arts major, because it prepares educators to teach in the many different subject areas taught in Elementary school classrooms.
  4. If you received your Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in the specific subject you wish to teach, you may have satisfied many academic requirements recommended by credential programs. Majoring in a specific subject taught at the secondary school level prepares individuals to become endorsed or qualified to teach high school and middle school classes in that content area.
  5. Teaching candidates who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in a major other than Education have the option of completing the Post-Baccalaureate Alternative Route Certification program. All requirements for this Alternative Route must be satisfied before applying for and being issued an Initial Standard Idaho Teaching Certificate. These requirements include:
    • Possessing a baccalaureate degree. from a regionally accredited college or university.
    • Satisfying the Teacher Preparation Institution entrance requirements.
    • Completing a Teacher Preparation Program.
    • Passing the appropriate Praxis II assessments for an Idaho teacher.
  6. Some aspiring educators may decide to continue their academic coursework and fulfill their teacher preparation requirements while studying for a Master degree in Education.
  7. When you have completed your a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program, fulfilled requirements of the Teacher Preparation Program, including student teaching, and passed the mandatory assessment exams, you will be qualified to submit the application to request issuance of the Initial Idaho Teaching Certificate. Applicants must also apply for a Standard Certificate in the specific subject and grade level in which they hope to be employed.

If You Have a Master’s Degree or are in a Master’s Degree program

Some Master’s degrees in Education are combined with an approved Teacher Preparation program that includes student teaching and fieldwork. Once you have finished all academic and experiential requirements and passed the state-mandated tests, you will be eligible to apply for Teacher Certification in Idaho. The benefits of earning Master’s degree in Education, along with completing a include the possibility that it may be easier to get a teaching job and the average salary for educators with Master’s degrees tends to be higher.

  1. Accredited universities with graduate programs in education offer a range of Master’s degrees that can lead you to a teaching license and a career as an educator. Master of Arts or Master of Science in Education, or Master of Education (M.Ed.) degrees may be offered concurrently with a Teacher Preparation program that is required for certification. You may also have the opportunity to focus on Elementary or Secondary Education, with an emphasis on the subject area you hope to teach.
  2. When you are ready to begin your teaching career, you must demonstrate that you have completed all requirements for certification or licensure. These steps include finishing required academic coursework, completing an approved Teacher Preparation Program, passing mandated tests, and fulfilling student teaching hours. The next step is to apply for your teaching certificate and begin searching for a job in the education field. Contact the Idaho Department of Education to request information and an application.
  3. Some people who have earned a Master’s degree in Education may decide to continue their education and pursue a doctorate degree. Idaho offers a variety of Educational Doctoral Programs. Gathering information about available doctorate degrees in your field or specialty will provide the information necessary to discover the best university and education program for you.