By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Irene Abrego Nicolet, PhD, NCSP, LSSP, Vice President and Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Reading Time: 9 minutes
Teaching usually follows a clear sequence: earn a degree, complete a state-approved preparation program, finish your student teaching requirement, pass your certification exams and pursue licensure.
What varies is the detail. Each state sets its own rules, and the grade level and subject area you choose shape everything from your coursework to your exams.
Discover what each stage entails, including what people with an existing bachelor’s degree can do differently, so you can weigh program format before committing.
To teach in a public school, you generally need three things: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a state-approved teacher preparation program and a state-issued teaching license.
Each one builds on the last, and most states will not issue a license until all three are in place.
The specific requirements vary by state, so it is advisable to check with your state education agency before committing to a program. The U.S. Department of Education’s state contacts page is a good starting point for information. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, you may qualify for an alternative route to licensure.
Private schools are a different story. They set their own hiring standards and are not subject to state licensure requirements. Many hire teachers without a state-issued license, though it varies by school policy.
If you’re considering a private school, confirm their requirements directly with the institution.
The first thing to decide on your path to becoming a teacher is what you want to teach and who you want to teach it to.
Those decisions shape your degree program, your certification exams and where you end up doing your student teaching. Consider your interests early and the rest of the path becomes a lot easier to navigate.
Deciding between elementary, middle school and high school is more consequential than it might seem. Each level comes with its own preparation requirements and certification exams, and the classroom experience you build along the way will look very different depending on which one you choose.
Special education follows a separate path in some states. Depending on where you plan to teach, you may need a standalone special education credential or an endorsement added to another teaching license.
Once you have settled on your grade level, the next step is completing your degree alongside a state-approved teacher preparation program.
For context, a teacher preparation program is structured coursework and supervised classroom experience that gets you ready to teach. Think pedagogy, child development and classroom management.
First-time college students generally complete the preparation program as part of their bachelor’s degree, either through an education major or a subject major with teacher preparation built in.
However, before enrolling, make sure the program is state-approved and check how it arranges supervised classroom placements, since this part of the training takes place in person even if your coursework is online.
Some states and programs also set an entry requirement before you can begin teacher preparation: a basic skills test covering reading, writing and mathematics, such as Praxis Core. Where it applies, you’ll need a passing score to be admitted, so check whether your program requires it and plan for it early.
Next is student teaching, a supervised period you will spend in a real classroom alongside a cooperating teacher and a program supervisor. You will plan and deliver lessons, manage a classroom and work directly with students while receiving structured feedback throughout.
Programs typically run for a full term, though the exact duration depends on your state and program. The supervised hours you log during this period are what make you eligible to apply for a license.
One thing worth clarifying if you’re studying online is that the student teaching component always happens in person. How your program helps you arrange that placement varies. Some coordinate directly with local schools, others guide you through securing one yourself.
Now you need to pass your state’s certification exams before you can pursue licensure. Which ones apply to you depends on where you plan to teach and the grade level or subject you have chosen.
Depending on where you plan to become licensed, you may need to take Praxis assessments as part of the certification process. Requirements vary by state and territory and may include a foundational teaching skills assessment, a subject-specific content assessment or both.
Elementary candidates typically take a multi-subject assessment covering literacy, mathematics and science. Secondary candidates take a subject-specific test aligned to their teaching area.
Some states use their own assessments instead, such as the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE), Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) or TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards).
Some states also require a teaching performance assessment, such as edTPA, on top of the written exams. Instead of multiple-choice questions, this one asks you to document your own teaching: you submit lesson plans, short video clips from your classroom and written reflections, usually during student teaching. Adoption has been shifting, and several states have moved away from edTPA in recent years, so confirm whether your state still requires it.
If you’re unsure which exam applies to you, the Praxis state requirements page lets you search by state and see exactly what is needed.
A criminal background check is a standard part of the licensure process in every state. You will be fingerprinted and those prints are run through both the FBI database and your state’s criminal history records.
Some states ask for it as part of your licensure application, others require it earlier, sometimes before or during student teaching.
It is worth finding out when your state expects it so you’re not caught off guard. Your preparation program will usually walk you through the process when the time comes.
Once you’ve completed your preparation program, passed your exams and cleared your background check, you’re ready to apply for your teaching license through your state education agency.
Most states issue a provisional or initial license first. With it, you teach while you work toward the requirements for a standard or professional license, which generally involves a set number of years in the classroom and any additional state requirements.
The U.S. Department of Education maintains a professional licensure resource that links to each state’s education agency, which is helpful if you’re considering teaching in a different state down the line.
Teaching licenses must be renewed periodically, and most states require educators to complete a certain number of professional development hours or credits.
Accepted activities often include graduate courses, workshops, curriculum work or subject-area certifications.
Once you’re licensed and teaching, going further in your career often means investing in graduate study. The focus shifts from getting into the classroom to growing within it. Capella University offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Education for licensed educators who want to keep developing their practice while continuing to teach.
The program offers specializations across areas, including curriculum and instruction, instructional design, educational technology and leadership in educational administration, so you can focus your graduate study on the direction your career is already heading.
If you have a master’s degree and are ready to further your education, Capella’s Doctor of Education (EdD) program is an online doctorate designed for experienced educators looking to step into leadership, policy or advanced practice roles.
Many states offer alternative certification routes for people who want to complete teacher preparation and pursue licensure without starting a second undergraduate degree. The route available to you depends on where you plan to teach and the degree you currently hold.
Post-baccalaureate programs are the most straightforward alternative route. You complete the teacher preparation coursework, fulfill your supervised teaching requirement and apply for licensure, all before stepping into a classroom as the teacher of record.
If you’re aiming to teach at the secondary level, you will likely need to pass a content area exam to demonstrate subject knowledge, even if your existing degree is in that field. Think of it as the state verifying that what you studied translates to what you will teach. Program length varies, so ask any program you’re considering for a realistic timeline based on your starting point.
Some states let you start teaching before you have fully completed your preparation program. Under a provisional or intern license, you’re in a real classroom from early on, taking on teaching responsibilities while completing your remaining coursework and working with a mentor alongside you.
It’s a demanding arrangement. You’re learning and teaching at the same time. But if you want to get into the classroom sooner, it can be a practical way to move forward. Availability varies by state, so check whether your state offers this route before factoring it into your plans.
District-based routes work differently from the other two. Instead of applying to a preparation program independently, you’re brought in through a partnership between a school district and a program provider. The district places you in a classroom under an experienced mentor while you complete your certification requirements alongside the job.
These routes tend to be concentrated in areas where teacher shortages are most acute, particularly in high-need subjects like mathematics, science and special education and in districts that have struggled to attract candidates through traditional channels. They are not available everywhere, but if you’re open to where you teach, they’re worth looking into.
Once you’re licensed and teaching, graduate study becomes a way to keep growing without stepping away from the classroom.
Capella University’s online MS in Education offers specializations in curriculum and instruction, instructional design, educational technology and more, taught by expert faculty who have experience in the field. Courses are built around skills you can apply directly in your classroom. Available in the GuidedPath learning format, the program follows a term-based schedule with instructor feedback and peer collaboration built in.
If you’re looking to move toward leadership or administration, the EdD program focuses on organizational change and educational leadership. The EdD is available in GuidedPath as well as the FlexPath learning format, where you set your own deadlines and move through coursework at your own pace.
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