If you are an aspiring educator located in or moving to the "First State," there are multiple ways to earn a Delaware teacher certification and license. All teachers in Delaware must have a Bachelor's degree. While a degree in education simplifies the process, prospective educators can still become qualified to teach through alternative routes to licensure by having a degree in another field of expertise or 30 credit hours in that field. If you already have a teaching license in another state, you can streamline your transition through the Delaware teaching certification reciprocity program.
Delaware qualifies teachers through licenses and certification. There are three license types based on level of experience: initial, continuing, and advanced. There are also three types of certificates an educator can hold: standard, emergency, and a Certificate of Eligibility. A Delaware teacher only maintains one license at any given time but can possess multiple certificates. Along with obtaining a license and certification, there are a few other steps to becoming a teacher in Delaware. Candidates must pass state-level background investigations, complete student teaching opportunities, and pass the Praxis test in their specified teaching subject. This article will explain Delaware teacher preparation programs, certification requirements, required tests, licensing steps, Delaware Alternative Teacher Certification, and employment statistics. If you want to learn how to become a teacher in Delaware, there are many paths you can choose to reach your goal.
Access thousands of practice questions so that there are no surprises on the exam
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create Account
The most typical route to becoming a teacher in Delaware is attending a 4-year university course while majoring in education. The approved Delaware institutions providing teacher preparation programs are the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Relay Graduate School of Education, Wesley University, and Wilmington University. These organizational programs offer prospective educators the opportunity to participate in relevant coursework, conduct student teaching, and sometimes practice for or take examinations necessary to earn their Delaware teacher certification.
Alternative routes to certification enable candidates without an education degree to utilize their other degree or field experience and teach full-time while taking classes. Twelve programs offer alternative paths to certification, including regular content, special education, and other areas of expertise. The programs provide distance, blended, or on-site learning, depending on your preference. They also offer an initial certification or an additional certification. No matter your situation, there is an alternative route to certification for you. The twelve Delaware institutions that offer alternative certification programs are as follows:
The Delaware Alternative Teacher Certification programs offer a similar program structure as the traditional teacher preparation programs in Delaware. These programs offer an applicable curriculum, assessments, mentoring, student teaching opportunities, and student teaching evaluations.
Due to the nature of teaching, the state of Delaware also has its own teaching certification requirements. The state requires that all candidates receive a negative Tuberculin Test and a background check through the state police, child abuse registry, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountFor Delaware teacher certification requirements, prospective teachers complete coursework, fieldwork, and student teaching. Coursework includes university requirements (such as math and technology) and about 40-45 credits of English classes. Each candidate must complete a total of at least 120 credits to earn their Bachelor's Degree from any given university. Teacher certification programs also offer fieldwork opportunities, giving candidates real-world experience working in a classroom or helping mentor/teach children. Some colleges integrate fieldwork into their course catalog. The capstone or culminating project for aspiring educators is student teaching. Student teaching enables the candidates to utilize the skills they have developed in their courses and fieldwork and apply them to real-life teaching. Student teaching enables prospective educators the opportunity to experience their future profession in a learning environment and is the final formal step in prerequisite coursework for Delaware teachers.
Delaware requires all educators to take the Praxis Test in their specified licensure area to be qualified to teach under Delaware teaching certification requirements. Not all specified areas have approved Praxis tests, however. If the tests are unavailable in a specific topic, then there is no requirement for the educator to take an exam in that area. The Praxis Core include a core reading, mathematics, and writing assessment. This test gauges the comprehensive knowledge of those entering a teacher preparation program. Praxis also offers subject assessments and specific content knowledge exams, including but not limited to early education, secondary education, world languages, etc. Praxis tests are taken online with a proctor or at a Praxis testing center.
Prospective teachers officially apply for their licensure and certifications online through the Delaware Educator Data System (DEEDS). Candidates will create an account and apply for their desired license and certificate, paying a $100 application that is reimbursable upon employment. Candidates must submit their official transcripts, test scores, and proof of student teaching. For reciprocity applications, the candidate must also submit their out-of-state credentials and verification of experience. Once all these steps are complete, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) will review the application. The DDOE will inform the applicant via email if they met certification requirements or the steps to take if they did not meet certification requirements. Although there is no listed timeframe from the DDOE on how long an application takes to process, the Delaware Educator Data System recently updated its system to enhance application monitoring. The DEEDS update allows candidates to track their live application status 24/7 and upload missing documentation quickly.
Delaware offers Alternative Routes to Certification (ARTC) programs, meaning prospective teachers can still become educators without having majored in education. To be eligible for ARTC programs, candidates must have at least 24 credits or pass the Praxis Subject Assessment and gain a state-approved letter of eligibility. Candidates accepted into ARTC programs have two years to complete the necessary obligations associated with the program. Program requirements include coursework, assessments, and teaching evaluations. Alternative Routes to Certification programs are helpful for many candidates because it allows them to practice their teaching skills while also earning their licensure and certification. For the initial applications, candidates must submit official transcripts, test scores, and educator acknowledgment statements. Once candidates complete the ARTC program, they must submit all of the previous documents along with a letter of completion from the Delaware Alternate Routes Program and confirmation of completing a minimum of two evaluations. Delaware Alternative Teacher Certification follows the same application process as the normal Delaware teaching certification process. Please refer to the section above ("Delaware Teacher Licensing Steps") for more details on the application process.
The outlook for Delaware educators is optimistic. An average salary for an educator in Delaware is $63,768, and the state offers pay increases for experience and continued education. Education jobs in the state are expected to grow in the future by 6.7%. For the 215 public Delaware schools (including magnet, charter, vocational for K-12, and special education), there are 9900 public school teachers and approximately 138,414 students. Delaware manages teachers' resources by mandating a classroom size of 1:22. Delaware is one of eight states that funds public schools based on teacher needs over student needs, with 70% of funding focused on educators and administration salaries. As of December 2021, there were over 550 job openings for teaching in Delaware. Vacancy opportunities included athletics, elementary school, middle school, high school, paraeducator, school nutrition, and more. If you are pursuing how to become a teacher in Delaware, there are many routes to Delaware teacher certification and options to teach afterward.
Bryan McMahon, M.A. is a high school biology and special education teacher in New Jersey with over 14 years of experience. He has hundreds of hours of experience tutoring aspiring teachers to take the CSET/CBEST exam suite. He has successfully passed the science and special education Praxis exams. Bryan completed a B.S. in Education from Seton Hall University and an M.A. in Teaching from Mangrove College.
 |
Complete the practice test below to test your knowledge.
Choose your answers below. Complete the 15 questions then click "See Results."
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create Account
