Are you considering a career as a teacher in Idaho but have no idea where to begin? Whether it is your first time trying to obtain a certification or you already hold one from another state, this article can assist you with the steps on how to become a teacher in Idaho. First, you will need to obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college. Specifically, you will need to participate in an educator preparation program or an Idaho alternative teacher certification program to meet the minimum requirements. If you already have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, but your major is not in education, you are eligible to receive an alternative Idaho teaching certificate through Teach for America or American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) courses. Finally, you will need to pass exams for Praxis 2, undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check, and complete a teacher application.
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This section will discuss the first steps on how to get a Praxis teacher certification in Idaho through the traditional pathway. Prospective teachers must pursue a bachelor's degree in an education field and complete an accredited Idaho teacher preparation program. Accreditation by both the Idaho State Board of Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation is a requirement for all Idaho teacher certification programs. Most teacher education programs combine classroom instruction with field experiences to complement coursework with practical application. The following seven Idaho institutions offer educator preparation programs:
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Create AccountThe Board of Education requires prospective teachers to hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution, along with the completion of an accredited teacher preparation program or approved alternative program, in order to receive an Idaho teacher certification. The Idaho teacher certification requirements for elementary and secondary schools in Idaho each include a certain number of academic credits and courses. Social science courses are required for educators at both the elementary and secondary levels. Elementary and secondary education courses both require prospective teachers to study subject matter related to elementary and secondary education. The curriculum for elementary education focuses on literacy and comprehensive skills, while secondary education emphasizes teacher development and instructional technology.
One of the primary Idaho teacher certification requirements is completing the Praxis II subject matter exams. Candidates must receive a passing score on the Praxis II before they are certified and able to teach. Specifically, candidates need to pass the tests under Praxis 2 in the subject areas that correspond to their respective majors and minors. A qualifying master's degree can exempt candidates from these Praxis II test requirements if they hold a master's degree in a particular content knowledge testing area. Additionally, candidates who already have a teacher certification from another state may be required to take an Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Course or Assessment.
As part of Idaho teacher certification requirements, candidates must also complete a background check. Under Idaho Code 33-130, background checks are conducted through the Idaho State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Statewide Sex Offender Registry. This process includes rolling fingerprints on a fingerprint card and submitting the card with all other application materials to the Idaho Department of Education.
The culminating step on how to get a teaching certificate in Idaho is submitting a formal application to the Idaho State Department of Education. The checklist below lists all of the required application documents and materials:
In addition to the traditional pathway for teacher certification, which requires a relevant bachelor's degree and a four-year educator preparation program, there are non-traditional options for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and want to know how to become a teacher in Idaho. Candidates with out-of-state certifications who transition to an Idaho certification through the Idaho teaching certificate reciprocity option will also pursue this route.
Non-traditional candidates can enroll in the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) program and obtain a three-year interim certificate upon receiving a Classroom Ready Certificate. To obtain the interim certificate, applicants must meet all requirements for endorsements and assessments. This allows the applicant to teach in an Idaho school's classroom in the accredited area with the guidance of an advisor. Unlike a traditional Standard Instructional Certificate, which is valid for five years and can be renewed, the interim certificate is non-renewable; however, Idaho alternative teacher certification programs provide the opportunity to upgrade it to a full five-year certification. Within the three-year interim period, you must complete an approved state mentoring program, such as Teach for America. Two courses are offered at Boise State University during your two-year mentorship. After you have taught a course for one year, you will complete six graduate-level courses as well.
There is an Idaho teaching certificate reciprocity option for most out-of-state candidates who hold a valid teaching certification and want to switch to an Idaho teaching certificate. Applicants who have a K-8 endorsement may need to take the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy assessment as well. Applicants with a mathematics endorsement may complete the course on Mathematical Thinking for Instruction. Both of these are one-time requirements for teachers pursuing three-year interim certificates approved by the state. The Department of Education will examine a teacher's certification status in another state through the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC). States that currently participate in Idaho's NASDTEC reciprocity agreement are:
Idaho teacher certification requirements also require Idaho teachers to complete six semester credits in professional development every five years to maintain a valid certification. Three of those six credits must be course credits from an accredited college or university in the context for teachers' evaluation. For successful renewal, the credit period must be within the certificate's validity. Recertifying teachers must specifically earn education credits that are part of their learning plan or relate to their professional work. Those credits should also focus on best practices in education or teacher leadership. As an example, the Supervision and Evaluation using the Idaho Framework for Teacher Evaluations course offered at Boise State University qualifies as a renewal credit. It examines the role of Idaho's effective instructional supervision and evaluation. Alternative types of in-service hours obtained from districts, charter schools, or private schools can be applied to up to three credits to meet professional development requirements.
| Idaho's teachers and administrators | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,850 |
| Secondary School Teachers | $51,790 |
| Postsecondary Teachers | $74,100 |
According to data from 2022, Idaho public schools have an approximate student-teacher ratio of 18:1. In Idaho private schools, the overall student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1. Idaho has one of the highest student-teacher ratios in the country, ranking 49th. In total, there are 1,731 schools in Idaho and 16,300 teachers with an Idaho teacher certification. The Idaho Education Association's 2020 report shows that teacher attrition rates are above national averages, and some districts have turnover rates of over 40%. During the 2020-2021 school year, Idaho retained 91% of its teachers, nearly reaching the 92% retention rate goal. Currently, in Idaho, there are 191 preschool teacher vacancies, and 1,770 preschool teachers are employed. There are 598 secondary school teacher vacancies, and 5,680 secondary school teachers are employed.
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.
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On average, the process of completing Idaho teacher certification requirements takes four to five years. This also depends on traditional or non-traditional routes.
If you have a Bachelor's degree in a non-education field from an accredited university, you are eligible for an alternative Idaho teacher certification through programs such as the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence or Teach for America.
Obtaining a teaching credential in Utah is relatively easy; it only requires one to three years of college classes and training experience to earn certification.
Idaho teacher certification requirements include a teaching reciprocity option for candidates with a valid educator certificate from other states. California currently holds a NASDTEC agreement with Idaho for this option.
There are several steps to becoming a teacher in Idaho. You will first need to receive a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and participate in an educator preparation program or Idaho alternative teacher certification program.
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