Missouri Teacher Certification
You can become a teacher in Missouri on your own schedule, without quitting your current job or going into debt. Try our teacher certification program free for seven days and see if you are ready to start earning your Missouri teaching certificate. Enroll anytime and get started to become a Missouri teacher with the nonprofit American Board program.
Watch to Learn How our Program Works:
Watch to Learn How our Program Works:
Teacher Certifications Offered in Missouri
Choose a subject below to learn more about the requirements to teach that subject:
*The study material and final exams for these courses cover all grades 5-12. Candidates are required to demonstrate competency across grades 5-12 in order to certify. Upon completion of the program, candidates are eligible to apply with DESE for a 5-9 and/or 9-12 license.
How to Become a Teacher in Missouri
To become a teacher in Missouri with American Board’s teacher certification program, candidates will need to complete the following steps:
- Complete the American Board program by passing the required pedagogy and subject area exams.
- Spend 60 hours (6-12) or 90 hours (elementary) in a school working with children. Hours must be validated by the school principal. These hours can be completed in one of the following ways: a. Spend 60/90 hours substitute teaching in a public school classroom. You must be the lead instructor for at least 45 of these hours. b. Spend 60/90 hours substitute teaching in a public school or an accredited non-public school with at least 30 consecutive hours in the same classroom. c. Spend 60/90 hours teaching as a paraprofessional in a public school or an accredited non-public school. *Elementary Educator applicants: 90 hours as a substitute teacher or paraprofessional in a public school or accredited nonpublic school classroom is required, of which at least 30 hours must be completed in an elementary classroom.
- Pass the designated Praxis assessment for your area of certification.
- Apply to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for the Missouri Initial Professional Certificate (IPC) of License to Teach. This is valid for 4 years. You are now ready to begin applying to school districts and are considered to have a professional teaching certificate.
- Once you secure a position in a Missouri school and begin teaching, you will have 4 years to upgrade your IPC to a Career Continuous Professional Certificate (CCPC), a renewable teaching certificate. You will become CCPC eligible after completing teaching experiences, mentoring, professional development, performance evaluations, and more.
QUESTIONS?
Contact the DESE certification department at 573-751-0051 or certification@dese.mo.gov for more information on these requirements. You may also visit the DESE website to learn more.
