Louisiana Teaching Certification
Louisiana requires a bachelor’s degree from an approved teacher preparation program, passing Praxis exams, and completing supervised student teaching to earn a Level 1 Professional Certificate. The Louisiana Department of Education issues three certificate levels, each requiring additional experience and assessments. Out-of-state and alternative-path candidates follow separate but related certification routes.
Sponsored School(s)
Louisiana certifies teachers through the Department of Education, and the path you take depends on your situation. Choose the description below that best matches where you are:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Initial Louisiana Teaching Certification
To earn a Level 1 Professional Certificate, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an approved teacher preparation program, passing Praxis scores, and a completed student teaching placement. Find schools offering teaching certification programs in Louisiana.
Education Requirements
The Louisiana Department of Education Division of Certification, Preparation & Recruitment (877-453-2721) expects its teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree, at minimum, awarded by an approved teacher preparation program in the state.
If you graduate from a teacher preparation program at a school in another state, Louisiana will accept the program, given that your school is regionally accredited by one of the accreditation agencies listed here.
If you graduate from a teacher preparation program in another country, your academic credentials must be evaluated by one of the following foreign credential evaluation agencies:
- American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
One Dupont Circle, NW
Suite #520
Washington, D.C. 20036-1135
202-296-3359 - World Education Services (WES)
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
212-966-6311
Certification Options
The Louisiana Department of Education offers three different types of teacher certifications based upon your qualifications:
- Level 1 Professional Certificate: This is the type of certificate you normally obtain as an initial teaching certificate in Louisiana when you graduate with a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved teacher education program. It is valid for three years.
- Level 2 Professional Certificate: To obtain this type of certificate, you must have a Level 1 Certificate, meet the state’s standards of effectiveness for three years of teaching in your certification area, and pass the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program (LATAAP). This certificate is valid for five years.
- Level 3 Professional Certificate: To obtain this type of certificate, you must have a Level 1 or Level 2 Certificate and complete a master’s degree program from a regionally accredited institution, teach for five years in your certification area, and pass the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program (LATAAP).
Examinations
For a synopsis of Louisiana’s examination requirements for teachers, go to the Praxis website.
Basic skills testing:
All teachers in Louisiana must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam (formerly called Praxis I) in reading, writing, and mathematics. The LDOE sets its own passing scores for each subtest, so confirm the current cut scores on the official LDOE testing requirements page before you register. You may be exempt from part or all of this basic skills testing if you took the following exams and received the corresponding scores:
- ACT: Composite score of 22 waives the basic skills test
- SAT: Combined verbal and math score of 1030 waives the basic skills test
- Possession of a master’s degree prior to entering an alternative certification program waives the basic skills test
Content area assessment testing:
You must pass the Praxis Subject Assessments (formerly called Praxis II) to become certified in the subject(s) in which you wish to teach. Possible certification areas in Louisiana include:
- Early Childhood (Grades PK-3)
- Elementary Education (Grades 1-5)
- Middle School Education (Grades 4-8):
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Secondary Education (Grades 6-12):
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- General Science
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Social Studies
- Speech
- All Grades (Grades K-12):
- Art
- Music
- Health & Physical Education
- World Languages:
- French (Grades K-12 or 6-12)
- German (Grades K-12 or 6-12)
- Spanish (Grades K-12 or 6-12)
- Special Education:
- Early Interventionist (Birth-5 years)
- Hearing Impaired (Grades K-12)
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities (Grades 1-12)
- General/Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (Grades 1-5, 4-8 or 6-12)
- Significant Disabilities (Grades 1-12)
- Visual Impairments/Blind (Grades K-12)
- Vocational Education (Grades 7-12):
- Agriculture
- Business Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Technology Education
Experience Requirements
In order to meet the criteria for Level 1 Professional Teaching Certification, you do not need any classroom teaching experience beyond your college’s mandatory practicum and your student teaching internship that follows. All approved teacher preparation programs in Louisiana that lead to a Level 1 Professional Teaching Certificate require students to fulfill the requisite classroom student teaching experience.
You may be asked to prepare and apply lesson plans, lead the class, and assist the classroom teacher in various day-to-day duties during your student teaching internship. At its conclusion, your performance will be assessed by your mentoring classroom teacher and/or university/college representatives before you are allowed to move forward with the certification process.
Document and Application Requirements
After fulfilling all education, examination, and experience requirements, you are ready to apply for the Level 1 Professional Teaching Certification in Louisiana. Applications are submitted through the LDOE’s online Teach LA Live! Educator Certification Portal. Your teacher preparation program’s certification official will confirm you’re ready to apply. Along with your application, you must submit the following information:
- Official, sealed college transcripts
- Original Praxis score reports
- Application fee payable to the Louisiana Department of Education (confirm the current amount on the LDOE certification portal, since fees are subject to change)
- Completed Professional Conduct Form (found in the application packet)
The portal will also prompt you to submit fingerprints for a Louisiana State Police and FBI criminal background check as part of your certification application.
You should also verify who you are by including the following information:
- Your full name and date of birth
- Your social security number
- Your email address
- Your mailing address
- Your telephone number
You should receive notification from the Certification Division within 10 to 15 business days of their receipt of your application and all materials. You may check the status of your application at any time through the Teach LA Live! portal.
Criminal History Background Check
Louisiana’s certification application process now includes a state and federal (FBI) criminal history background check, submitted through fingerprints as part of your Teach LA Live! application. Because of the Louisiana Child Protection Act of 1995, your employing school district will also run its own state and FBI background checks before hiring you. For more information on criminal background checks in Louisiana, contact the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, P.O. Box 66614, A-6,
Baton Rouge, LA 70896 – 6614 or phone them at 225-925-6095.
Contact Information
Contact Louisiana state-approved teacher preparation program providers for more information on their programs.
Contact the Certification Division of the Louisiana Department of Education at 1-877-453-2721 or [email protected] for more information on teacher certification in Louisiana.
Louisiana Teacher Salary
BLS data show Louisiana elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $58,770 as of May 2025, while middle school teachers earned $58,760 and secondary (high school) teachers earned $59,850. Kindergarten teachers had a median of $53,130. Pay varies by parish, degree level, and years of experience. See the full breakdown of pay and benefits by certification level on our Louisiana Teaching Salaries and Benefits page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become a certified teacher in Louisiana?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved teacher preparation program. Teachers with a master’s degree qualify for the higher Level 3 Professional Certificate once they meet the experience and testing requirements.
What exams do I need to pass for Louisiana teacher certification?
All candidates must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam in reading, writing, and math, unless exempted by qualifying ACT or SAT scores. You’ll also need to pass the Praxis Subject Assessment that matches the subject and grade level you want to teach.
How long does it take to become a certified teacher in Louisiana?
Most candidates complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program that includes student teaching, then apply for a Level 1 Professional Certificate. Alternative certification programs can shorten that timeline for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a different field.
Can I transfer an out-of-state teaching license to Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana offers certification options for teachers licensed in other states, though the exact requirements depend on your current credentials and experience. See our Louisiana Teacher Reciprocity page for the full process.
Is there an alternative path to certification if I don’t have an education degree?
Yes. Louisiana’s alternative certification programs let candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject start working toward a teaching license, often while already in the classroom. Visit our Alternative Teaching Certification in Louisiana page for program types and requirements.
- Level 1 Professional Certificate is the standard entry point. A bachelor’s degree from an approved program, passing Praxis scores, and completing student teaching earn you this three-year certificate.
- Certification is tiered by experience and education. Level 2 requires three years of effective teaching plus the Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program (LATAAP). Level 3 requires a master’s degree, five years of teaching, and the LATAAP.
- Background checks now happen at both the state and district levels. The Teach LA Live! Certification application includes a state and FBI fingerprint check, and your employing school district will also run its own check before hiring.
- Out-of-state and career-changing candidates have dedicated paths. Reciprocity and alternative certification routes exist separately from the traditional bachelor’s degree pathway.
Find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
