Types of Teaching Certifications
Teaching certifications break down by grade level, subject area, and credential tier. Most states issue an initial or provisional license first, then require additional experience and coursework before granting a professional or standard license. Beyond that baseline, teachers choose a specialty, such as elementary education, a secondary subject like biology, or a support role like reading specialist or speech-language pathologist, each with its own state requirements and exams.
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Every state requires a specific certification for the grade level and subject you plan to teach, and picking the wrong one means starting the process over. Elementary certification doesn’t transfer to a middle school science role, and a general secondary license doesn’t cover specialty areas like special education or gifted education. Before enrolling in a program, it helps to know which certification category actually matches the classroom you want.
How Certification Tiers Work
Most states issue certification in stages rather than granting one permanent license upfront, though the exact names and requirements vary widely by state. A common pattern is an initial or provisional certificate that lets a new teacher start working, often valid for three to five years, while remaining requirements are completed. That’s typically followed by a professional or standard certificate once the teacher finishes a set amount of supervised experience and any outstanding coursework or exams. Some states use different terminology entirely or add extra steps, so check your state Board of Education or Department of Education for the specific tier names and timelines that apply where you plan to teach.
National Board Certification is a separate, voluntary credential offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, not a state licensure tier. It’s earned through a portfolio-based assessment demonstrating mastery in a specific subject and grade band, and it exists alongside state certification rather than replacing any tier of it. Some states offer salary incentives or added flexibility for teachers who hold it, but it isn’t required to teach.
Certification exams generally fall into three categories, though which ones a given state actually requires has been shifting. Basic skills tests cover reading, writing, and math, but several states, including New Jersey, New York, and California, have eliminated or suspended this requirement in recent years. Subject-area tests focus on the specific content you’ll teach and remain in place almost everywhere. Pedagogy or performance-based assessments, like edTPA, evaluate lesson planning and classroom practice, but edTPA has also been eliminated or made optional in a number of states, including Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, while others still require it. The state Board of Education or Department of Education sets which tests apply to each certification area, so check your state’s current list before assuming a specific test is required.
Certification by Grade Level
Grade-band certifications determine which ages and courses a teacher is licensed to teach. These are usually the first decision a new teacher makes, since they shape which degree program and student teaching placement to pursue.
Certification by Subject Area
Secondary certifications are usually tied to a specific subject, since middle and high school teachers are licensed as subject-matter specialists rather than generalists.
- English
- Mathematics
- Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Agriculture
- Business Education
- Computer Science
- Technology
- Education Technology
- Home Economics
- Journalism
Arts, Physical Education, and Elective Certifications
World Language Certifications
Foreign language certification covers a range of languages, and requirements often include a language proficiency exam in addition to the standard pedagogy assessments.
Specialized and Support Certifications
These certifications sit outside the standard grade-level or subject track, usually requiring an additional endorsement or a separate license focused on a specific student population or instructional need. Two of them, speech-language pathology and library media, work a little differently than the rest: they’re often licensed through a separate professional credentialing path rather than a standard teaching certification alone. A school speech-language pathologist typically needs a graduate degree and a state SLP license, sometimes issued through the state’s health licensing board rather than its Department of Education, though some states accept it in place of or alongside a teaching credential. A school librarian usually needs a library media specialist credential, which may require a master’s in library science on top of, or instead of, a general teaching certificate, depending on the state.
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Special Education
- Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Certification
- Reading Specialist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Visually Impaired Teacher
- Librarian Certification
Administrative, Reciprocity, and Alternative Paths
Beyond the classroom, some certifications apply to school leadership roles, out-of-state teachers, and career changers entering the profession through a non-traditional route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an initial and a professional teaching certificate?
In most states, an initial or provisional certificate lets a new teacher begin working while completing remaining requirements, often within three to five years. A professional or standard certificate typically replaces it once the teacher finishes the required supervised experience and any outstanding coursework or exams, though the exact tier names, timelines, and requirements vary by state, so check with your state Board of Education for specifics.
Do I need a separate certification for each grade level I want to teach?
It depends on the certification’s grade band. Some certifications, like early childhood or elementary, cover a range of grades, while a K-12 certification, common for art, music, and physical education, covers kindergarten through 12th grade under a single license.
Is alternative certification the same as traditional certification?
No. Traditional certification requires completing a bachelor’s degree in education with student teaching before earning a license. Alternative certification is designed for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and typically lets them begin teaching under a provisional or temporary credential while finishing required coursework and exams, though the exact structure depends on the state and program.
Do all states use Praxis or edTPA for certification exams?
No. States select their own exams, and not every state uses Praxis or edTPA. Several states, including Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, have eliminated or made edTPA optional, and a few states have also dropped basic skills testing requirements. It’s worth checking your state’s Department of Education for the exact exams required for your certification area.
Is National Board Certification the same as state teaching certification?
No. National Board Certification is a voluntary credential from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, earned through a portfolio-based assessment. It exists alongside your state teaching license rather than replacing any part of it, and some states or districts offer salary incentives to teachers who hold it, but it isn’t required to teach.
- Certification tiers vary by state — most states move teachers from an initial or provisional certificate to a professional or standard one, but the exact names, timelines, and requirements differ, so confirm the details with your state Board of Education.
- Grade level and subject determine your certification track — elementary, secondary subject-specific, and K-12 certifications each require different coursework and exams.
- Specialized certifications require additional steps — special education, reading specialist, speech-language pathology, and library media credentials typically require an endorsement or a separate professional license beyond a general teaching certificate.
- Traditional and alternative paths lead to the same license — the difference is sequencing, not the credential itself.
- Required exams are in flux — several states have eliminated or made optional the basic skills test and edTPA, so confirm current requirements with your state’s Department of Education rather than assuming a specific test applies.
Find accredited teacher certification programs for the grade level and subject area you want to teach.
