Delaware Teaching Certification
Becoming a certified teacher in Delaware requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educator preparation program, supervised student teaching or an approved alternative, and passing the required Praxis exams for your certification area. Delaware issues both an Initial License and a separate Standard Certificate, managed jointly through the Delaware Department of Education’s DEEDS system.
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Delaware runs its teacher credentialing through two separate documents, a License and a Certificate, and mixing them up trips up a lot of first-time applicants. The License authorizes you to work in a Delaware public or charter school. The Certificate specifies the grade level or subject you’re cleared to teach. Here’s how the process works, from bachelor’s degree through your first day in a Delaware classroom.
Choose the description of certification you are most interested in or the situation that best describes you:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Initial Delaware Teaching Certification
Delaware issues certification in three license tiers as you gain experience. The Initial License covers your first several years in the classroom. A Continuing License follows once you’ve completed a multi-year induction period with satisfactory evaluations. Advanced Licensure, the top tier, is available to educators who meet Delaware’s current statutory requirements, including National Board Certification where applicable. Alongside whichever license you hold, you’ll also need a Standard Certificate in your specific subject area or grade band. Find schools offering teaching certification programs in Delaware.
Education Requirements
The Delaware Department of Education (302-857-3388) issues an Initial License to candidates who meet its educational requirements. Every Initial License holder needs at least a bachelor’s degree and evidence of student teaching completed through an approved educator preparation program. That program has to meet the following criteria:
- Offered by a regionally accredited four-year institution, with many programs also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), though Delaware evaluates preparation programs under its own approval requirements
- An initial educator program yielding a certificate
- In a grade level or content area where Delaware offers an equivalent certificate (Delaware’s certification areas are listed here)
If you completed your degree outside Delaware, the Delaware Department of Education evaluates out-of-state preparation programs individually to determine whether they satisfy Delaware requirements. Transcripts from schools outside the United States must go through an approved independent credentialing agency for evaluation first.
Examination Requirements
Most Delaware certification areas require passing the applicable Praxis Subject Assessment or another state-approved content assessment before you can move from an Initial License to a Standard Certificate. Depending on your preparation program and certification pathway, you may also need to complete a state-approved performance assessment. Some candidates may qualify for an exemption from certain basic-skills testing based on competitive SAT, ACT, or GRE scores. Check the Praxis website and the Delaware Department of Education’s current testing requirements for your specific certificate, as these vary by area and are updated periodically.
Experience
Before applying for your Initial License and Standard Certificate, you need to complete a student teaching placement, typically built into your educator preparation program. If you already have teaching experience, Delaware allows an alternative: at least one year of teaching with a minimum of 91 days of long-term teaching in one content area at a Delaware public or charter school.
Student teaching assignments generally run one semester or longer. You’ll observe a mentor teacher, then take over lesson planning and instruction as your mentor observes and evaluates your performance. Expect the placement to build classroom management and instructional skills specific to the grade band in which you’re pursuing certification.
Application and Document Requirements
Once you’ve met the education requirements, passed your exams, and completed your experience requirement, you can apply for your Initial License. Most recent graduates of Delaware educator preparation programs apply for their License and Standard Certificate simultaneously. Applications go through the Delaware Educator Data System (DEEDS) and include a one-time $100 application fee, which is reimbursable once you’re employed in a Delaware public or charter school. The following supporting documents go to Delaware Department of Education, Collette Education Resource Center, 35 Commerce Way, Suite 1, Dover, DE 19904, ATTN: Certification:
- Official sealed college transcripts
- Request for Transcript Form, if you attended an out-of-state program
- Verification of Teaching Experience form, if your teaching experience was out-of-state
- Photocopies of any out-of-state teaching certificates you hold
- Praxis scores, submitted electronically to the Department directly from the testing service
Once DEEDS has your application and all supporting documents, the Department reviews the packet and notifies you by email of your license and certificate status, or of any further documentation needed.
Criminal History Background Check
Before you can receive a Delaware teaching license, you need a current state child abuse clearance plus a criminal history and background check covering both state police and FBI records. Start this process early since clearances can take several weeks.
For the Child Protection Registry check, complete the Delaware Child Protection Registry Request Form, available through your college or your target school district, and mail it to DSCYF, OCCL, Criminal History Unit, 1825 Faulkland Road, Wilmington, DE 19805 (or fax to 302-633-5191). For the criminal history portion, visit the Delaware State Bureau of Identification at a county office of the Delaware State Police: Kent County (Dover), Sussex County (Georgetown), or New Castle County (Bear). Sussex and New Castle require an appointment. Kent County takes walk-ins. Bring a driver’s license or state ID and ask for a state and federal background check. Current fees are set by the Delaware State Police, so check the agency’s current fee schedule before you go. Call 302-739-5871 for details.
Delaware Teacher Salaries and Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers in Delaware earned a median annual wage of $75,920 as of May 2025, with secondary school teachers close behind at $77,960. Delaware’s job growth projections for teachers also stand out: the state’s Office of Occupational and Labor Market Information projects roughly 10% growth across all four core teaching categories between 2024 and 2034, well above the national trend, which shows a slight decline for these occupations. For a deeper look at pensions and health benefits, see the Delaware teacher salaries and benefits page.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Job Growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $74,030 | +10.1% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $75,920 | +10.0% |
| Middle School Teachers | $67,780 | +10.1% |
| Secondary School Teachers | $77,960 | +10.3% |
Contact Information
For information on Delaware colleges and universities offering educator preparation programs, contact them directly.
For questions on teacher licensure and certification in Delaware, contact the Delaware Department of Education at 302-857-3388 or visit their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a Delaware teaching License and a Certificate?
The License authorizes you to work in a Delaware public or charter school, while the Certificate specifies the grade level or subject area you’re qualified to teach. You need both to teach in Delaware, and most candidates apply for them together through DEEDS.
Do I need a master’s degree to teach in Delaware?
No. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, plus a completed educator preparation program, satisfies the education requirement for an Initial License. A master’s degree becomes relevant later if you’re pursuing an Advanced License or a specific endorsement.
Can I transfer a teaching license from another state to Delaware?
Delaware evaluates out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis through DEEDS, and your transcripts must still meet Delaware’s accreditation standards. Requirements vary depending on your license type, experience, and the state where you were originally licensed, so check Delaware’s reciprocity requirements before assuming your credential transfers automatically.
How much does it cost to apply for Delaware teacher certification?
DEEDS applications carry a one-time $100 fee, payable by credit card. That fee is reimbursable once you’re employed in a Delaware public or charter school.
What if my bachelor’s degree isn’t in education?
Delaware offers alternative routes to certification for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. These programs let you start teaching under a provisional credential while you complete the coursework and exams that a traditional path requires up front.
- Two credentials, not one — Delaware requires both an Initial License, which authorizes you to work in a school, and a Standard Certificate, which specifies your subject or grade level.
- Three license tiers — Initial, Continuing, and Advanced licenses track your years of experience, with Advanced Licensure available to those who meet Delaware’s current statutory requirements, including National Board Certification where applicable.
- Above-average job growth — Delaware projects roughly 10% growth across kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary teaching roles between 2024 and 2034, bucking the national trend.
- Background check has two parts — a state and FBI criminal history check plus a separate Child Protection Registry clearance, both of which can take several weeks to process.
- $100 application fee — charged through DEEDS, but reimbursable once you’re hired by a Delaware public or charter school.
Select your state below to 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.
