Missouri Teaching Certification
Missouri teaching certification through the traditional route requires a bachelor’s degree from a DESE-approved educator preparation program, clinical/student-teaching experience, a program recommendation, background clearance, and passing DESE’s currently required assessments. DESE issues an Initial Professional Certificate valid for four years, upgradable to a 99-year Career Continuous Professional Certificate once DESE’s upgrade requirements are met.
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DESE sets Missouri’s educator certification requirements, but candidates should verify current rules for their specific certification area, route, assessments, background check, and application type before applying. Missouri also offers several paths into the classroom beyond the traditional route, along with separate processes for teachers moving in from another state, renewing an existing certificate, or seeking an administrator credential.
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- Initial Teaching Certification in Missouri
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Initial Missouri Teaching Certification
For the traditional Missouri-prepared route, DESE’s Educator Certification office (573-751-0051) requires at least a bachelor’s degree from a DESE-approved teacher education program, a recommendation from the program’s designated certification official, required GPA thresholds, passing the currently required assessments, and background clearance.
If you completed your preparation program outside of Missouri, DESE evaluates your application under its non-Missouri graduate or out-of-state certified process. Certification isn’t automatic — it depends on DESE’s review of your transcripts, program recommendation, certificate status, and alignment with Missouri requirements. Historically, DESE has recognized preparation programs accredited by regional bodies, including:
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Association
- National Lutheran School Accreditation
- Committee on Accredited Schools at the University of Missouri-Columbia
- Missouri Center for Voluntary Accreditation of Early Childhood Education at Stephens College
Accreditor names and recognition terminology change over time. Confirm current accepted accreditation against DESE’s non-Missouri graduate certification guidance rather than relying solely on this list.
Completed your program in another country? A DESE-approved credentialing agency must evaluate your academic credits before you can submit your certification application. The department publishes a list of recognized agencies.
Certificate Types and How Long They Last
Missouri issues multiple certificate types depending on route, assignment, preparation status, and experience. The IPC and CCPC are the primary professional teaching certificates, but provisional, temporary authorization, substitute, administrator, career education, and student-services certificates each follow separate rules. The two most common for a traditionally prepared classroom teacher:
| Certificate | Valid For | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Professional Certificate (IPC) | 4 years | New teachers who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree, a DESE-approved preparation program, and the required assessments |
| Career Continuous Professional Certificate (CCPC) | 99 years (renewable/permanent) | Teachers who complete DESE’s full IPC-to-CCPC upgrade requirements, including DESE-approved teaching experience, mentoring, professional development, Beginning Teacher Assistance, evaluation participation, and a professional development plan |
Full requirements for every grade level and subject area appear in DESE’s Compendium of Missouri Certification Requirements.
Certification Exams
Missouri has transitioned certification testing to ETS/Praxis as of July 1, 2024. Historically, candidates completed the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA) to be admitted to an approved educator preparation program. However, DESE has updated program admission testing, so confirm with your specific program whether MoGEA is still required. For certification itself, candidates complete the current DESE-required content or subject-area assessment for their certification area — check DESE’s current certification assessments page and the Praxis Missouri requirements page directly, since requirements (including whether both a Missouri-specific assessment and a Praxis subject exam apply) vary by certification area and have changed in recent years.
Clinical Practice, Field Experience, and Student Teaching
Approved educator preparation programs include staged clinical experiences and culminating clinical practice, such as student teaching. Still, the format, hour minimums, placement rules, and evaluation requirements vary by program and certification area. Programs place candidates in settings aligned with their certification area, with responsibilities increasing under supervision as they progress. Confirm your program’s specific requirements directly, since the Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators guidance has been updated over time.
Document and Application Requirements
Before you apply online for your Missouri teaching certificate, gather:
- Official transcripts and other application materials required by DESE and your educator preparation program — submission rules may differ for Missouri graduates, non-Missouri graduates, provisional candidates, and foreign-credential applicants
- A recommendation from your educator preparation program, sent directly to DESE
- Assessment scores required for your certification area. Confirm whether your testing vendor automatically sends scores to DESE, or whether you need to request that they be reported.
Follow DESE’s current submission instructions — some documents may be submitted through the online certification system. In contrast, others may need to be mailed to Educator Certification, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, with your name, home mailing address, and phone number on all correspondence. Processing time depends on background clearance, institutional recommendation, transcripts, assessment scores, application completeness, and DESE’s workload, so allow ample time and track your status through the certification web application portal.
Criminal History Background Check
DESE requires a criminal history background check before issuing any Missouri teaching certificate. DESE currently directs applicants to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s MACHS background-check process and its contracted fingerprinting vendor, so confirm the current vendor name and fee directly on DESE’s certification page rather than relying on a specific service or price. Your certificate won’t be issued until DESE receives a cleared background check and all other application requirements are satisfied.
Contact Information
For questions about approved educator preparation programs, contact DESE’s Educator Preparation office directly. For certification questions, reach the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education Educator Certification office at 573-751-0051.
Missouri Teacher Salary
According to the BLS May 2025 state Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, Missouri elementary school teachers (SOC 25-2021) earned a median annual wage of $50,910, middle school teachers (SOC 25-2022) earned $59,310, and secondary/high school teachers (SOC 25-2031) earned $59,240. Kindergarten teachers (SOC 25-2012) earned a median of $56,590. These are statewide estimates, not district-specific figures. For a closer look at retirement and benefits, see our Missouri teaching salaries and benefits guide.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $56,590 | $58,740 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,910 | $56,730 |
| Middle School Teachers | $59,310 | $61,510 |
| High School Teachers | $59,240 | $60,310 |
State-specific job growth projections for Missouri weren’t included in the dataset used on this site, so the hiring-demand figure below reflects only BLS national projections. Nationally, the BLS projects that employment of elementary school teachers will decline by 2.0% between 2024 and 2034, with 91,000 average annual openings still expected due to retirements and turnover. Missouri hiring demand may vary due to district budgets, retirements, subject-area shortages, rural staffing needs, and enrollment trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to teach in Missouri?
For the traditional Missouri-prepared route, you need at least a bachelor’s degree from a DESE-approved educator preparation program. Alternatively, temporary authorization, out-of-state, career education, substitute, and administrator routes each follow different rules.
What tests do I need to pass for Missouri teacher certification?
Traditional candidates must pass the assessments DESE currently requires for their certification area. Missouri has transitioned certification testing to ETS/Praxis, so confirm current test names and passing scores directly with DESE or Praxis before registering.
How long does an Initial Professional Certificate last?
The IPC is valid for four years. During that period, teachers seeking the CCPC must complete DESE’s upgrade requirements, including approved teaching experience, mentoring, professional development, Beginning Teacher Assistance, evaluation participation, and a professional development plan.
Can I transfer a teaching certificate from another state to Missouri?
Missouri offers an out-of-state certified route, but reciprocity isn’t automatic in every case. DESE evaluates your existing certificate, preparation, and experience against Missouri’s certification requirements. See our Missouri teacher reciprocity guide for the full process.
Is there an alternative path to Missouri teacher certification without an education degree?
Yes. Missouri offers alternative and temporary authorization routes for eligible bachelor ‘s-degree holders. These routes can involve a provisional or temporary certificate, required coursework, mentoring, teaching under specific conditions, and passing required assessments. See our Missouri alternative certification guide for the full process.
- Bachelor’s degree plus DESE-approved program — the traditional path requires a bachelor’s degree from a program DESE has approved, along with a recommendation from that program.
- Assessment requirements have changed — Missouri has transitioned certification testing to ETS/Praxis, so confirm the exact tests required for your certification area directly with DESE before registering.
- Certification comes in tiers — the 4-year IPC can upgrade to the 99-year CCPC once the teacher meets all of DESE’s upgrade requirements, including approved experience, mentoring, professional development, Beginning Teacher Assistance, evaluation participation, and a professional development plan.
- A criminal background check is mandatory — follow DESE’s current fingerprinting and background-check process, including its current vendor and fee instructions.
- Other paths exist beyond traditional certification — reciprocity, renewal, alternative certification, and substitute licensure each follow a separate process on this site.
Compare accredited teacher preparation programs by certification area, format, and cost, and confirm each program’s current DESE approval status before enrolling.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates and 2024–2034 BLS national employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. Conditions in your area may var—dataa accessed July 2026.
