New Hampshire Teaching Certification
New Hampshire teacher certification requires a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved educator preparation program, a supervised student teaching placement, and passing scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills and Praxis Subject Assessment exams. The New Hampshire Department of Education’s Bureau of Credentialing issues a three-year Beginning Educator License once these requirements and a criminal history background check are complete.
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New Hampshire’s public high schools graduated 93.45 percent of students within four years for the Class of 2024, according to New Hampshire Department of Education data. Every path into a New Hampshire classroom, whether you’re finishing a bachelor’s degree, changing careers, or bringing a license from another state, runs through the Department of Education’s Bureau of Credentialing. Below, find the requirements, exams, and application steps for your specific situation.
Choose the description that best matches your situation:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Initial New Hampshire Teaching Certification
To become a certified teacher in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Department of Education Certification/Bureau of Credentialing requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved educator preparation program.
If you graduated from an educator preparation program in a state other than New Hampshire, the Department of Education will accept your credentials if that state belongs to the Interstate Certification Contract of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC). Even outside that contract, the Department may still accept credentials it considers equivalent. Contact the Bureau of Credentialing at (603) 271-2409 for specifics.
Graduates of foreign universities may also qualify for New Hampshire teaching certification with a detailed, course-by-course evaluation of academic credentials performed by one of the agencies listed here. After you submit that evaluation, the Bureau of Credentialing reviews it and determines what additional coursework, if any, you’ll need to meet New Hampshire standards.
Certification Levels
New Hampshire’s Bureau of Credentialing issues teaching credentials in three tiers. The Beginning Educator License (BEL) is a three-year credential for candidates with less than three years of teaching experience. The Experienced Educator License (EEL) is also a three-year credential, available once a teacher completes at least three years of full-time experience and is rated effective or above for two consecutive years under the local evaluation system. The Master Teacher Certificate sits above both: it requires at least seven years of full-time experience in your endorsement area and completion of graduate-level coursework, and it can also be earned through national board certification.
Certification standards for each endorsement area are found here.
Examinations
The Praxis website covers examination requirements for New Hampshire educators in detail.
Basic skills testing: All teachers must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in reading, writing, and mathematics before certification, unless ACT, SAT, or GRE scores at or above the 50th percentile are submitted in its place.
Content area assessment testing: All candidates must also pass the Praxis Subject Assessment for their certification area:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Middle School English Language Arts
- Middle School Mathematics
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Social Studies
- Secondary Education:
- Life Sciences
- Chemistry
- Earth/Space Science
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics, Secondary
- Physics
- Social Studies
- Art (K-12)
- World Languages:
- French
- German
- Latin
- Spanish
Candidates pursuing certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or as a Reading and Writing Teacher or Reading and Writing Specialist must also pass the Foundations of Reading test administered by Pearson.
Experience Requirements
As a student in an educator preparation program, you’ll gain classroom exposure through a practicum, observing a classroom teacher and likely leading lessons yourself.
After completing your academic coursework, you’ll move into a field-based internship, typically around 15 weeks, depending on your program’s policies. Most internships require full-time classroom teaching under a cooperating mentor teacher, with certification officers from your educator preparation program evaluating your performance.
Document and Application Requirements
Once you’ve completed the requirements above, you’re ready to file for certification through the Application for Certification form, provided by a certification officer at your educator preparation program. Candidates pursuing other paths into the classroom, including the Demonstrated Competencies routes or a Site-Based Licensing Plan, should confirm the current application requirements directly with the Bureau of Credentialing, since these routes have their own documents and eligibility rules. Include the following with your completed application and fee:
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended, showing the educator preparation program completed and degrees received
- Letters of verification for any teaching experience claimed
- A list of Praxis tests passed (official score reports go directly to the Department of Education from ETS)
Mail the application and supporting documents to: State of New Hampshire – Department of Education, Division of Program Support, Bureau of Credentialing, 101 Pleasant St., Concord, NH 03301-3860.
Criminal History Background Check
As of January 2023, New Hampshire requires all first-time credential applicants to complete and pass a criminal history records check, including a DCYF Central Registry check, before the Bureau of Credentialing issues a credential. This is a change from the state’s earlier practice, when the background check happened only at the point of school district hiring rather than at certification. Fingerprinting is processed through the New Hampshire Division of State Police and the FBI. Contact the Bureau of Credentialing for the current forms and process.
Contact Information
For questions about colleges and universities in New Hampshire offering approved educator preparation programs, contact them directly. See the CTA below to explore accredited teacher preparation programs in New Hampshire.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Both the Beginning Educator License and Experienced Educator License expire on June 30 of their third year and renew on that three-year cycle. Renewal requires 45 CEUs tied to the state’s Professional Education Requirements under Ed 505.03, plus 30 CEUs for each endorsement you hold. CEUs can be prorated if an endorsement was issued mid-cycle. Teachers at public schools with an NHED-approved Professional Development Master Plan typically follow an individualized plan tied to that same renewal cycle instead of tracking CEUs separately.
Salary and Job Outlook for New Hampshire Teachers
New Hampshire’s teacher job market is growing even as the national picture is flat. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a slight national decline in elementary and secondary teaching jobs through 2034, but New Hampshire Employment Security projects growth across every K-12 teaching category over the same period.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (NH) | NH Job Growth (2024–2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $60,240 | 3.4% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $72,410 | 3.5% |
| Middle School Teachers | $71,140 | 3.5% |
| High School Teachers | $77,060 | 3.7% |
New Hampshire is projected to add about 410 elementary teaching openings, 270 middle school openings, and 380 high school openings each year on average through 2034, driven mostly by retirements and turnover, according to New Hampshire Employment Security. For a closer look at New Hampshire teacher retirement and benefits, including pension details that BLS wage data doesn’t cover, see our dedicated guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a background check to get certified in New Hampshire?
Yes. As of January 2023, all first-time credential applicants must pass a criminal history records check, including a DCYF Central Registry check, before the Bureau of Credentialing will issue a credential.
How long does a New Hampshire teaching license last?
Both the Beginning Educator License and Experienced Educator License are valid for three years. Renewal requires 45 CEUs tied to the state’s Professional Education Requirements, plus 30 CEUs for each endorsement held, tracked through the Bureau of Credentialing.
Can I teach in New Hampshire with an out-of-state license?
Often, yes. New Hampshire accepts credentials from states that belong to the NASDTEC Interstate Certification Contract, and may accept others it considers equivalent. Contact the Bureau of Credentialing or see New Hampshire’s teacher reciprocity requirements for your specific state.
What’s the difference between the Beginning Educator License and the Experienced Educator License?
The Beginning Educator License is for candidates with fewer than three years of teaching experience. The Experienced Educator License requires at least three years of full-time teaching and a rating of effective or above for two consecutive years under the local evaluation system.
Do New Hampshire substitute teachers need certification?
No. New Hampshire doesn’t set a minimum state requirement or offer a substitute teaching certificate. Individual school districts set their own hiring standards for substitutes.
- Certification runs through the Bureau of Credentialing. A bachelor’s degree, an approved preparation program, student teaching, and passing Praxis scores are the core requirements for a Beginning Educator License.
- A criminal history background check is now required at certification. Since January 2023, this has happened before the credential is issued, not just at hiring.
- Licenses renew every three years. 45 CEUs tied to state Professional Education Requirements, plus 30 CEUs per endorsement, keep a Beginning or Experienced Educator License active.
- New Hampshire’s teaching job market is growing. All four K-12 teaching categories are projected to add jobs through 2034, even as the national outlook is flat to slightly negative.
- Out-of-state credentials often transfer. NASDTEC Interstate Certification Contract states have a more direct path to New Hampshire licensure.
Find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2026.
