North Dakota Teaching Certification and Licensing Requirements
A North Dakota teaching license requires a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved educator preparation program, at least 10 weeks of supervised student teaching, and passing scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills test and the required Praxis subject assessment for your licensure area. The Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB) issues the initial two-year license, which upgrades to a five-year license once you’ve taught for 18 months. Out-of-state teachers and career-changers have separate reciprocity and alternative routes.
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North Dakota routes teacher licensing through the Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB), and the path you take depends on where you’re starting from. A recent education graduate, a licensed teacher moving from another state, and someone with a non-education bachelor’s degree all follow different rules to reach the same license. The ESPB also runs an Alternate Access License for shortage-area hires with a bachelor’s degree in the subject they’re teaching, and an Other State Educator License (OSEL) for teachers already certified elsewhere, both of which are covered at the end of this page.
See North Dakota Teaching Salaries and Benefits for a full breakdown.
Choose the description that best fits your situation, or keep reading for the details behind North Dakota’s traditional licensing path:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Why North Dakota’s Teacher Pipeline Depends on Local Engagement
Teacher pay, program funding, and classroom resources in North Dakota are shaped as much by state budget decisions as by ESPB policy. Every governor’s education platform and voting record affect what districts can offer, so it’s worth knowing where your state’s leadership stands before you commit to a program. See how North Dakota’s education spending compares to other states in State Education Spending vs. Overall State Revenue.
Initial North Dakota Teaching Certification
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction runs the North Dakota Statewide System of Support (NDSSOS), a framework schools use to improve teaching and learning across leadership, curriculum, assessment, school culture, and professional development. It’s the infrastructure behind the licensing requirements below.
Education Requirements
The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB) (701-328-9641) requires candidates to complete a state-approved bachelor’s or master’s level teacher education program, majoring or minoring in the subject or grade band you intend to teach. The program must include a professional education sequence and a general studies sequence. You’ll need an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a course in North Dakota Native American studies.
- Elementary licensure requires 34 semester hours (50 quarter hours) of professional education coursework
- Secondary licensure requires 26 semester hours (40 quarter hours) of professional education coursework
An out-of-state teacher education program can count toward North Dakota licensure if it meets the state’s standards. You’ll also need to meet the state’s major equivalency requirements.
Licensure Options
The type of North Dakota teaching license you receive depends on your experience:
- Initial License: the most common license for new graduates. Valid for two years.
- First Five-Year License (Professional License): available once you’ve completed at least 18 months of teaching in North Dakota and the required renewal semester hours. Valid for five years.
- Five-Year Renewal License: available if you hold a five-year license, have taught at least 30 days during the five-year period, and complete six semester hours of re-education. Valid for five years.
- 25-Year Life License: available after 25 years of licensed teaching in North Dakota and the required renewal semester hours. Doesn’t expire, though license holders must report to the ESPB every five years to confirm they’re still teaching.
A full list of North Dakota licensure areas and codes is available here.
Examinations
For a breakdown of teacher licensure testing requirements in North Dakota, visit the Praxis website.
Basic skills testing: All new teachers in North Dakota must meet the ESPB’s qualifying scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test: Reading (156), Writing (160), and Math (150), or a composite score of 466 with no individual score below the set minimums. Confirm the current cut scores with the ESPB before registering, as testing requirements are set by the state and are subject to change.
Content area assessment testing: You must pass the required Praxis subject assessment(s) for the content area(s) where you’re seeking licensure. Current tested content areas include:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Middle School English
- Middle School Mathematics
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Social Studies
- Secondary Education (Grades 7-12):
- Agriculture
- Art
- Biology
- Business Education
- Chemistry
- Composite Science
- Drama
- English
- Economics
- Earth Science
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Geography
- Government/Political Science
- History
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Social Studies
- Technology Education
- World Languages:
- French
- German
- Latin
- Spanish
- Special Education:
- Core Knowledge and Applications
- Early Childhood
- Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Emotional Disturbances
- Gifted and Talented
- Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities
Experience Requirements
ESPB rules require two experience components. First, a practicum is built into your teacher preparation coursework, where you observe classroom teachers and pick up classroom management strategies, occasionally leading part of a lesson yourself.
Second, at least 10 weeks of full-time student teaching at the grade level and subject area of your licensure, where you take full control of the classroom, write lesson plans, and lead instruction. Part of this assignment gets formally observed and assessed.
Document and Application Requirements
Once you’ve met the education and experience requirements and passed the required exams, apply through NDTeach, the ESPB’s online licensure system, for your North Dakota Educator’s Professional License. Your NDTeach application will generate a specific to-do list, which typically includes:
- Official transcripts from every college where you received credit
- Your Praxis test score reports
- A completed fingerprint packet (see below)
- The applicable licensing fee, paid through your NDTeach account
Some supplemental materials, including fingerprint packets, still go by mail to the Education Standards and Practices Board, 2718 Gateway Ave, Suite 204, Bismarck, ND 58503.
Criminal History Background Check
All beginning teachers in North Dakota must be fingerprinted and pass a criminal history background check. Your college licensure officials provide the fingerprinting instructions and packet. You’ll complete the fingerprint cards and release forms and designate the ESPB as the agency that receives the criminal history report.
An authorized law enforcement agency, such as a police department, sheriff’s office, or university campus police, takes your fingerprints. You’re responsible for all fingerprinting and background check fees. Mail the fingerprint cards and release forms to the ESPB at 2718 Gateway Ave, Suite 204, Bismarck, ND 58503, along with your application and supporting documents. Once ESPB forwards your information to the FBI and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation, results typically take about three weeks to come back. You won’t be issued a license or be permitted to teach in a North Dakota school until it’s complete.
Contact Information
For more information about colleges and universities in North Dakota that offer approved teacher education programs, contact the institutions directly.
For more information on the teacher licensure process in North Dakota, contact the ESPB at 701-328-9641.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a teaching license in North Dakota?
Most candidates complete a bachelor’s degree in an approved teacher education program in about 4 years, including the required 10 weeks of student teaching. Once your application, transcripts, exam scores, and background check are clear, the ESPB issues an Initial License valid for two years.
What GPA do I need for North Dakota teacher certification?
The ESPB requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 in your approved teacher education program, along with a completed course in North Dakota Native American studies and multicultural education.
What tests do I need to pass for a North Dakota teaching license?
You’ll need to meet the ESPB’s qualifying scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, plus the required Praxis subject assessment for your licensure area. Exact cut scores and required tests are set by the ESPB and can change, so confirm current requirements on the Praxis website before registering.
Can I teach in North Dakota with a license from another state?
Yes. North Dakota offers an Other State Educator License (OSEL), available in two-year and five-year terms, for teachers who already hold a valid license in another state. See our North Dakota Teacher Reciprocity Agreements page for the specific requirements.
Do I need a background check for a North Dakota teaching license?
Yes. Every beginning teacher must submit fingerprints through an authorized law enforcement agency and clear a criminal history background check before the ESPB issues a license. Once ESPB forwards your results to the FBI and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the process typically takes about three weeks.
- The ESPB oversees all North Dakota teaching licenses, including the education, exam, and background check requirements outlined above.
- Coursework requirements differ by grade band: 34 semester hours for elementary licensure, 26 for secondary.
- Praxis Core and a subject-area assessment are both required: the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test first, then the required Praxis subject assessment matched to your licensure area.
- The Initial License is a two-year starting point. 18 months of teaching and renewal coursework move you to a Five-Year License.
- Out-of-state and career-change routes exist: the OSEL for licensed teachers from other states, and the Alternate Access License for career-changers without an education degree.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in North Dakota, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
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.
