Alternative Teaching Certification in Hawaii
Hawaii’s alternative teaching certification route lets career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree start teaching sooner, most commonly through an Emergency Hire Permit or Student Teacher Permit while completing a state-approved teacher education program. Candidates must pass required Praxis exams and clear a background check. The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board oversees every license type and charges no licensing fee.
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If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, Hawaii doesn’t require you to go back for a second bachelor’s degree to become a teacher. The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) authorizes several ways for career changers, ex-military members, and out-of-state professionals to start teaching while finishing licensure requirements. If you’re already licensed elsewhere, check Hawaii’s teacher reciprocity agreements first, since reciprocity may be a faster path than starting an alternative program from scratch. Which path fits depends on whether you already have a job offer, whether you’re targeting a shortage subject area, and how much coursework you’re willing to complete before you’re in front of a classroom.
Hawaii’s teacher shortage is concentrated in a handful of areas, including special education, secondary math and science, and career and technical education, along with rural schools on the neighbor islands and Oahu’s Leeward Coast. Candidates targeting these areas often move through the alternative pathways faster, since hiring schools are actively recruiting for them.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Read our Hawaii teaching certification overview.
Use the links below to jump to Hawaii’s alternative certification pathways, education and exam requirements, background check rules, and HTSB contact information.
- Hawaii’s alternative certification pathways
- Education requirements
- Licensing exams
- Teaching experience requirements
- Criminal history background check
- Contact information
Hawaii’s Alternative Certification Pathways
HTSB doesn’t issue a single “alternative certification” license. Instead, career changers typically combine a temporary permit that lets them teach right away with enrollment in an HTSB-approved preparation program that leads to a full license. The table below breaks down the main options.
| Pathway | Who It’s For | Requirements to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Hire Permit | Career changers hired directly into a shortage or hard-to-fill classroom position. | Bachelor’s degree, professional fitness check, and a job offer from a Hawaii public school or charter school |
| Student Teacher Permit | Candidates already enrolled in an HTSB-approved teacher preparation program. | Recommendation from a Hawaii state-approved teacher education program (SATEP) |
| Post-baccalaureate or alternative SATEP | Bachelor’s degree holders in a non-education field pursuing full licensure | Admission to an HTSB-approved provider, such as iTeach Hawaii, Teach For America, or Teach Away |
Most candidates use a permit and a preparation program together: the permit covers the paycheck and classroom hours, while the SATEP covers the coursework HTSB requires before it will issue a Provisional License.
Education Requirements
Every pathway starts with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, though the degree itself doesn’t need to be in education. Candidates who hold a degree in a field outside education typically enroll in a post-baccalaureate or alternative program through an HTSB-approved provider, such as iteach Hawaii, Teach For America, or Teach Away, while working under an Emergency Hire Permit or Student Teacher Permit. Many of these programs can be completed in about 12 to 16 months, although program length varies by provider, and they combine coursework with supervised classroom experience.
Licensing Exams
Applicants must satisfy Hawaii’s basic-skills and content-knowledge requirements. Many candidates meet these through the Praxis Core Academic Skills assessment and the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessment for the grade level or content area they plan to teach. However, some license or permit pathways may satisfy the basic-skills requirement through another HTSB-approved verification option. Confirm which requirement applies to your specific pathway before registering for an exam. Exam scores are submitted directly to HTSB as part of the license application.
Teaching Experience
Most alternative pathways assume you already have work experience, just not classroom teaching experience. Under an Emergency Hire Permit, you gain that classroom experience on the job, teaching while completing your Educator Preparation Program requirements and Praxis exams. The permit is valid for one year and may be reissued while you’re actively pursuing licensure, for up to five years, so candidates still need a realistic plan for finishing licensure requirements within that window.
Once you complete your Educator Preparation Program and pass the required exams, HTSB moves you from the Emergency Hire Permit to a Provisional License, which is valid for three years and cannot itself be renewed. After three years of full-time teaching within the last five years, you become eligible for a Standard License, which runs five years and can be renewed for as long as you keep teaching in Hawaii.
Criminal History Background Check
A criminal history background check isn’t required to apply to an alternative certification program, but every prospective teacher must clear one before a Hawaii public school can hire them. The check may involve fingerprinting, and the hiring school or district walks you through the process once you have a job offer.
Contact Information
The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board manages every license and permit type and runs a public license search tool for verifying an educator’s credentials. Reach HTSB directly with questions about license eligibility, or contact TEACH-NOW for a broader look at alternative routes nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching degree to become a certified teacher in Hawaii?
No. HTSB requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, but it doesn’t have to be in education. Career changers typically complete a post-baccalaureate or alternative program through an HTSB-approved provider while teaching under an Emergency Hire Permit or Student Teacher Permit.
How long does Hawaii’s alternative certification process take?
Many alternative preparation programs can be completed in about 12 to 16 months, although program length varies by provider. Emergency Hire Permits last one year and may be reissued while you’re actively pursuing licensure, for up to five years, to finish coursework and licensing exams.
What exams do I need to pass for alternative certification in Hawaii?
Applicants must satisfy Hawaii’s basic-skills and content-knowledge requirements. Many candidates do this through the Praxis Core Academic Skills assessment and the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessment. However, some license or permit pathways may satisfy the basic-skills requirement through another HTSB-approved verification option. Check with your HTSB-approved program to confirm which requirements apply to your pathway.
Does Hawaii charge a fee for teacher certification?
No. Hawaii hasn’t charged a licensing fee for public school teachers, librarians, or counselors since the state passed Act 116 in 2019.
Can I start teaching in Hawaii before I’m fully certified?
Yes, through an Emergency Hire Permit or Student Teacher Permit. Both let you work in a classroom while you finish your Educator Preparation Program and required exams, as long as you have a job offer from a Hawaii public school or charter school first.
- A bachelor’s degree unlocks multiple paths — Hawaii doesn’t require an education degree, just a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution plus enrollment in an HTSB-approved program.
- Emergency Hire Permits bridge the gap — up to five years of paid classroom experience while you complete coursework and exams, as long as you’re actively pursuing licensure.
- Licensing is fee-free — Act 116 eliminated licensing fees for Hawaii public school teachers, librarians, and counselors in 2019.
- Background checks come after a job offer, not before enrollment — you don’t need to clear one to start an alternative program, but you do before a school can hire you.
- HTSB approves the providers — programs like iTeach Hawaii, Teach For America, and Teach Away are the state-approved options for alternative certification.
Ready to explore accredited alternative certification programs recognized by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board? Find program options and application details below.
