Idaho Teacher Certification Renewal
Idaho teacher recertification requires six professional development credits within your certificate’s five-year validity period, with three of those credits completed through an accredited college or university. Renewal applications, including proof of the completed credits, must be submitted to the State Department of Education between January 1 and August 31 of the year your certificate expires, along with a $75 fee. Certificates that lapse before renewal require a separate reinstatement process instead.
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Idaho teacher recertification comes down to one number: six professional development credits, earned within the five-year window your certificate covers. Miss that window, and you’re no longer renewing; you’re reinstating, which is a longer and more involved process. Here’s how both paths work. If you haven’t earned your Idaho certificate yet, start with our guide to Idaho teaching certification requirements instead.
Teaching Certification Renewal
Idaho teaching certificates are valid for five years, running from September 1 of the year issued through August 31 of the expiration year. Before that certificate expires, you must complete six professional development credits and submit a renewal application to the State Department of Education (SDE).
You can apply for renewal any time between January 1 and August 31 of the year your certificate expires. Renewal applications submitted earlier than January 1 will be returned. The SDE recommends applying well before the August 31 deadline, since a lapsed certificate means starting over with a reinstatement application instead of a renewal.
Unlike some states, Idaho does not let you hold onto your professional development documentation for a future audit. You must submit proof of your six credits with the renewal application itself, either as transcripts (official or unofficial) or a completed Idaho Approved In-Service Form. Electronic copies can be emailed directly to the SDE’s transcripts inbox for faster processing.
In order for professional development credits to count toward renewal, they must meet these conditions:
- They must be specifically related to your professional development as an educator
- They must be tied to the content areas in which you are certified to teach
- They must pertain to the pedagogical best practices of an educator
- At least three semester credits of the total of six professional development credits must be taken via college or university credit courses
- You may substitute in-service hours for up to three of the six semester credit hours required for certificate renewal, at a rate of fifteen in-service hours per credit
The complete renewal packet requires a signed Idaho Educator Certification Application, the $75 application fee, and your professional development documentation. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Idaho Department of Education. Credit cards aren’t accepted by mail, though exact cash is accepted for walk-in applicants.
If your personal information and credentials aren’t changing, you can renew online for a $3.25 convenience fee. Any name, address, or credential changes require the paper application instead.
Reinstatement of Certification
If your Idaho certificate has already expired, renewal isn’t an option anymore. Instead, you’ll apply for reinstatement, which reissues your credential as a non-renewable, three-year interim certificate rather than the standard five-year certificate.
What happens after that interim certificate depends on how long your certificate sat expired. If you apply for reinstatement within the same calendar year your certificate expired, you’ll need to show completion of the six professional development credits that would have satisfied your original renewal, and a new background check generally isn’t required. If more than a year has passed, the requirements are steeper: you’ll need to document two years of successful, evaluated teaching in an Idaho K-12 school during the three-year interim period before the state will issue you a renewable five-year certificate. Because of that requirement, the SDE recommends having a teaching position secured before applying if your certificate has expired for over a year. If your certificate lapsed while you were teaching in another state, check Idaho teacher reciprocity first. It may offer a faster path back into an Idaho classroom than reinstatement.
To start the reinstatement process, submit the same Idaho Educator Certification Application used for renewal, along with the required fees and any applicable background-check documentation. Mail the completed packet to the SDE’s Teacher Certification office in Boise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many professional development credits do I need to renew an Idaho teaching certificate?
You need six professional development credits within your certificate’s five-year validity period. At least three must come from an accredited college or university, and up to three can come from district in-service hours at a rate of fifteen hours per credit.
Do I need to submit my professional development documentation with my renewal application?
Yes. Idaho requires you to submit transcripts or an approved in-service form with your renewal application, not just keep them on file in case of an audit.
What happens if my Idaho teaching certificate expires before I renew it?
You’ll need to apply for reinstatement instead of renewal. Reinstatement issues a non-renewable three-year interim certificate, and the path back to a full five-year certificate depends on how long the certificate has been expired.
Can I renew my Idaho teaching certificate online?
Yes, as long as you aren’t changing your personal information or adding credentials. Online renewal costs the standard $75 fee plus a $3.25 convenience fee. Any changes to your name, address, or endorsements require a mailed paper application instead.
How much does it cost to renew a teaching certificate in Idaho?
The standard renewal fee is $75, payable by check, money order, or exact cash for walk-ins. Online renewals add a $3.25 convenience fee.
- Six credits, five-year window — Idaho renewal requires six professional development credits, three of which must be college or university credit, completed before your five-year certificate expires.
- Documentation goes with the application — transcripts or an in-service form must be submitted with your renewal packet, not held for a future audit.
- Timing matters — you can apply for renewal between January 1 and August 31 of your expiration year. Miss August 31 and you’re in reinstatement territory instead.
- Reinstatement gets harder over time — apply within the same calendar year your certificate expired, and you mainly need your six credits. Wait more than a year, and you’ll also need two years of evaluated teaching during the three-year interim certificate.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Idaho, including coursework that can count toward your renewal or reinstatement credit requirements.
