Alternative Teaching Certification in Mississippi
Alternative teaching certification in Mississippi lets bachelor’s degree holders outside education become licensed while they teach. Candidates typically pass required exams, enroll in an MDE-approved alternate route program such as the Master of Arts in Teaching, Teach Mississippi Institute, or American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, then complete a supervised internship before the Mississippi Department of Education issues a standard license.
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Mississippi lets candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education become licensed teachers without going back for a second undergraduate degree. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) reviews and approves each alternate route program, and the specific list of approved programs can shift over time, so confirm the current roster directly with MDE’s Office of Educator Licensure before you commit to one. If you’re already licensed to teach in another state, check Mississippi’s teacher reciprocity agreements first, since reciprocity may get you licensed faster than an alternate route program.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Mississippi.
Use the links below to jump to program requirements, exams, internship rules, background checks, and where each program is offered.
- Mississippi’s alternate routes to teacher certification
- Education requirements by program
- Exams required for alternate route licensure
- Internship and experience requirements
- Criminal history background check
- Where alternate route programs are offered
Mississippi’s Alternate Routes to Teacher Certification
MDE has historically approved four alternate routes to teacher licensure: the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), the Mississippi Alternate Path to Quality Teachers (MAPQT), the Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI), and the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE). Some program directories also list iteach Mississippi as a newer, primarily online alternate route option. Because approved-program lists change, verify which routes MDE currently recognizes at MDE’s alternate route licensure page before applying.
| Program | Prior Degree Required | Program Length | Initial License |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAT | Bachelor’s in a non-education field | 6 graduate pre-teaching hours, then a supervised internship | Three-year alternate route license |
| MAPQT | Bachelor’s degree in any field | 90 clock hours of training | One-year educator license, alternate route |
| TMI | Bachelor’s in a non-education field | 8-week on-campus or online training program | One-year license during internship |
| ABCTE | Bachelor’s degree | Subject-area assessment plus required training track | One-year license during internship |
Education Requirements by Alternate Route Program
MAT
- You must have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education to enter this program.
- You must plan to be licensed to teach in one of the following areas: Biology, Art, Business, Elementary Education, Chemistry, French, English, Home Economics, German, Math, Marketing, Music, Physics, Physical Education, Spanish, Speech Communications, Social Studies
- Once enrolled, you must complete 6 graduate hours in pre-teaching requirements in Tests and Measurement and Classroom Management
- Once this is completed, you may apply for an initial three-year alternate route license, verifying your enrollment in the program. This will allow you to teach during the program.
MAPQT
- You must have a bachelor’s degree to enter this program
- If you graduated more than 7 years ago, you must have a total GPA of at least 2.0. If you graduated less than 7 years ago, your GPA in your major must be between 2.5 and 2.75.
- You must plan to teach in one of the following areas: Art, Business, Biology, English, Chemistry, French, German, Home Economics, Music, Math, Marketing, Physics, Physical Education, Spanish, Social Studies, Speech Communications, Special Education (grades 7-12)
- Once enrolled, you must complete 90 clock hours of training
TMI
- You must have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education to enter this program.
- You must plan to teach in one of the following areas: Business, Biology, English, Chemistry, German, French, Home Economics, Math, Marketing, Social Studies, Physics, Speech Communications, Spanish, or Special Education
- You must enroll in a participating college/university (listed here)
- Once enrolled, you must complete an 8-week training session or an 8-week online program
ABCTE
- You must have a bachelor’s degree to enter this program.
- You must also plan to teach in one of these grade 7-12 areas: Biology, Physics, Math, Chemistry, or English.
- During the program, you must complete one of the following to obtain a five-year alternate route license: MAPQT 3-week summer training, MDE 8-week online training, or MAT 6 hours of initial graduate university courses.
Elementary Education testing requirements are subject to change and vary by endorsement. Some elementary candidates have needed to earn a passing score on the Foundations of Reading assessment, or attempt that assessment and complete a Pathways to Proficient Reading track, before licensure is finalized. Confirm current reading assessment requirements with MDE.
Exams Required for Alternate Route Licensure
The exams most alternate-route candidates encounter are the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (where applicable) and Praxis Subject Assessments in the candidate’s content area. Mississippi’s administrative code may still reference the older “Praxis I” and “Praxis II” names for these same exams, so don’t be surprised to see that terminology on MDE paperwork. Requirements vary by alternate-route program, endorsement area, and current MDE rules, so confirm current testing requirements, test codes, and passing scores with MDE’s Office of Educator Licensure before applying.
MAT
Requirements vary by program, endorsement area, and current MDE rules. Historically, MAT candidates have needed to pass a basic skills exam and a subject-area exam before enrolling. Confirm current testing requirements with MDE before applying.
MAPQT
- Requirements vary by endorsement area and current MDE rules. Historically, MAPQT candidates have needed to pass a basic skills exam and a subject-area exam before enrolling. Confirm current testing requirements with MDE before applying.
- After you teach for one year, you must pass a school district evaluation of your performance
TMI
Requirements vary by endorsement area and current MDE rules. Historically, TMI candidates have needed to pass a basic skills exam and a subject-area exam before enrolling. Confirm current testing requirements with MDE before applying.
ABCTE
The following reflects Mississippi’s current requirements for candidates using the ABCTE pathway to MDE licensure, not ABCTE’s requirements in other states.
- You must pass an assessment in your subject area to enter the program.
- For a one-year license (required for the internship portion of this program), you must also pass the ABCTE subject exam in that area.
Internship and Experience Requirements
MAT
- After completing your internship, you may apply for your five-year alternate route teaching license
MAPQT
- You must secure a teaching position after completing the 90 clock hours of training, and then apply for your one-year educator license, alternate route.
- After you get the one-year license, you must complete Saturday practicums and complete a school district mentoring program for one year. Then you may apply for the five-year alternate route license.
TMI
- After admission into the program, you may apply for the one-year license to enable you to teach during your internship
- You must complete a one-year internship with a mentoring and induction program in your school district, and secure a recommendation from the district prior to applying for your five-year alternate route license.
ABCTE
- You must have a written statement from a school district that is committed to employing you to receive the one-year license for the internship.
- Completing this internship with mentoring and completing the program’s educational requirements will help you qualify for the five-year alternate route license.
Once you earn your five-year license, keep it active by following Mississippi’s teacher certification renewal requirements before it expires.
Criminal History Background Check
Before you are allowed to work in a Mississippi school district, you must undergo a complete criminal history background check, including fingerprinting, as well as a child abuse registry check in accordance with Mississippi Code 37-9-17.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will check your fingerprints and release the results of your background check to the school district for which you plan to work. You may not work with children in Mississippi until all background checks have been cleared.
Where Alternate Route Programs Are Offered
Participating institutions and program availability may change. Contact each program directly for current admission deadlines, fees, and coursework schedules, since these details change from year to year.
MAT is currently offered at the following colleges and universities in Mississippi. Contact each school’s education department directly for current admission requirements:
- Alcorn State University
- Belhaven College
- Delta State University
- Jackson State University
- Mississippi College
- MS Valley State University
- William Carey College
- Mississippi State University
- MS University for Women
- University of Southern MS
MAPQT is currently offered at the following colleges and universities in Mississippi:
- Itawamba Community College – Tupelo
- Hinds Community College – Raymond
- MS Delta Community College – Indianola
- Pearl River Community College – Hattiesburg
- Northwest Community College – Senatobia
- MS Gulf Coast Community College – Gautier
- East Central Community College – Philadelphia
For current MAPQT program details, contact the Mississippi Community College Foundation or check MDE’s alternate route licensure page for updated contact information.
TMI is offered at the following Mississippi colleges and universities. Program schedules and formats vary by campus, so confirm current details with each school directly:
- Delta State University (8 Week On Campus Program)
- Mississippi State University (8 Week On Campus Program)
- University of Mississippi (10 Week Online Program)
- University of Southern Mississippi (8 Week On Campus Program)
- Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (General information on TMI programs)
ABCTE: For current program information, visit ABCTE’s website or contact MDE’s Office of Educator Licensure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alternative teaching certification in Mississippi?
Alternative teaching certification is a licensure path for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree outside education. Instead of completing a traditional teacher preparation program first, candidates enroll in an MDE-approved alternate route program such as MAT, MAPQT, TMI, or ABCTE, pass required exams, and teach under a provisional license issued by the Mississippi Department of Education while finishing coursework and a supervised internship.
How long does alternative certification take in Mississippi?
Timelines vary by program. TMI and MAPQT candidates typically complete an 8-to-10-week training session or 90 clock hours of coursework before starting a one-year internship, while MAT candidates complete 6 graduate pre-teaching hours first. License sequence also varies by alternate-route pathway. Initial license type and duration depend on the specific MDE-approved program, so confirm current timelines with MDE or your program before enrolling.
What exams do I need to pass for alternate route licensure in Mississippi?
Requirements vary by alternate-route program, endorsement area, and current MDE rules. Most candidates have historically needed a basic skills exam and a Praxis Subject Assessment in their content area, sometimes still listed under the older “Praxis I” and “Praxis II” names on MDE paperwork, while ABCTE candidates complete ABCTE’s own subject-area assessment instead. Confirm current testing requirements, test codes, and passing scores with MDE before applying.
Do alternate route candidates in Mississippi need a background check?
Yes. Mississippi Code 37-9-17 requires a complete criminal history background check, including fingerprinting and a child abuse registry check, before you can work in a Mississippi school district. The Department of Public Safety and FBI process the fingerprints and send results to your hiring district.
What’s the difference between MAT, MAPQT, TMI, and ABCTE?
All four lead to Mississippi teacher licensure, but they differ in format and prior coursework. MAT is a graduate-credit path tied to a specific university. MAPQT centers on 90 clock hours of training through Mississippi’s community college system. TMI is an 8-week training program offered at several universities. ABCTE relies on a subject-area assessment plus a shorter training track. Each requires a supervised internship, but initial license type and duration vary by program, so confirm current sequencing with MDE.
- Four routes have historically been MDE-approved for alternate certification — MAT, MAPQT, TMI, and ABCTE each require a bachelor’s degree, but they differ in coursework format and length, and the approved list can change, so confirm current options with MDE.
- Testing requirements vary by program and endorsement area — MAT, MAPQT, and TMI candidates have historically needed to pass basic skills and subject-area exams before starting their program, and ABCTE uses its own subject assessment. Confirm current requirements with MDE before applying.
- License sequence varies by alternate-route pathway — initial license type and duration depend on the specific MDE-approved program, so don’t assume every route follows the same timeline.
- A background check is mandatory — Mississippi Code 37-9-17 requires fingerprinting and a child abuse registry check before you can work in any Mississippi school district.
- Program contacts change often — confirm current admission deadlines, fees, and coursework schedules directly with each university or MDE rather than relying on older contact information.
Find accredited alternative teacher certification programs in Mississippi, including admission requirements and program formats for each MDE-approved route.
