Missouri Teacher Certification Renewal
Missouri teacher certification renewal means completing 30 contact hours of professional development, two years of mentoring, and a district performance-based assessment during your Initial Professional Certificate’s four-year term. Teachers who upgrade to the Career Continuous Professional Certificate must then complete 15 contact hours of professional development every year through the DESE Certification Account Portal.
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Missouri teachers hold one of two main certificate types once they finish their preparation program: the Initial Professional Certificate (IPC) or, later, the Career Continuous Professional Certificate (CCPC). If you haven’t earned your IPC yet, start with the initial Missouri teaching certification requirements. If you’re already licensed in another state and moving here, check Missouri teacher reciprocity for out-of-state educators instead. Otherwise, here’s what Missouri teacher certification renewal requires and what to do if your certificate lapses.
Use the links below to jump to renewal requirements and reinstatement steps.
Teaching Certification Renewal
Once you receive your Initial Professional Certificate (IPC), it’s valid for four years. To renew it, you must fulfill certain requirements during that four-year window, including:
- Complete 30 contact hours of professional development
- Complete two years of mentoring, determined by your school district
- Develop and implement a professional development plan that is placed on file with your school district
- Participate in your school district’s yearly performance-based assessment program
If you wish to upgrade your IPC to a Career Continuous Professional Certificate (CCPC), you must complete 15 hours of professional development each year and maintain a professional development plan. Many teachers complete these hours through graduate coursework, which can also count toward salary lane advancement for Missouri teachers. Submit your renewal or upgrade paperwork through the DESE Certification Account Portal, the state’s online system for tracking certification status. You become exempt from reporting professional development to the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education if you meet two of the following three criteria:
- Have ten years of experience as a certified teacher
- Hold a master’s degree
- Hold a national certification recognized by DESE
Reinstatement of Certification
If you fail to renew your Missouri teaching certificate, you may reinstate it by completing 24 hours of professional development within six months of reactivating the certificate. If you stop teaching and return years later, the school district that hires you will suggest professional development activities and verify that you’ve completed them before you resume teaching.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Missouri teaching certificate valid before renewal?
The Initial Professional Certificate is valid for four years. Teachers must complete 30 contact hours of professional development, two years of district-supervised mentoring, and a performance-based assessment during that window to renew their license.
What professional development hours does a Career Continuous Professional Certificate require?
Once you upgrade to a CCPC, you need 15 contact hours of professional development every year, along with an active professional development plan on file with your district.
How do I submit my Missouri certificate renewal?
Missouri teachers submit renewal and upgrade paperwork through the DESE Certification Account Portal, the state’s online certification tracking system.
What happens if my Missouri teaching certificate expires?
You can reinstate an expired certificate by completing 24 hours of professional development within six months of reactivating it. Districts that hire returning teachers will recommend development activities and confirm that you’ve met them.
Who’s exempt from Missouri’s professional development reporting requirement?
Teachers become exempt once they meet two of these three criteria: ten years of certified teaching experience, a master’s degree, or national certification recognized by DESE.
- Renewal timeline — The IPC renews every four years with 30 contact hours of professional development, two years of mentoring, and a performance-based assessment.
- CCPC upgrade — Requires 15 professional development hours annually plus a development plan on file with your district.
- Reinstatement — A lapsed certificate needs 24 professional development hours within six months of reactivation.
- Where to file — Renewals and upgrades go through the DESE Certification Account Portal.
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