New Hampshire Teacher License Reciprocity Guide
New Hampshire grants teacher licensure by reciprocity to candidates who completed an approved educator preparation program in another state or who have three years of experience in the last seven under a valid out-of-state license. The NH Department of Education’s Bureau of Credentialing reviews endorsement comparability and requires additional testing for applicants without an out-of-state initial license or higher.
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New Hampshire considers teaching credentials from any other US state or territory for reciprocity, but NASDTEC Interstate Agreement membership alone doesn’t guarantee a match. The New Hampshire Department of Education’s Bureau of Credentialing evaluates whether your specific out-of-state license counts as a full license and whether your endorsement lines up with one New Hampshire offers before issuing a state license. Here’s how the process works, what New Hampshire requires beyond reciprocity, and which states are covered under the agreement.
Use the links below to jump to reciprocity pathways, endorsement review, testing requirements, the full list of reciprocal states, and the application steps.
- How New Hampshire teacher reciprocity works
- Get your endorsement reviewed for comparability
- Meet New Hampshire’s testing requirements
- Check if your state has a reciprocity agreement
- Apply for your New Hampshire teaching license
How New Hampshire Teacher License Reciprocity Works
New Hampshire’s Bureau of Credentialing evaluates out-of-state applicants under two named options: Approved Educator Preparation Program Out-of-State (AEPPOS) and Demonstrated Competencies: Experience under an Out-of-State License (DCEX). Older resources sometimes refer to this route by its former name, Alternative 2, but the Bureau now organizes reciprocity applications around these two pathways.
Approved Educator Preparation Program Out-of-State (AEPPOS)
This pathway covers candidates who completed a state-approved educator preparation program outside New Hampshire for the endorsement they’re seeking. You need to apply within three years of completing the program, or, if it’s been longer, hold a full license in that endorsement from the same state where you completed the program, unexpired for more than three years. The program must lead to an endorsement comparable in content and grade level to one New Hampshire offers. You’ll still need to meet New Hampshire’s testing requirements unless your out-of-state license already satisfies them.
Demonstrated Competencies: Experience Under an Out-of-State License (DCEX)
If you didn’t complete a state-approved preparation program, you can qualify through experience instead. This route requires three years of teaching experience during the last seven years under a full, valid educator license issued by another state, documented with transcripts and employer experience letters. Substitute teaching, paraeducator work, and volunteer experience don’t count toward the three years, and temporary or incomplete out-of-state licenses issued because of the pandemic aren’t accepted either. A provisional, emergency, or one-year license doesn’t qualify. Only full teaching licenses are considered reciprocal in New Hampshire.
Endorsement Comparability Review
Holding a valid out-of-state license doesn’t guarantee an automatic match. The Bureau of Credentialing compares your existing endorsement’s content area and grade level to New Hampshire’s own endorsement categories before approving reciprocity. If your out-of-state endorsement doesn’t line up closely enough, the Bureau may require additional coursework or a different endorsement area than the one you originally held.
Testing Requirements for Reciprocity Applicants
New Hampshire doesn’t waive every exam just because you’re applying through reciprocity, and the state overhauled its testing requirements for applications received on or after July 1, 2025. Applicants who don’t already hold a full out-of-state initial teaching license or higher that itself requires a basic skills test need to satisfy the Basic Academic Skills Assessment (BASA) requirement. You can do that by passing the Pearson Essential Academic Skills: Reading, Writing and Mathematics test, submitting a comparable out-of-state test for evaluation, or scoring at or above the 50th percentile on the SAT, ACT, or GRE. An advanced degree doesn’t satisfy the BASA or subject-area testing requirements on its own.
Every applicant also needs to pass a content area test matched to their endorsement through Pearson’s testing system, though out-of-state or national subject-area test scores can be submitted for a comparability evaluation instead of retesting. Foundations of Reading, administered by Pearson, is now required specifically for Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education Teacher endorsements, after New Hampshire dropped it as a requirement for Early Childhood Education and Reading and Writing Specialist endorsements as part of the same testing update. First-time applicants additionally need to clear a Criminal History Record Check before New Hampshire will issue a license.
States With Teacher Reciprocity Agreements With New Hampshire
The following states are members of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement and have signed reciprocity agreements with New Hampshire. If your state appears below, you can apply for New Hampshire licensure through the AEPPOS or DCEX pathway rather than starting from scratch, though New Hampshire still reviews whether your specific license type counts as a full license eligible for reciprocity.
| State | State | State | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Indiana | Nevada | South Dakota |
| Arizona | Kansas | New Jersey | Tennessee |
| Arkansas | Kentucky | New Mexico | Texas |
| California | Louisiana | New York | Utah |
| Colorado | Maine | North Carolina | Vermont |
| Connecticut | Maryland | North Dakota | Virginia |
| Delaware | Massachusetts | Ohio | Washington |
| Florida | Michigan | Oklahoma | West Virginia |
| Georgia | Mississippi | Oregon | Wisconsin |
| Hawaii | Missouri | Pennsylvania | Wyoming |
| Idaho | Montana | Rhode Island | |
| Illinois | Nebraska | South Carolina |
How to Apply for a New Hampshire Teaching License by Reciprocity
New Hampshire’s reciprocity application runs entirely online through the New Hampshire Department of Education’s myNHDOE portal, not a downloadable paper form. Create or log into your myNHDOE account, then access the Educator Information System (EIS) to start your application and pay the fee. You’ll upload your out-of-state transcripts or license documentation as PDFs, along with employer experience letters if you’re applying under DCEX, and complete a Criminal History Record Check if this is your first New Hampshire credential. The Bureau of Credentialing reviews your endorsement comparability and testing documentation as part of the same application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to retake my teaching exams to get a New Hampshire license through reciprocity?
Not always. If you already hold a full out-of-state initial teaching license or higher that itself required a basic skills test, New Hampshire waives the Basic Academic Skills Assessment. You’ll still need to pass the content area test for your endorsement, plus Foundations of Reading if you’re seeking an Early Childhood Special Education or Special Education Teacher endorsement.
What if my out-of-state teaching license has expired?
Reciprocity in New Hampshire is built around full, valid licenses. An expired out-of-state license can still support a DCEX application if you accumulated three years of experience in the last seven years while it was active, but you’ll want to confirm your specific situation with the Bureau of Credentialing before applying. If you previously held a full New Hampshire license in the same endorsement that’s now expired, reciprocity doesn’t apply at all. You’ll need to apply for a DOE Renewal instead of starting a new reciprocity application.
Does New Hampshire accept a provisional or alternative license through reciprocity?
No. New Hampshire only considers full teaching licenses reciprocal. Provisional, emergency, and one-year alternative licenses from other states don’t qualify under either the AEPPOS or DCEX pathway.
What happens if my endorsement doesn’t match a New Hampshire endorsement category?
The Bureau of Credentialing compares your out-of-state endorsement’s content area and grade level to New Hampshire’s own categories. If they don’t align closely enough, you may need additional coursework or testing to qualify for the closest matching New Hampshire endorsement.
My state isn’t part of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Can I still apply?
New Hampshire’s reciprocity review is based on whether your license counts as a full teaching license, not solely on NASDTEC membership, so it’s worth checking with the Bureau of Credentialing even if your state isn’t listed below. If your license or program doesn’t qualify for AEPPOS or DCEX, ask about New Hampshire’s other pathways to licensure, including the Site-Based Licensing Plan.
- Two pathways lead to reciprocity — AEPPOS covers candidates from an approved out-of-state preparation program, while DCEX covers candidates with three years of experience in the last seven under a full out-of-state license.
- Reciprocity isn’t automatic — the Bureau of Credentialing reviews endorsement comparability before approving any application.
- Testing still applies — only candidates who already hold a full out-of-state initial license or higher skip the Basic Academic Skills Assessment. Everyone takes the content area test.
- Only full licenses qualify — provisional, emergency, and one-year out-of-state licenses aren’t reciprocal in New Hampshire.
- Reciprocity isn’t limited to a fixed list — the Bureau of Credentialing reviews any full license from a US state or territory, though the states below have signed formal NASDTEC reciprocity agreements with New Hampshire.
Select your state below to find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
