Wyoming Teaching Certification
Wyoming teaching certification requires a bachelor’s degree from an approved teacher preparation program, supervised student teaching, and passing the required Praxis II exams for your endorsement area. The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) issues initial licenses that last five years. Applicants without an education degree can pursue alternative certification instead.
Sponsored School(s)
The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) licenses every teacher and administrator working in a Wyoming school district. Most candidates take the traditional route: a bachelor’s degree in education, a supervised student teaching placement, and passing scores on the required Praxis II exams. If your degree isn’t in education, Wyoming’s alternative certification route lets you start teaching while you finish the remaining requirements.
Choose the description of certification you are most interested in or the situation that best describes you:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Wyoming’s Investment in Education
Wyoming schools are funded above the national average, which gives teachers access to newer materials and classroom technology. State revenue allocated to education varies by year and by district, and the level of school funding in your area can affect classroom resources and hiring. See how Wyoming compares to other states on this measure (see State Education Spending vs. Overall State Revenue). For state-level policy questions specific to education funding, the Wyoming Governor’s website lists current initiatives and budget priorities.
Initial Wyoming Teaching Certification
Wyoming requires every classroom teacher to hold a PTSB-issued license before stepping in front of students. Lawmakers and educators in the state have worked to align classroom standards with what colleges and employers expect from graduates, from elementary school through high school.
Wyoming’s schools are better funded than those in many other states, which allows teachers to work with newer materials and educational tools in the classroom. As enrollment grows in some districts, more Wyoming teachers are needed to keep pace with demand.
Education Requirements
The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) requires all teachers to complete a regionally or nationally recognized teacher preparation program to teach in a Wyoming school district. The PTSB maintains the current list of approved teacher preparation programs for the state.
The traditional certification path in Wyoming requires applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in education, and also requires student teaching experience. For individuals with degrees outside of education, there are alternative routes to certification.
Additionally, applicants must submit an institutional recommendation for licensure, typically signed by the head of the college of education at their college or university. This not only verifies that an applicant meets all certification requirements, including student teaching, but also recommends the applicant for certification.
Certification Options
Initial certification allows potential teachers to teach in Wyoming school districts. Initial certification lasts five years and is valid for individuals who have never taught in a Wyoming school district.
Wyoming offers several different levels of certification for qualified individuals:
- Birth to Age 5
- Birth to Age 8 or Grade 3
- Elementary Level K-6
- Middle Level 5-8
- Secondary Level 6-12
- K-12
- Special Education K-6/ 5-8/ 6-12/ K-12
For Wyoming teachers who wish to renew their teaching licenses, see more information about the renewal process here.
Examinations
Currently, Wyoming requires Praxis testing only for certain endorsement areas, including Elementary Education and Social Studies Composite.
Individuals interested in becoming elementary school teachers must score 60 or higher on the PRAXIS II exam “Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.”
Certification requirements also require that Social Studies Composite teachers score at least 158 on the PRAXIS II exam, “Social Studies: Content Knowledge.”
For more information on registration, advice, and the tests, visit the PRAXIS II website.
Before submitting their applications, individuals must also demonstrate their knowledge of the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions, either through coursework or through examination. For more information on this requirement, click here.
Experience Requirements
Certification requirements dictate that individuals must participate in student teaching to ensure they gain the skills necessary to lead their own classes effectively. Student teaching is completed during an individual’s teacher preparation program and varies in length by subject.
Student teachers assist classrooms by planning lessons and helping manage the classroom. This provides them with real-world experience that helps them adjust to their future lives as teachers.
Document and Application Requirements
After completing all requirements for initial licensure, the next step is to complete the licensure application form and submit the required accompanying documents to the PTSB.
An initial in-state teacher’s license holds an application fee of $175, while an out-of-state license has an application fee of $225. A separate $50 fingerprint processing fee also applies.
Individuals who meet the previous requirements can find the application form here.
In addition to the application packet, individuals must provide the following documents in the order listed:
- The Application Checklist
- Application Fees, with fee attached
- Application Form
- Individual Requirements for the specific license an individual applies for
The Application Checklist contains the required documents needed to earn a teaching license. The checklist includes:
- The Checklist
- Application Form
- Individual Requirements Form
- Fee Payment Form with payments attached
- Fingerprint Cards
- Official Transcripts
- U.S. and Wyoming Constitution (verified by transcript or exam)
- Institutional Recommendation
- Verification of Work History (Out-of-state applicants only)
- PRAXIS II scores (If applicable)
Applicants should send their completed forms with the required documents to:
Professional Teaching Standards Board
2001 Capitol Avenue, Emerson Building, Room 128,
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Criminal History Background Check
Applicants must submit to a background check and fingerprinting to earn licensure in Wyoming. Wyoming Fingerprint Packages may be requested by contacting the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board at (307) 777-7291.
For more information on fingerprinting, visit the Wyoming PTSB fingerprinting FAQ.
Contact Information
If you have further questions about teacher education programs in Wyoming, the PTSB website lists the state’s approved programs.
Students interested in learning more about the certification process in Wyoming may visit the PTSB website or call them at (307) 777-7291.
Wyoming Teacher Salary and Job Outlook
BLS data shows Wyoming elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $61,150 as of May 2025, with kindergarten teachers at $60,990, middle school teachers at $62,480, and secondary teachers at $62,690. For a fuller breakdown of pay by district and benefits like retirement and health coverage, see Wyoming Teacher Salaries and Benefits.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $60,990 | $61,500 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,150 | $63,630 |
| Middle School Teachers | $62,480 | $65,560 |
| High School Teachers | $62,690 | $66,020 |
Wyoming’s job outlook for teachers bucks the national trend. Nationally, the BLS projects a slight decline in most K-12 teaching occupations between 2024 and 2034. Still, Wyoming’s Department of Education projects growth across every grade band: elementary school teaching positions are expected to grow 8.8%, kindergarten teaching positions 9.2%, middle school teaching positions 8.9%, and secondary teaching positions 9.1% over that period, with a combined average of roughly 470 annual openings statewide from growth, retirements, and turnover.
Renewing a Wyoming Teaching Certificate
A Wyoming initial teaching license lasts five years. To renew it, license holders complete five professional development or renewal credits through PTSB-approved workshops or coursework. Full details on the renewal process, including deadlines and accepted credit types, are covered on the Wyoming Teacher Certification Renewal page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for Wyoming teaching certification?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited teacher preparation program. The program must include supervised student teaching and lead to an institutional recommendation for licensure from your college of education.
What Praxis exams does Wyoming require?
Wyoming only requires Praxis II exams for two specific endorsements. Elementary Education candidates need a score of 160 or better, and Social Studies Composite candidates need a score of 158 or better. Most other endorsement areas don’t require a Praxis exam for initial licensure.
How long does an initial Wyoming teaching license last?
An initial Wyoming teaching license lasts five years and applies to individuals who have never taught in a Wyoming school district. After that, license holders renew by completing five professional development credits or renewal credits.
Is there an alternative path to certification in Wyoming?
Yes. If your bachelor’s degree isn’t in education, Wyoming’s alternative certification route lets you begin teaching under a provisional license while you complete the remaining coursework and testing requirements.
How much does it cost to apply for a Wyoming teaching license?
An initial in-state license application costs $175, and an out-of-state application costs $225. A separate $50 fingerprint processing fee also applies. All fees are paid as part of the full application packet submitted to the PTSB.
- PTSB licenses every Wyoming teacher — the traditional path requires a bachelor’s degree, a teacher preparation program, supervised student teaching, and passing Praxis II scores for elementary and social studies endorsements.
- An alternative route exists — candidates without an education degree can start teaching under a provisional license while finishing outstanding requirements.
- Wyoming’s teacher job market is growing — the state projects 8.8% to 9.2% growth across K-12 teaching roles through 2034, well above the national trend.
- Licenses last five years — renewal requires five professional development credits through PTSB-approved workshops or coursework.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Wyoming, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2026.
