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Sort and compare teacher licensing requirements side-by-side across all 50 states.
| State | Degree | Primary Exam | App Fee | Total Fees | Cert Years | CE Hrs | Sub Req. | Alt Cert | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Subject Assessments | $38 | $500–$650 | 5 yr | 50 | High school diploma (standard); 60 semester hours of college credit (emergency substitute) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $200 | $600–$740 | 2 yr | Varies | High school diploma for short-term (under 20 days); valid teaching certificate for long-term (20+ days) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) - Professional Knowledge Exam | $60 | $430–$500 | 12 yr | 180 | Bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) | $75 | $420–$550 | 5 yr | 36 | High school diploma or GED (standard substitute); bachelor's degree (long-term substitute, 30+ consecutive days) | Yes | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution | Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST or alternatives) | $100 | $575–$875 | 5 yr | 150 | Bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Subject Assessments (or equivalent content competency demonstration) | $90 | $250–$470 | 3 yr | 90 | High school diploma (1-year authorization); bachelor's degree (3-year authorization); Colorado or other state teaching license (5-year authorization) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution | Praxis Subject Tests | $200 | $525–$745 | 10 yr | 90 | Bachelor's degree (for assignments of 40 days or less); bachelor's degree plus 12 credit hours in subject area (for assignments over 40 consecutive days) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, or 30 credit hours in a subject field for alternative routes | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $100 | $465–$605 | 4 yr | 90 | Bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution | Approved Basic Skills Exam (Praxis Core or equivalent) | $50 | $400–$540 | 2 yr | Varies | Determined by individual LEA (Local Education Agency) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution | Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) - General Knowledge Test | $75 | $490–$590 | 3 yr | Varies | Varies by district; typically high school diploma or higher | Yes | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university | Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) - Content Assessment | $20 | $260–$330 | 3 yr | Varies | Varies by district; typically bachelor's degree or 20 hours of GaPSC-approved training | Yes | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $0 | $330–$490 | 3 yr | Varies | Determined by HIDOE; HTSB does not certify substitutes | Yes | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Subject Assessments | $75 | $235–$285 | 5 yr | Varies | Varies by district; typically high school diploma or bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) - Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) | $100 | $700–$735 | 5 yr | 120 | Bachelor's degree (for Substitute Teaching License); or a valid Illinois PEL or ELS | Yes | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution | Indiana CORE Assessments for Educator Licensure - Pedagogy Assessment | $70 | $293 | 2 yr | 90 | Bachelor's degree (standard substitute permit); associate's degree or 60 college credit hours (emergency substitute permit in shortage areas) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT) | $85 | $227-$373 | 2 yr | 6 | Bachelor's degree (for a Substitute Teaching License); or a valid Iowa teaching license | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $60 | $586–$696 | 2 yr | 160 | Bachelor's degree (standard substitute license); 60 college credit hours (emergency substitute license) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $85 | $572–$682 | 4 yr | Varies | Bachelor's degree (standard substitute certificate); 64 college credit hours (emergency substitute certificate) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $55 | $575–$685 | 3 yr | 150 | Bachelor's degree preferred; some parishes accept 60 college credit hours for substitute teaching | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $50 | $428–$538 | 5 yr | 6 | 60 college credit hours (minimum); bachelor's degree preferred | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $50 | $435–$545 | 5 yr | 6 | 60 college credit hours (minimum set by local school systems; some require a bachelor's degree) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Bachelor's degree | Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) - Communication and Literacy Skills | $100 | $433–$672 | 5 yr | 150 | Bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Bachelor's degree | Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) - Professional Readiness Examination (PRE) | $66 | $396–$497 | 6 yr | 150 | 60 semester credit hours from an accredited college or a valid teaching certificate | Yes | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Bachelor's degree | MTLE Content, Pedagogy, and Basic Skills Exams | $57 (non-refundable) | $405–$680 | 5 yr | 125 | Bachelor's degree for short-call substituting; valid teaching license preferred | Yes | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $25 | $376–$546 | 5 yr | 10 | Associate's degree or 48 semester hours of college credit | Yes | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Bachelor's degree | Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA) | $40 | $439–$759 | 4 yr | 15 | 60 semester credit hours of college-level coursework | Yes | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $55 | $373–$543 | 5 yr | 60 | Bachelor's degree or substitute teaching permit with district sponsorship | Yes | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Subject Assessment | $50 | $370–$540 | 5 yr | 6 | Bachelor's degree or valid teaching certificate | Yes | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $180 | $480–$650 | 5 yr | 6 | Bachelor's degree for standard substitute license; 60 college credits for short-term substitute | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $120 | $370–$540 | 3 yr | 75 | Bachelor's degree preferred; local district may set requirements | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Subject Test (Praxis II) | $105 | $293–$344 | — | 100 | 60 college credits or a valid teaching certificate | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Bachelor's degree | NES Essential Academic Skills (EAS) | $55 | $363–$574 | 5 yr | Varies | Associate's degree or 60 semester hours, or a valid teaching license | Yes | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Bachelor's degree | Educating All Students (EAS) | $50 | $414–$714 | 5 yr | 100 | Bachelor's degree (varies by district; some may accept 60 college credits) | Yes | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis II - Content Knowledge | $70 | $347–$577 | 3 yr | 80 | Bachelor's degree (standard); some districts accept associate's degree or 48 college credits for emergency substitutes | Yes | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis II - Content Knowledge | $55 | $366–$416 | 2 yr | 90 | Bachelor's degree for a Substitute Teaching License; districts may hire non-licensed substitutes for short-term needs | Yes | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Bachelor's degree | Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) - Assessment of Professional Knowledge (APK) | $25 | $295–$320 | 4 yr | 18 | Bachelor's degree for a Substitute Teaching License; non-licensed substitutes with some college may be used in emergency situations | Yes | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Bachelor's degree | Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) | $50 | $401 | 5 yr | 75 | Bachelor's degree for standard substitute certificate; 90 college credit hours for emergency substitute certificate | Yes | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Bachelor's degree | Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) - Multiple Subjects Exam or NES Content Exam | $197 | $322–$352 | 3 yr | Varies | Bachelor's degree for a Restricted Substitute Teaching License; any valid Oregon teaching license also qualifies | Yes | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (or SAT/ACT/GRE equivalent scores) | $150 (Standard Certification Fee of $50 + Professional Educator Discipline Fee of $100) | $327.60–$477.60 | 6 yr | 180 | Bachelor's degree for a Substitute Teaching Permit; emergency/day-to-day substitutes may have lower requirements at district discretion | Yes | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $100 | $345–$495 | 5 yr | Varies | Bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $105 | $540–$710 | 3 yr | 120 | Bachelor's degree for a standard Substitute Teaching Certificate; some districts may use emergency substitutes with an associate's degree or 60+ college credits | Yes | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $50 | $363.25–$513.25 | 5 yr | 6 | Bachelor's degree for a Substitute Teaching Certificate; some districts may request emergency authorization for substitutes with less education | Yes | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $75 | $500–$700 | 3 yr | 90 | Bachelor's degree | Yes | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Bachelor's degree | TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) Content Exam | $77 | $400–$550 | 5 yr | 150 | High school diploma or equivalent (varies by district; some require 60 college hours or bachelor's degree) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Subject Assessment | $100 | $310–$400 | 3 yr | 200 | High school diploma or equivalent (districts may set higher requirements) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $200 | $500–$640 | 3 yr | 9 | Bachelor's degree (varies by district; some may accept associate's degree or 60 college credits) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $50 | $550–$750 | 5 yr | 180 | Bachelor's degree (local school boards may set requirements; some accept 60 college credits) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Bachelor's degree | WEST-B (Washington Educator Skills Test - Basic) | $62 | $700–$900 | 5 yr | 150 | Bachelor's degree (or 72 quarter hours/48 semester hours of college credit for limited substitute certificate) | Yes | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators | $25 | $500–$650 | 5 yr | 6 | Bachelor's degree (or college coursework with county approval for short-term substitute permits) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Subject Assessment | $125 | $380–$540 | 5 yr | 6 | Bachelor's degree (short-term substitutes may need only a substitute license with 60+ credits in some cases) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Bachelor's degree | Praxis Subject Assessment | $100 | $370–$420 | 5 yr | 5 | Substitute teaching permit requires a minimum of 60 college semester hours (bachelor's degree not required for short-term substituting) | Yes | March 2026 |