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How to become a certified teacher in New Jersey. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Subject Test (Praxis II). Government fees: $293–$344. Substitute requirements: 60 college credits or a valid teaching certificate. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · New Jersey
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in New Jersey. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) - Office of Certification and Induction.
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Subject Test (Praxis II)
Total Gov Fees
$293–$344
Initial Cert
Varies
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 2.75 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Subject-specific content knowledge exam. Required for all certification areas. Must achieve the New Jersey passing score for the specific endorsement sought.
Issued to candidates who have completed a traditional teacher preparation program with student teaching. CEAS holders must complete a provisional teaching period and mentoring program to earn a Standard Certificate. Valid until Standard Certificate is earned.
Issued after completing a 1-year provisional teaching period under a CEAS and successful completion of a mentoring program. The Standard Certificate is permanent and does not expire.
Issued to candidates who have passed required Praxis exams and have a bachelor's degree but have not completed a traditional teacher preparation program. CE holders must complete an alternate route program during their provisional year.
Minimum Education
60 college credits or a valid teaching certificate
Certificate Required
Substitute Credential
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$105
Validity
5 years
New Jersey requires a Substitute Credential from NJDOE. Applicants need at least 60 college credits or a valid teaching certificate. There are two types: Standard Substitute Credential (60 credits, up to 20 consecutive days per assignment) and Emergency Substitute Credential (30 credits, only when standard substitutes are unavailable). Background check and fingerprinting are required.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeeStandard certificate application fee through NJEdCert system | $105 |
| Fingerprint FeeNJ State Police and FBI fingerprint check via MorphoTrust/IDEMIA | $68.50 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Subject Assessment only ($120–$170 per test). Praxis Core no longer required for most certifications as of Jan 1, 2025 (P.L.2024, c.26). Exception: Limited CE and Limited CEAS still require Praxis Core ($90 x 3 = $270). | $120–$170 |
| Initial CertificateCEAS application fee | $105 |
| Renewal FeeStandard Certificate is permanent and does not require renewal | $0 |
| Substitute PermitSubstitute credential application fee | $105 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application ($105), fingerprinting ($68.50), and Praxis Subject Assessment ($120–$170). Praxis Core no longer required for most certifications. Does not include teacher preparation program tuition. | $293–$344 |
Graduate from a NJDOE-approved or CAEP/NCATE-accredited teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree and student teaching.
Must include student teaching/clinical experience
Pass the Praxis Subject Assessment for your endorsement area. Praxis Core is no longer required for most certifications (P.L.2024, c.26).
Fee: $120–$170
Register at ets.org/praxis. Exception: Limited CE and Limited CEAS still require Praxis Core (Reading 5713, Writing 5723, Math 5733).
Submit fingerprints for NJ State Police and FBI criminal background checks through IDEMIA.
Fee: $68.50
Required for all certificate applicants
Submit application through the NJEdCert online certification system for a CEAS.
Fee: $105
Upload transcripts, test scores, and program endorsement
Teach for one year under a provisional certificate with mentoring support from the employing district.
Must complete mentoring program and receive positive evaluations
Upon successful completion of the provisional period, receive your permanent Standard Certificate.
Standard Certificate does not expire
New Jersey has one of the nation's most established alternate route programs. Candidates with a bachelor's degree and a 2.75 GPA can earn a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) by passing Praxis exams. CE holders can then secure employment with a school district and complete a state-approved alternate route preparation program while teaching during a provisional year.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
100
Renewal Cycle
5 years
New Jersey requires 100 professional development hours per 5-year cycle. While the Standard Certificate itself does not expire, teachers must maintain 20 hours of professional development annually to remain in compliance. Activities include approved workshops, college coursework, mentoring, and curriculum development.
Reciprocity Type
Case-by-case review with NASDTEC participation
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
New Jersey participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Out-of-state teachers with a valid license may apply for a New Jersey certificate. They must hold a comparable certificate, pass required Praxis exams with NJ-qualifying scores, and complete a background check. Teachers with out-of-state certificates may receive a CEAS and must complete a provisional period.
Additional requirements: Must pass Praxis Subject Assessment with NJ-qualifying scores (Praxis Core no longer required per P.L.2024, c.26); background check required; may need to complete provisional period
Unique to New Jersey: New Jersey became one of a small number of states to prohibit the edTPA requirement by law in 2022. Combined with dropping the Praxis Core in January 2025, New Jersey has significantly reduced its testing requirements while still maintaining the Praxis II subject tests. The state's alternative certification (CE) route is one of the most widely used in the Northeast.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New Jersey.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#8 of 51
Cost
#34 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$62,710
25th percentile
Median
$77,150
+24% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$97,380
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
42,360 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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New Jersey requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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