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How to become a certified teacher in Rhode Island. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. Government fees: $345–$495. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Rhode Island
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Rhode Island. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) - Office of Educator Excellence and Certification.
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
Total Gov Fees
$345–$495
Initial Cert
5 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required (300 hours) |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 2.75 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: Reading: 156, Writing: 162, Math: 150
Basic skills assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics; required unless exempt through qualifying SAT/ACT/GRE scores
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Subject-specific content knowledge exam required for each certification area; Rhode Island sets its own passing scores
Issued to new teachers who have completed an approved preparation program and passed required Praxis exams. Valid for 5 years. Teachers must complete an induction program and earn a Professional Certificate before expiration.
Issued after completing 3 years of teaching experience and satisfactory performance evaluations. Valid for 5 years and renewable with continuing education.
Issued when no fully certified teacher is available for a position
Issued to candidates who have completed most but not all certification requirements
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree
Certificate Required
Substitute Teacher Authorization
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$25
Validity
5 years
Rhode Island requires a Substitute Teacher Authorization issued by RIDE. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and complete a criminal background check with fingerprinting. Substitute teachers may serve for up to 30 consecutive school days per assignment. Teachers with active Rhode Island certificates may also serve as substitutes.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeePer certification area sought | $100 |
| Fingerprint FeeState and FBI fingerprint background check fee | $50 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Core ($150 combined or $270 individual) + content exam ($120–$170); may be lower with exam exemptions | $270–$420 |
| Initial CertificateRIDE certification fee per area | $100 |
| Renewal FeeCertificate renewal fee for Professional Certificate | $25 |
| Substitute PermitSubstitute Teacher Authorization fee | $25 |
| Total Government FeesApplication ($25), fingerprinting ($50), and exams ($270–$420) | $345–$495 |
Register on the RIDE Educator Certification online portal
Graduate from a RIDE-approved teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree
Pass the Praxis Core (basic skills) and Praxis II (content knowledge) exams
Fee: $270–$420
Submit fingerprints for state and federal criminal background check
Fee: $50
Apply for the Initial Educator Certificate through the RIDE online system with required documentation
Fee: $25
Rhode Island offers alternative certification through teacher residency programs and organizations like TNTP and Teach For America. Career changers can apply for a Preliminary Certificate while completing a state-approved preparation program. The Rhode Island Teacher Residency provides intensive training alongside experienced mentor teachers.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Rhode Island requires teachers to develop and complete an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) during each 5-year renewal cycle. The plan must align with school and district goals and include professional development activities. Specific hour requirements are determined through the IPDP process in collaboration with the teacher's evaluator.
Reciprocity Type
Interstate agreement with review
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Rhode Island participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Out-of-state teachers with valid certificates may qualify for a Rhode Island Initial or Professional Certificate depending on their experience and qualifications. All applicants must complete Rhode Island's background check requirements.
Additional requirements: Must pass required Praxis exams if not previously taken or equivalent; background check required; must meet Rhode Island's specific certification requirements
Unique to Rhode Island: Rhode Island uses an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) model for certificate renewal rather than mandating a fixed number of continuing education hours, giving teachers and their evaluators flexibility to tailor professional growth activities to specific needs and goals.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Rhode Island.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#4 of 51
Cost
#11 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
$62,080
25th percentile
Median
$86,900
+39% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$94,200
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
4,080 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.
Source: RIDE Educator Certification
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: RIDE Educator Certification
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: RIDE Educator Certification
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Rhode Island 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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