Become a Teacher
in Idaho

All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas.

• Elementary Education: A minimum of twenty-four (24) semester credit hours, or thirty-six (36) quarter credit hours, in the philosophical, psychological, and methodological foundations and in the professional subject matter of elementary education, which shall include at least six (6) semester credit hours, or nine (9) quarter credit hours, in developmental reading and its application to the content area. At least six (6) semester credit hours, or nine (9) quarter credit hours, of elementary student teaching or two (2) years of satisfactory experience as a teacher in grades K-8

• Secondary Education: A minimum of twenty (20) semester credit hours, or thirty (30) quarter credit hours, in the philosophical, psychological, and methodological foundations, in instructional technology, and in the professional subject matter of secondary education, which must include at least three (3) semester credit hours, or five (5) quarter hours, of reading in the content area. The required twenty (20) semester credit hours, or thirty (30) quarter credit hours, must also include at least six (6) semester credit hours, or nine (9) quarter credit hours, of secondary student teaching or two (2) years of satisfactory experience as a teacher in grades six (6) through twelve (12). Preparation in at least two (2) fields of secondary teaching: first teaching field of at least thirty (30) semester credit hours, or forty-five (45) quarter credit hours, and a second teaching field of at least twenty (20) semester credit hours, or thirty (30) quarter credit hours. Preparation of not less than forty-five (45) semester credit hours, or sixty-seven (67) quarter credit hours, in a single subject area may be used in lieu of the first teaching field or second teaching field requirements.

Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program. Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.

Idaho will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Idaho State Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Alabama	Arizona	Arkansas	California
Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	Florida
Georgia	Hawaii	Illinois	Indiana
Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine
Maryland	Massachusetts	Michigan	Mississippi
Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada
New Hampshire	New Jersey	New Mexico	New York
North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio	Oklahoma
Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	Washington	West Virginia
Wisconsin	Wyoming

In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.

Subject Area Competence

• Praxis II: Subject Tests in your specialty area

• Idaho State Department of Education
• Idaho Teacher Tenure