Become a Teacher
in Iowa
Certification Roadmap
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Iowa Prerequisite Coursework
Iowa Teacher Preparation
Iowa Certification Reciprocity
Iowa Teacher Salary
Iowa Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Iowa Highlights
$44040
Avg. Elementary Teacher Salary
$44080
Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary
108%
Teacher Salary vs. State Average
15
Vacation Weeks Per Year:
To become a certified teacher in Iowa, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Iowa Prerequisite Coursework
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. Here are Iowa's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:
- Elementary Education:
- English K-8: Completion of 24 semester hours in English and language arts to include course work in oral communication, written communication, language development, reading, children's literature, creative drama or oral interpretation of literature, and American literature.
- Mathematics K-8: Completion of 24 semester hours in mathematics to include course work in algebra, geometry, number theory, measurement, computer programming, and probability and statistics.
- Science--basic. K-8: Completion of 24 semester hours in science to include course work in biological and physical sciences. 12 hours in physical sciences, 6 hours in biology, and 6 hours in earth/space sciences.
- Social Sciences - History. K-8: Completion of 24 semester hours in history to include at least nine semester hours in American history and nine semester hours in world history.
- Secondary English/Language Arts
- Completion of 24 semester hours in English to include course work in oral communication, written communication, language development, reading, American literature, English literature and adolescent literature.
- Secondary Mathematics:
- Completion of 24 semester hours in mathematics to include a linear algebra or an abstract (modern) algebra course, a geometry course, a two course sequence in calculus, a computer programming course, a probability and statistics course, and coursework in discrete mathematics.
- Secondary History/Social Science:
- All Social Sciences: Completion of 51 semester hours in the social sciences to include: 9 semester hours in World History, 9 semester hours in American History, 9 semester hours in Government, 6 semester hours in Sociology, 6 semester hours psychology other than educational psychology, 6 semester hours in geography, and 6 semester hours in economics
- American government: Completion of 24 semester hours in American government or 30 semester hours in the broad area of social sciences to include 15 semester hours in American government.
- American history: Completion of 24 semester hours in American history or thirty semester hours in the broad area of the social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in American history.
- Anthropology: Completion of twenty-four semester hours in anthropology or thirty semester hours in the broad area of social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in anthropology.
- Economics: Completion of twenty-four semester hours in economics or thirty semester hours in the broad area of the social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in economics, or thirty semester hours in the broad area of business to include fifteen semester hours in economics.
- Geography: Completion of twenty-four semester hours in geography or thirty semester hours in the broad area of the social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in geography.
- Psychology: Completion of twenty-four semester hours in psychology or thirty semester hours in the broad area of social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in psychology.
- Sociology: Completion of twenty-four semester hours in sociology or thirty semester hours in the broad area of social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in sociology.
- World history: 5-12. Completion of twenty-four semester hours in world history or thirty semester hours in the broad area of social sciences to include fifteen semester hours in world history.
- Secondary Science:
- Biological: Completion of 24 semester hours in biological science or thirty semester hours in the broad area of science to include fifteen semester hours in biological science.
- Chemistry: Completion of 24 semester hours in chemistry or thirty semester hours in the broad area of science to include fifteen semester hours in chemistry.
- Earth science: Completion of 24 semester hours in earth science or thirty semester hours in the broad area of science to include fifteen semester hours in earth science.
- General science: Completion of 24 semester hours in science to include course work in biological science, chemistry, and physics.
- Physical science: Completion of 24 semester hours in the physical sciences to include course work in physics, chemistry, and earth science.
- Physics: Completion of 24 semester hours in physics or 30 semester hours in the broad area of science to include 15 semester hours in physics.
Iowa Teacher Preparation
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.
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Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification in Iowa is coming soon!
Iowa Certification Reciprocity
Iowa will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.d
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Delaware | Florida | Georgia |
| Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Kansas |
| Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Michigan |
| Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada |
| New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York |
| North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Oregon | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Virginia |
| Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
Iowa Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Iowa provides no support for teachers teaching in high needs schools but differential pay for teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Iowa has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Iowa makes $44,040
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Iowa makes $44,080
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Iowa makes 108% of the salary of the average worker in Iowa
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Iowa receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
Iowa Required Tests
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.
Basic Skills Test
- Iowa does not have a mandatory basic skills test.
Subject Area Competence
Iowa Teacher Certification Information & Links
This page is sponsored by MAT@USC, a Master of Arts in Teaching program delivered online that enables you to earn a Master’s degree and teaching credential. Learn more about how the University of Southern California can help you become a transformative teacher in Iowa.
