Become a Teacher
in Mississippi
Certification Roadmap
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Mississippi Prerequisite Coursework
Mississippi Teacher Preparation
Mississippi Certification Reciprocity
Mississippi Teacher Salary
Mississippi Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Mississippi Highlights
$41720
Avg. Elementary Teacher Salary
$41490
Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary
139%
Teacher Salary vs. State Average
15
Vacation Weeks Per Year:
To become a certified teacher in Mississippi, 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.
Mississippi 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. Mississippi, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.
Mississippi 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.
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. The state of Mississippi officially recognizes ABCTE certification as a route to earning your Mississippi teacher certification.
Mississippi Certification Reciprocity
Mississippi will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Mississippi 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 | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Kansas | Louisiana | Maine |
| Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | 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 |
Mississippi Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Mississippi provides differential pay support for teachers teaching in high needs schools and teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Mississippi has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Mississippi makes $41,720
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Mississippi makes $41,490
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Mississippi makes 139% of the salary of the average worker in Mississippi
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Mississippi receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
Teachers with advanced degrees can earn higher salaries and enjoy more job security. This page is sponsored by MAT@USC, an innovative Master of Arts in Teaching program delivered online by the University of Southern California. Click here to learn more about how USC can put you on the road to successful and rewarding teaching career in Mississippi.
