Become a Teacher
in Nevada

To become a certified teacher in Nevada, 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.

Prerequisite CourseworkNevada 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 Nevada’s undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas
  • Elementary Education: A Nevada Secondary License requires a bachelor's degree in an academic or occupational field of study including completion of a recognized teaching major and 22 semester hours in your specialty area.
  • Secondary English/Language Arts: A Nevada Secondary License requires a bachelor's degree in an academic or occupational field of study including completion of a recognized teaching major and 22 semester hours in your specialty area.
  • Secondary Mathematics: A Nevada Secondary License requires a bachelor's degree in an academic or occupational field of study including completion of a recognized teaching major and 22 semester hours in your specialty area.
  • Secondary History/Social Science:A Nevada Secondary License requires a bachelor's degree in an academic or occupational field of study including completion of a recognized teaching major and 22 semester hours in your specialty area.
  • Secondary Science: A Nevada Secondary License requires a bachelor's degree in an academic or occupational field of study including completion of a recognized teaching major and 22 semester hours in your specialty area.

Teacher PreparationNevada Teacher Preparation

Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.

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 Nevada is coming soon!
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.

Certification ReciprocityNevada Certification Reciprocity

Nevada will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Nevada Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
Alabama Arizona California Colorado
Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia
Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana
Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts
Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana
Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico
New York North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma
Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina
South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah
Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia
Wisconsin Wyoming

Teacher SalaryNevada Teacher Salary

  • Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Nevada provides differential pay support for teachers teaching in high needs schools or teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
  • Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Nevada has no induction policies in place
  • Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Nevada makes $49,450
  • Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Nevada makes $49,690
  • Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Nevada makes 104% of the salary of the average worker in Nevada
  • Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Nevada 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 Nevada.

Required TestsNevada 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

  • There are no current basic skills examinations required for Nevada educators.

Subject Area Competence

Teacher Certification Information & LinksNevada Teacher Certification Information & Links