Become a Teacher in Delaware

This page is sponsored by Rossier Online, a master level teaching degree 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 Delaware .

To become a certified teacher in Delaware , 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.

Certification Requirements

Important Note: Education licensure requirements and salary statistics (for teachers and administrators) are subject to change. CertificationMap.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 1/06/2015

Delaware teaching applicants must apply online through DEEDS (Delaware Educator Data System), the state’s online application process. To obtain a teaching license/certification, the Delaware Department of Education’s requires applicants to meet the following requirements:

Bachelor’s degree (or higher)
Student teaching experience, as indicated on transcript(s)
Passing scores on Praxis I exam
Passing score(s) on Praxis II tests for certification area(s)

Master’s Requirements

Did you know that 33 states require teachers to have a master’s degree to stay certified in teaching?

Many schools of education now offer online MAT programs that provide increased flexibility by allowing aspiring or working teachers to attend class and complete coursework from any location that has an Internet connection. Online MAT programs are a practical option for students who have professional and personal commitments that make it difficult to obtain teaching certification through a full-time program.

The best online programs offer the same curriculum as the school’s on-campus program and apply the same admission requirements. Providing students with the ability to communicate with instructors and classmates in a face-to-face online environment is another hallmark of a good online program. In addition, candidates in online MAT programs should be provided with the opportunity to complete student teaching fieldwork in the local community.

Click to learn more about getting your MAT online with USC Rossier School of Education.

Delaware Teacher 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. Delaware, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.

Delaware 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. Click here for information about alternative certification in Delaware.

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. While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers specific to the State of Delaware, visit our Delaware Teacher Scholarshipspage.

Delaware Required Tests

Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)

The Praxis I PPST measures basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. These tests evaluate whether candidates have the foundational and academic skills necessary to pursue a career as an educator in the state of Delaware.

Praxis II

The Praxis II Subject Assessments measures knowledge of general and specific subjects related to K-12 teaching skills and classroom knowledge. The Praxis II covers 120 different tests. Required tests are dependent on requirements set forth by one’s desired teaching discipline. The following assessments are required by the Delaware Department of Education:

Test(s)	Certification Area
Education of Young Children	Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (Subtests: Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies)	Elementary Education
Middle School English-Language Arts Middle School Mathematics Middle School Science Middle School Social Studies	Middle School Education: (English-Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies)
Biology: Content Knowledge Chemistry: Content Knowledge Earth & Space Sciences: Content Knowledge English Language Arts: Content Knowledge Health Education General Science: Content Knowledge Mathematics: Content Knowledge Physical Science: Content Knowledge Physics: Content Knowledge Social Studies: Content Knowledge	Secondary Education (Biology; Chemistry; Earth Science; English; Health Education; Integrated Science; Mathematics; Physical Science; Physics; Social Studies)
Art: Content Knowledge	Art Education (all grades)
Special Education: Core Knowledge & Applications	Exceptional Children (all grades)
Music: Content Knowledge	Music Education (all grades)
Physical Education: Content Knowledge	Physical Education (all grades)

* Not all listed tests are required for each certification. Not all areas of certification are listed. View Delaware’s Test Requirements for more information.

Delaware Certification Reciprocity

Delaware will accept some teaching credentials from all but the following states: Alaska, Iowa, and Minnesota. Contact the Delaware Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Delaware Teacher Salary

Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Delaware provides no support for teachers teaching in high needs schools and or for teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Delaware has strong induction policies in place
Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $54,700
Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $55,480
Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Delaware makes 128% of the salary of the average worker in Delaware
Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15

Applying for Certification

Teaching Jobs in Delaware: Apply Online

Join Delaware Schools

Join Delaware Schools is an online portal established by the Delaware Department of Education to provide potential educators with resources necessary to obtain a teaching position. Applicants can search current job opportunities as well as upload resumes and applications for districts to search.

Fingerprinting

Delaware does not require fingerprinting as part of the initial teacher licensing process. However, state law requires all teaching candidates to complete a state and federal background check prior to employment. Contact your local school district for more information regarding the fingerprinting process and requirements.

Delaware Substitute Teacher Requirements

Please click here to learn more about how to become a substitute teacher in Delaware.

Contact Information

Delaware Department of Education
Teacher Certification Office
401 Federal Street
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 857-3388 – Email

Additional links

Delaware Department of Education
Delaware Teacher Tenure
Troops to Teachers Delaware: In Delaware, Troops to Teachers is managed by the New England Region Office
Teachers Test Prep: Free online Praxis Study Guides and Praxis Practice Tests, and a variety of preparation options to meet your individual needs, including prep classes, private tutoring, and online prep.

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