Become a Teacher in Hawaii 

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information 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: 08/09/2018.

This page is sponsored by our partner 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 Hawaii.

To become a certified teacher in Hawaii, you will need to fulfill these requirements:

• Step One: Complete a bachelor's degree and other prerequisite coursework required.
• Step Two: Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program
• Step Three: Pass required exams.
• Step Four: Submit a Hawaii teaching credential application.

Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating CertificationMap.com with new information on a regular basis.

Step One: Hawaii 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. Hawaii, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.

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Master’s Requirements

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.

Learn more about getting your MAT online with our partner USC Rossier School of Education.

Step Two: Hawaii 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 include instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (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 Hawaii, visit our Hawaii Teacher Scholarships page.

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. Learn more about earning your Alternative Teacher certification in Hawaii.

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Step Three: Hawaii Required Tests

The State of Hawaii’s Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) mandates that all teaching candidates complete and pass the Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE Assessment). Completion and passing of the Principles of Teaching and Learning (PLT) Assessment is required for those who have not completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP). Additional testing is required for specific content areas and can be found on the Praxis website.

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Step Four: Application Requirements

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) offers three types of teacher licensure for the state of Hawaii: Provisional License, Standard License, and Advanced License. Each type of license has a separate set of requirements and is appropriate for a variety of situations. Please visit HTSB’s Licensing & Permits Overview for a comprehensive guide to Hawaii’s teacher certification requirements and information on how to apply.

eHR

The Hawaii Department of Education online application system provides qualified teaching candidates with access to K-12 job opportunities within the Hawaii Public School system. You must create an account in order to begin the application process.

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Hawaii Certification Reciprocity

Hawaii will accept some teaching credentials from some states. Contact the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

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Hawaii Teacher Salary

• Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Hawaii provides differential pay for teachers teaching in high-needs schools and for teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
• Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Hawaii has no induction policies in place
• Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $59,790
• Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $59,250
• Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15

Teacher salaries were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2017 Occupational Employment Statistics report.

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Hawaii Certification Resources & Links

• Hawaii State Department of Education

1390 Miller Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
(808) 586-3230

• Hawaii Teacher Standards Board
• Hawaii Teacher Tenure
• Troops to Teachers Hawaii: In Hawaii, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Mountain Pacific 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.