Become a Teacher in Iowa

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: 11/10/2016

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 Iowa.

To become a certified teacher in Iowa, 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 an Iowa 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: 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 each endorsement area.

Return to top

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.

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

Step Two: 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 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 onscholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to the state of Iowa, visit our Iowa State Scholarships pages.

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 Iowa.

Return to top

Step Three: Iowa Required Tests

Basic Skills Assessment

Iowa does not require teaching candidates to take a Basic Skills Assessment.

Praxis II

In order to become a certified teacher, the Iowa Department of Education requires that all teaching candidates take one test in pedagogy and one test in content. Those pursuing special education certification have separate test requirements.

Praxis II: Pedagogy

Qualifying Score	Test Requirement(s)	Certification Area
160	Principles of Teaching & Learning: Early Childhood	Early Childhood Certifications
160 168 166 166	Principles of Teaching & Learning: Early Childhood, or Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades K-6, or Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades 5-9, or Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades 7-12	K-12 or B-21 (Birth to 21) Certifications
168	Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades K-6	All K-6 or K-8 Certifications
166 166	Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades 5-9, or Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades 7-12	All 5-12 Certifications
166 166	Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades 5-9, or Principles of Teaching & Learning: Grades 7-12	All 9-12 Certifications

Praxis II: Content Area(s)

Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Certification Areas
155	Early Childhood: Content Knowledge	Early Childhood Teacher, PreK-K
155	Early Childhood: Content Knowledge	PreK – Grade 3 Teacher, PreK-3
174	Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education	PreK – Grade 3, Including Special Education
156	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge	Elementary Classroom Teacher K-6
–	See Iowa’s Requirements for specific test information	Early Adolescence, K-8
–	See Iowa’s Requirements for specific test information	Secondary Education, 5-12

Special Education (“Stand Alone”) Endorsement: Test requirements for candidates who are certified only in special education and not other content area(s).

Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Certification Area
163 160	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge, and Special Education: Education of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students	Deaf or Hard of Hearing (Birth-21)
155 167	Early Childhood: Content Knowledge, and Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood	Early Childhood Special Education
163 172 159	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge, and Special Education: Teaching Students with Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbances –OR– Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities	Instructional Strategist II: BD/LD K-12
163 170	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge, and Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications	Instructional Strategist II: MD K-12
163 165	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge, and Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	Instructional Strategist II: Physically Handicapped K-12
163 160	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge, and Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments	Visually Impaired B-21 (Birth to 21)

Return to top

Step Four: Iowa Application Requirements

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners requires the following for all candidates seeking an Iowa teaching licensure:

Proof of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university
Completion of state and/or regionally approved teacher preparation program
Completion of approved human relations course component
Completion of teaching endorsement requirements
Completion and passing of mandated tests in which the candidate is currently licensed, or completion of Iowa mandated tests
Meets recency requirement: teaching experience of 6 college credits within the past 5 years

Background Clearance

All candidates pursuing their Iowa teaching license must pass a background check and fingerprint clearance in order to be deemed eligible for employment within the Iowa public school system. Please visit the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to find out how to order a background check.

Teach Iowa

TeachIowa.gov is a statewide job posting database managed by the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Teach Iowa’s system allows potential teachers to register and apply for job openings within the Iowa public school system, education agencies, and participating non-public schools.

Return to top

Iowa Certification Reciprocity

Iowa will accept some teaching credentials from some states. Contact the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Return to top

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 has 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: $51,800
Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $51,130
Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15

Teacher salaries were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2015 Occupational Employment Statistics report.

Return to top