Become a Teacher in Nevada

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 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.

Nevada 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

The Nevada Department of Education offers teaching candidates a database of employment opportunities in the state of Nevada.

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.

Nevada 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. 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.

Nevada 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.

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 exclusive to the State of Nevada, visit our Nevada Teacher Scholarships page.

Nevada Required Tests

All applicants seeking their initial teaching licensure in Nevada are required to take the following three Praxis exams: Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE), Principles of Learning & Teaching (PLT), and Praxis II Subject Assessment(s) for each area of certification.

Praxis™ CORE

Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Certification
156 162 150	CORE: Reading CORE: Writing CORE: Mathematics	Completion & passing of all CORE subtests are required for all NV state educators, regardless of area(s) of certification

Praxis™ PLT

Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Certification
160 157	PLT: Grades K-6 – or – PLT: Grades 7-12	Completion & passing of PLT test is required for all NV state educators. Select appropriate grade level.

Qualifying Score

Required Test(s)

Certification

160

157

PLT: Grades K-6
– or –
PLT: Grades 7-12

Completion & passing of PLT test is required for all
NV state educators. Select appropriate grade level.

Praxis II® Subject Assessments

Qualifying Score	Required Test(s)	Certification
158 160	Early Childhood: Content Knowledge Education of Young Children	Early Childhood Education (Birth-K) and (Birth-Grade 2)
161	Elementary Education: Instructional Practice & Applications	Elementary (K-8)
164 165 143 148	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
145 145 151 167 152 135 152 160 152 157 152	Biology: Content Knowledge Chemistry: Content Essays Chemistry: Content Knowledge English Language Arts: Content Knowledge General Science: Content Knowledge General Science: Content Essays World & U.S. History: Content Knowledge Mathematics: Content Knowledge General Science: Content Knowledge Psychology Social Studies: Content Knowledge	Secondary Education Biological Science Chemistry English General Science History Mathematics Physical Science Psychology Social Studies
159 146	Special Education: Core Knowledge & Application (and PLT: K-6 or 7-12) Special Education: Teaching Speech to Students with Language Impairments	Special Education Generalist, Resource Room Speech & Language

Nevada Certification Reciprocity

Nevada will accept some teaching credentials from all but the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, . Contact the Nevada Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see ourinterstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

Nevada 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: $49,450
Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $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: 15

Teachers with advanced degrees can earn higher salaries and enjoy more job security. This page is sponsored by Rossier Online, an innovative master level teaching degree 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.

Applying for Certification

The Nevada Department of Education requires that all teaching candidates meet the following requirements in order to obtain their state teaching license:

Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution
Completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program
Initial licensure application and mandated fee
Completed fingerprint card

View the NV DOE’s Teacher Licensure Applicant Checklist for additional information and requirements.

Nevada Substitute Teacher Requirements

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

Contact Information

NORTHERN OFFICE

State of Nevada Department of Education
700 East Fifth Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701
775-687-9115- Contact

SOUTHERN OFFICE

State of Nevada Department of Education
9890 S. Maryland Parkway
Suite 221 Room 234
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193
702-486-6458 - Contact

Additional links

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.
Nevada Department of Education
Nevada Teacher Tenure
Troops to Teachers Nevada: In Nevada, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Mountain Pacific Region Office

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