Teaching in California

Individuals who have completed their professional preparation program outside of California may apply directly to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for their initial credential by submitting an application packet.

• Create User ID
• Submit a Paper Application (out-of-state applicants)

Application form, requirements, fingerprinting, etc.:

• Special Education candidates
• Secondary and Music candidates
• Elementary candidates

Suggested for Submission

• Verification of completion of the basic skills requirement
  • Multiple ways to satisfy this (e.g., qualifying ACT or SAT scores, etc.)
  • You will have one year to meet this requirement if you do not verify when you apply

Details about

• Teaching Credentials Requirements
• Services Credential Requirements (administrative, pupil services, speech)

Visit Teach California for more info!

These requirements may change. Always verify requirements with the appropriate state office.

November 2023

Teaching in Massachusetts

• Review Out-of-State Applicant information
• Review Massachusetts Educator Licensure Series video: Prepared Outside of Massachusetts and Obtaining Your First Teacher License
• Complete online application for an Initial License
• Massachusetts requires an Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement
  • Pathways to Earning SEI Endorsement
    • Some Neag students have taken EDCI 5742 – Sheltered English Instruction for English Language Learners and later submitted a transcript review request (retain the syllabus).
    • OR you can take and pass the SEI MTEL to receive SEI Endorsement
    • OR you can take an approved SEI Endorsement course (for-cost at another university)
  • You may qualify for a provisional license if you do not have SEI endorsement
• You must download and complete the verification of out-of-state program form and email to Diane Herlihy at diane.herlihy@uconn.edu. We will sign it and mail it back to you (MA wants original signed copy) once you have completed all requirements (Master’s degree posted on transcript, licensure tests passed, etc.).
• Official transcript (with verification of bachelor’s degree)
• Required Licensure Tests
  • What tests do I need to take?
  • Communication and Literacy Skills: http://www.mtel.nesinc.com/
  • You must meet this before your application can be reviewed
  • Subject area test(s) - doe.mass.edu/mtel/testrequire.html/
  • Elementary Education candidates may be able to waive the MTEL Foundations of Reading Test using their Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test score.
  • Register for MTEL and find out more about tests.
• Professional License:
  • In Massachusetts, after teaching for five years under an Initial teaching license, you are required to obtain a professional license, which has both experience and education requirements.
  • Students who already hold a master’s degree (such as IB/M or TCPCG graduates), may be able to meet the education-related requirement for professional license with the “Master’s and 12-Credit Option.” Some of the courses from an IB/M or TCPCG students’ master’s program may count toward this 12-credit option.
    • Download and review the 12 Credit Pre-approval form
    • Courses must clearly demonstrate that they are related to content. So, if you are interested in teaching in Massachusetts, you may want to take several content-related courses as electives (all Neag teaching students must take at least one content or content-related course).
    • See the 12-credit Educator Reference Guide for more info.
  • Ultimately, whether a course counts toward the 12-credit option is up to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education evaluators.

These requirements may change. Always verify requirements with the appropriate state office.

October 28, 2024

Teaching in New Jersey

To receive New Jersey out-of-state teaching license, candidates must hold the equivalent of a Certificate of Eligibility issued by another state (your Connecticut teaching certificate). See Reciprocity information.

• Locate the certificate you want to apply for and click on “CEAS” link in that row. Review the following required areas as listed on the CEAS document for your subject area:
  • Cumulative GPA Requirement
  • Subject Matter Preparation
  • Praxis II tests: Some New Jersey Praxis II tests are different than what CT requires. You must complete all required Connecticut tests to receive a recommendation for certification in ANY state. To get certified in New Jersey, you will also have to pass their required tests.
  • As of December 2022, NJ no longer requires edTPA
  • Physiology and Hygiene requirement
• Special Education Candidates: Per NJ regulations: The Teacher of Students with Disabilities endorsement is not a standalone certificate. Candidates need to hold a CE, CEAS or standard NJ instructional certificate with an endorsement appropriate to the subject or grade level to be taught. If you have not yet applied for instructional certification, please see the NJ DOE website for details and a listing of instructional endorsements.
  • So, a Neag special education graduate will apply for “Students with Disabilities CEAS” and another certificate, such as “Teacher of English CE” (that requires 30 credits of English and the required Praxis II test – see document for additional details)
• Review the Frequently Asked Questions and Apply online
• During the application process, you will list Certification Officer Dr. Ann Traynor as the Neag School contact for the Educator Preparation Program Verification. She will then receive a link to complete the Neag portion.

These requirements may change. Always verify requirements with the appropriate state office.

April 3, 2024

Teaching in New York

NY State Office of Teaching Initiatives

New York State or New York City

Background Information

• Start by reading Applicants from Other States
• How to Apply
• Certification Requirements

To apply, submit (everything together):

• Completed application
• Upon completion of application, apply for fingerprinting using TEACH account.
• Official college transcript(s)
• Copy of currently valid certification from the state you are certified in (Connecticut)
• Verification of completion of required tests and workshops: Child Abuse Identification and Reporting, Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), School Violence Prevention and Intervention.

FAQs (for those not completing teacher preparation programs in New York)

• How do these test requirements affect applicants from other states? Candidates must generally complete tests in New York State. However, some test administrations are offered in other states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Go to nystce.nesinc.com for complete information about test offerings and administrations at these locations.
• Which tests do I have to take and how much do they cost? Usually, you must pass Educating All Students Test (EAS) and the appropriate Content Specialty Test (CST). Use the website listed below to verify requirements.
  • View certification requirements for each endorsement area
    • For example, for elementary choose: Classroom Teacher > Childhood Education > Childhood – Grades 1-6 > Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) > Initial Certificate
    • Click on Pathway: Completion of a Comparable Educator Program in Another U.S. State
  • Updated test fee information is online.
  • edTPA is no longer required in NY as of April 2022.

Subject to change so please verify requirements with the appropriate agency.

October 18, 2023

Teaching in Virginia

Review Virginia's Licensure Application website for latest information about all requirements listed below.

• Application (opens a Word document)
  • Once you complete application, email to Diane Herlihy
  • We will complete the College Verification Form section (page 8) and return it to you.
• Mail application form with fee, licensure test scores, and official college transcripts (have official transcript mailed to you and include sealed transcripts with other material)
• Include copy of your Connecticut teaching license if you have received it
• Review Statutory Requirements to see more information on the requirements below:
  • Complete Child Abuse & Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training
  • Complete Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training
  • Complete Dyslexia Awareness Training o Complete Behavior Intervention and Support Training
  • Complete Cultural Competency Training

Teacher Assessments Required (Word document) – Note that licensure with reciprocity is provided for candidates with valid out-of-state license. No licensing assessments shall be required in that case.

Review conditions for Licensure for Out-of-State Candidates by Reciprocity (Word document)

These requirements may change. Always verify requirements with the appropriate state office.

April 4, 2023

Teaching in D.C.

Learn about teaching in D.C. and start your application. This website also has a video, teacher profiles, and FAQs.

Teaching Credential Options (Option 1 Applies for Out-of-State Applicants)

• You have completed an approved teacher certification program in the proper subject area;
• You meet criminal history background requirements;
• You hold at least a completed bachelor’s degree; and
• You have passing test scores for all exams required for the subject area.

Required documents to submit for Option 1:

• A completed Program Completion Verification Form (email completed form to Diane Herlihy)
• An Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) issued by the FBI or an approved FBI channeler agency. If employed with D.C. Public Schools (DCPS), make sure their central office has made your clearance information available to OSSE electronically.
• Official education transcripts from all institution(s) where you completed a degree and related studies.
• Passing test scores for the applicable basic skills, writing and mathematics exam. Note: Applicants seeking to demonstrate basic skills knowledge through a 3.0 or higher GPA need not submit evidence of passing test scores on an approved basic skills exam.
• Passing scores for an approved subject content and pedagogy exam required for the teaching area of the credential or comparable exam(s) passed in another state where an active full teaching credential is held. For subject areas where a subject content exam has not been adopted, the applicant must hold a completed degree major in the subject area or have completed an approved educator licensure program in the area.
• A copy of your active full teaching credential(s) held in another state (if applicable).

These requirements may change. Always verify requirements with the appropriate state office.

September 20, 2022