Teacher Licensure Requirements
Minimum Requirements for Initial Teacher Licensure by State
Updated July 2019
The SREB Teacher Preparation Commission recommends that state licensing require practice-based assessments. Eight SREB states have adopted practice-based assessments since 2010.
The updated table summarizes state licensure assessment and clinical practice requirements for all licensure candidates, including those enrolled in alternative pathways.
| State | Required Basic Skills Assessment |
Required Subject & |
Clinical Experience Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators |
Praxis II Subject Tests edTPA |
Full-time, semester internship |
| Arkansas | None |
Praxis II Subject Tests Principles of Learning and Teaching OR edTPA |
Determined by education preparation provider |
| Delaware |
State-approved tests include Praxis Core, SAT, ACT and GRE. |
Praxis II Subject Tests edTPA OR Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers |
Options include: Student teaching program One year of teaching (≥ 91 days) Enrollment in alternative program Completion of special institute |
| Florida | Florida General Knowledge Test | Florida Teacher Certification Subject Exams |
Options include: Six-semester credit experience One year of full-time teaching |
| Georgia | Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE) Program Admission Assessment |
GACE content assessments edTPA |
Semester residency or internship required Yearlong residency recommended |
| Kentucky | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators |
Praxis II Subject Tests Principles of Learning and Teaching |
One semester experience lasting at least 70 full days |
| Louisiana | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators or ACT |
Praxis II Subject Tests Principles of Learning and Teaching |
Options include: Full-year residency for traditional teacher candidates Job-embedded internship for alternative-route candidates |
| Maryland | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, ACT, SAT or GRE |
Praxis II Subject Tests Principles of Learning and Teaching |
Options include: Completion of supervised experience One year of full-time teaching One school year of long-term substitute teaching experience |
| Mississippi | Praxis CASE or ACT |
Praxis II Subject Tests Principles of Learning and Foundations of Reading1 |
Student teaching experience lasting at least 12 weeks |
| North Carolina |
None2 |
Praxis II Subject Tests Pearson (K-6 and Special Ed) |
Internship lasting a minimum of 16 weeks |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma General Education Test |
Oklahoma Subject Area Tests Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam OR the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) |
Options include: Twelve weeks (or 360 hours) of full-time student teaching Completion of supervised experience (for alternative routes) |
| South Carolina | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators |
Praxis II Subject Tests Approved Pedagogy Assessments:
|
Twelve weeks or 60 of full-time student teaching |
| Tennessee | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, ACT or SAT | Praxis II Subject Tests
edTPA3 OR Principles of Learning and Teaching |
Options include: Fifteen weeks of student teaching Internship lasting at least 100 Days One-year, job-embedded experience |
| Texas | Pre-Admission Content Test |
Texas Examinations of Educator Standards Subject Tests TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Test |
Options include: 14 weeks of full-day clinical training 28 weeks of half-day training OR, internship for one full school year |
| Virginia | Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment | Praxis II Subject Tests
Praxis Reading for Virginia Educators Assessment4 |
Options include: Supervised experience lasting at least 10 weeks OR, One year of full-time teaching experience |
| West Virginia | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, ACT or SAT |
Praxis II Subject Tests Principles of Learning and Teaching |
Clinical experience lasting at least 12 weeks |
Source: SREB review of state statutes, administrative regulations and state agency websites
1 Required for individuals applying for Elementary (K-3 and K-6) and Alternate Route (Gr. 4-6) licensure.
2 Degree-seeking student produce valid Praxis I Core scores at the point of program admission.
3 Beginning January 1, 2019, edTPA will replace PLT in certain licensure areas.
4 Required for individuals applying for Elementary and some Special Education certification areas.