Out of all the states an aspiring teacher could choose to work in, perhaps the most enticing is North Dakota. For instance, the North Dakota Statewide System of Support (NDSSOS) is a program focused on improving teaching and education institutions within the state. As a state that is focused on maintaining high educational standards, North Dakota requires that its teacher complete several requirements before being licensed.
If you’re interested in a rewarding, exciting career as a teacher in North Dakota, you need to read about this state’s licensing requirements so that you will be prepared to complete the process.
North Dakota Teacher Certification Requirements
North Dakota Teacher Certification Types
North Dakota offers different licenses for teachers at different levels of qualification. New teachers will apply for a two-year Initial license. After teaching for no less than 18 months, you can apply for a First Five Year License. When this license expires, you can earn Subsequent Five Year Licenses. Finally, after 30 years of teaching licensure, you can apply for the Thirty Years of Teaching Life License.
Featured Schools
North Dakota Teacher Education
For licensure in North Dakota, you will need to complete either Bachelor’s or Master’s level teacher preparation program. Your program should include both general and professional education. Elementary School candidates need 34 credit hours of professional coursework and Secondary School candidates need 26 credit hours. You also need a 2.5 GPA in North Dakota Native American studies.
North Dakota Teacher Certification Exam
The Praxis I Basic Skills exam and the Praxis II Exam in your desired teaching subject is required before you can receive any level of teaching license in North Dakota.
Teacher Experience
North Dakota has two experience requirements that will be completed during your teacher preparation program. The first is a practicum will you will learn about the teaching profession by observing a licensed teacher. The second requirement is at least 10 weeks of full-time student teaching. Your student teaching must be at whatever grade level you wish to teach.
Background Check
A background check is required to be licensed as a teacher in North Dakota. A fingerprint card must also be submitted to an authorized law enforcement agency.
Alternative Certification and Other Requirements
- North Dakota Alternative Teacher Certification: Alternate certifications are given in North Dakota on an individual basis. They must be requested by the school district and should be for an area where this is a teacher shortage.
- Teacher Certification Renewal: To renew a professional license in North Dakota, you need to have been employed as a teacher for at least 30 days during the five-year license period and have completed six credits of professional development.
- North Dakota Substitute Teaching: Substitute teachers in North Dakota must be licensed. This can be either a regular teaching license, an Interim Substitute License, a Re-Entry License or a Probationary License.
- Reciprocity: North Dakota will provide you a license if you have previously been licensed in another state that requires similar qualifications.
<
Discover teacher certification programs in North Dakota that are a match for you!
What Does a Teacher Do in North Dakota?
As a teacher in North Dakota, you will be responsible for many tasks that are vital both to the success of your students and your school. While many of these tasks are focused on instruction, others are centered on administration. You may develop a lesson plan, work one on one with students that need extra attention, follow rules laid out by school administrators and improve your teaching skills through continuing education.
North Dakota Teacher Salary
By examining the data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), you can get a basic idea of the salaries for teachers in North Dakota. A North Dakota Elementary School teacher who was employed in 2015 could expect a median salary of $49,320. For the same year, a Middle School teacher earned $54,510 and a Secondary School teacher received $49,680.
North Dakota Teacher Certification Links
- North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board
- Out of State Equivalency Requirements
- North Dakota Praxis Exams
Teacher Certification Programs in North Dakota
Teacher Certification Programs in North Dakota
(It’s fast and free!)
Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. Becoming a teacher is an important decision that requires commitment, dedication, and passion. Teacher certification requirements vary by state. However, there are a number qualifications that every state requires to teach at the public school level. Request information from multiple schools to find the best program and educational opportunity for you!