New Jersey Teaching License Requirements

Certification Route Selection

There are three distinct certification routes within the state of New Jersey. The most common route is the standard certification route. In this route, candidates complete a teacher education program within the state of New Jersey and pass applicable teacher tests. If you have previous teaching or professional work experience, however, you may want to opt for one of the two alternate certification routes: The Certificate of Eligibility route, or the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing route. To be certified under the Certificate of Eligibility, CE, route, you can substitute workplace experience or subject area study for a formal education program specifically aimed at education as long as you pass requisite teacher tests for your subject area and age range. To be certified under the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing Route, you can complete a teacher preparation program in another, and obtain a license, in another state, then transfer that license to New Jersey.

Depending upon the route you select as well as your previous educational experience, you may need to complete some education to qualify for your certification. If you do not hold a bachelor's degree, you will need to earn one, likely within the field of education, as this allows you to enter the profession through the simplest route, the standard option. If you do hold a degree of this type, you may still be required to take some additional coursework specifically applicable to education. When taking the coursework, you must pay close attention to your grade point average, GPA, as the New Jersey Department of Education requires that all teachers have at least a 2.75 GPA upon graduation from college.

Within the state of New Jersey, the Praxis II test is used to measure teaching candidate competency. Whether or not you will be required to complete Praxis II testing, depends upon the certification that you intend to seek. To determine if Praxis II testing is required for your certification, visit the certification Endorsement and Code page, for specifics in regards to your selected licensure.

Teaching license candidates must obtain and submit a letter of teaching experience. In this letter, an administrator from the school at which you completed your student teaching or previous teaching experience must attest to your experience. This letter must be on school letterhead and indicate specifically how many months you taught at the school in question.