Most states now have established agreements or contracts that make it easier and more efficient for educators from one state to become credentialed to work in another state. In addition, graduates from NCATE accredited institutions may find it easier to apply for licensure when they move out of state than those graduating from an unaccredited institution. Several states have reciprocity agreements that allow NCATE graduates to transfer their existing teacher license from one state to another without having to complete additional coursework. Most states also require a satisfactory score on state licensing exam(s). In states without a reciprocity agreement, there may be additional requirements. Some states honor regional exchange agreements.
You may wish to email the NCATE/ State Partnership Contact for more information. In addition, you may find more information at www.nasdtec.org.
The states highlighted below have a reciprocity agreement in place or provide other license transfer information. Click on a state to read more detailed information.
Alabama
Out-of-state candidates who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution for the type of certification sought (elementary education, mathematics, educational administration, etc.) in Alabama may be eligible for a Professional Educator Certificate. The institution where the candidate completed a program must have been accredited by NCATE at the time the program was completed. Applicants for Alabama certification must meet Alabama's background clearance and testing requirements.
Arizona
Arizona is currently developing policies regarding reciprocity considerations for recent graduates from NCATE accredited institutions.
Delaware
Out-of-state applicants will be licensed automatically upon meeting the following three requirements: 1) Candidates must complete a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution. (The program must be accredited by NCATE at the time when the program was completed.); 2) Candidates are fully recommended by the college and; 3) Candidates have passed the reading, mathematics, and writing components of the PRAXIS I exam. An initial license will also be issued to applicants currently licensed as an educator in another jurisdiction.
Florida
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at the bachelor’s degree level at an NCATE accredited institution and fulfill all preparation and specialization requirements may be eligible for certification. The program must be either accredited by NCATE at the time when the degree was awarded or within the four-year period immediately preceding the date of the initial accreditation of the institution.
Illinois
Out-of-state applicants holding a valid and comparable out-of-state teaching certificate and who have completed a state-approved program are eligible to teach in Illinois.
Indiana
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution are eligible for an Indiana standard license to teach the subject they majored in (provided it is offered in Indiana). The license will be granted when an authorized licensing official from the degree-granting institution completes an ’NCATE Request Form’
Iowa
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an institution accredited by NCATE on or after October 1, 1988, will be recognized and not have to complete any additional coursework, with the exception of special education.
Kentucky
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher certification program at an NCATE accredited institution for the type of certification sought will be eligible for a statement of eligibility or professional certificate. The types of credential, as well as state requirements for assessment, are dependent upon the amount of full-time teaching experience they possess as well as the testing requirements imposed by the state where the applicant’s certificate was issued.
Maine
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution and pass the PRAXIS I licensing exam in Maine will be recognized.
Maryland
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution will be recognized and meet Maryland’s requirement of completing a state-approved program from a regionally accredited institution.
Massachusetts
Out-of-state applicants must have completed an 1) educator preparation program at an NCATE accredited institution, 2) possess a regional credential, 3) have at least an equivalent initial license/certificate issued by a state partnering with MA (under the NASDTEC Interstate Contract), 4) three years of employment under this license/certificate during the previous seven years, and; 5) passing scores on required tests.
Michigan
Out-of-state applicants who have completed an elementary or secondary teacher preparation program at an institution approved by another state's board of education may apply for a comparable Michigan elementary or secondary provisional certificate. The program must be state-approved at the time of the applicant's graduation.
Mississippi
Out-of-state applicants who have a valid out-of-state standard license K-12 to teach in an approved subject area and who have a minimum of two years of teaching or educational administration/leadership experience qualify for a five-year license. Candidates with a valid credential less than standard (such as a provisional license/certificate from another state), or who have a valid standard K-12 license but less than two years teaching experience may qualify for a non-renewable, two-year license (bachelor’s level only).
Missouri
Out-of-state applicants who complete a professional education program from an accredited state-approved institution and hold a valid professional teaching certificate in that state may be issued a Missouri professional certificate of license to teach. The applicants must submit the appropriate application materials and receive a background clearance before receiving Missouri certification in the area(s) of certification most closely aligned with those held in the other state.
Nevada
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution may be qualified for a license. The department will also test candidates to determine their qualifications, and review their official transcripts.
Ohio
Out-of-state applicants who have completed an approved teacher preparation program at an NCATE accredited institution and who meet licensure requirements in the state where the program was completed will qualify for an initial Ohio license in their major area, provided that they successfully complete Praxis II. The same conditions would apply to out-of-state candidates who complete a state approved, university-based teacher preparation program in a state with whom Ohio has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement.
Rhode Island
Out-of-state applicants who have completed teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution and are recommended to teach in a specialty area by the preparing institution are eligible for a Certificate of Eligibility for Employment (CAE) in that area. The program must be accredited by NCATE at the time of the applicant’s graduation. (The policy only applies to the certification of teachers, not to other school service personnel such as principals, supervisors, superintendents, etc.)
South Carolina
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a state approved, regionally or nationally accredited teacher education program (bachelor’s or master’s level) will be accepted, without additional coursework requirements.
South Dakota
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program from either a state-approved, regionally accredited, or NCATE accredited institution may be eligible for certification upon meeting or exceeding Praxis II content tests scores as per South Dakota’s interstate agreement with NASDTEC.
Tennessee
Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited or are teacher candidates from states that are NASDTEC Interstate Certification Project partners may be awarded a license.
| Delaware |
 |
| Out-of-state applicants will be licensed automatically upon meeting the following three requirements: 1) Candidates must complete a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution. (The program must be accredited by NCATE at the time when the program was completed.); 2) Candidates are fully recommended by the college and; 3) Candidates have passed the reading, mathematics, and writing components of the PRAXIS I exam. An initial license will also be issued to applicants currently licensed as an educator in another jurisdiction. |
| Florida |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at the bachelor’s degree level at an NCATE accredited institution and fulfill all preparation and specialization requirements may be eligible for certification. The program must be either accredited by NCATE at the time when the degree was awarded or within the four-year period immediately preceding the date of the initial accreditation of the institution. |
| Illinois |
|
| Out-of-state applicants holding a valid and comparable out-of-state teaching certificate and who have completed a state-approved program are eligible to teach in Illinois. |
| Indiana |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution are eligible for an Indiana standard license to teach the subject they majored in (provided it is offered in Indiana). The license will be granted when an authorized licensing official from the degree-granting institution completes an ’NCATE Request Form’ |
| Iowa |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an institution accredited by NCATE on or after October 1, 1988, will be recognized and not have to complete any additional coursework, with the exception of special education. |
| Kentucky |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher certification program at an NCATE accredited institution for the type of certification sought will be eligible for a statement of eligibility or professional certificate. The types of credential, as well as state requirements for assessment, are dependent upon the amount of full-time teaching experience they possess as well as the testing requirements imposed by the state where the applicant’s certificate was issued. |
| Maine |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution and pass the PRAXIS I licensing exam in Maine will be recognized. |
| Maryland |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution will be recognized and meet Maryland’s requirement of completing a state-approved program from a regionally accredited institution. |
| Massachussetts |
|
| Out-of-state applicants must have completed an 1) educator preparation program at an NCATE accredited institution, 2) possess a regional credential, 3) have at least an equivalent initial license/certificate issued by a state partnering with MA (under the NASDTEC Interstate Contract), 4) three years of employment under this license/certificate during the previous seven years, and; 5) passing scores on required tests. |
| Michigan |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed an elementary or secondary teacher preparation program at an institution approved by another state's board of education may apply for a comparable Michigan elementary or secondary provisional certificate. The program must be state-approved at the time of the applicant's graduation. |
| Mississippi |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have a valid out-of-state standard license K-12 to teach in an approved subject area and who have a minimum of two years of teaching or educational administration/leadership experience qualify for a five-year license. Candidates with a valid credential less than standard (such as a provisional license/certificate from another state), or who have a valid standard K-12 license but less than two years teaching experience may qualify for a non-renewable, two-year license (bachelor’s level only). |
| Missouri |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who complete a professional education program from an accredited state-approved institution and hold a valid professional teaching certificate in that state may be issued a Missouri professional certificate of license to teach. The applicants must submit the appropriate application materials and receive a background clearance before receiving Missouri certification in the area(s) of certification most closely aligned with those held in the other state. |
| Ohio |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed an approved teacher preparation program at an NCATE accredited institution and who meet licensure requirements in the state where the program was completed will qualify for an initial Ohio license in their major area, provided that they successfully complete Praxis II. The same conditions would apply to out-of-state candidates who complete a state approved, university-based teacher preparation program in a state with whom Ohio has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. |
| Rhode Island |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed teacher education program at an NCATE accredited institution and are recommended to teach in a specialty area by the preparing institution are eligible for a Certificate of Eligibility for Employment (CAE) in that area. The program must be accredited by NCATE at the time of the applicant’s graduation. (The policy only applies to the certification of teachers, not to other school service personnel such as principals, supervisors, superintendents, etc.) |
| South Carolina |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a state approved, regionally or nationally accredited teacher education program (bachelor’s or master’s level) will be accepted, without additional coursework requirements. |
| South Dakota |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program from either a state-approved, regionally accredited, or NCATE accredited institution may be eligible for certification upon meeting or exceeding Praxis II content tests scores as per South Dakota’s interstate agreement with NASDTEC. |
| Tennessee |
|
| Out-of-state applicants who have completed a teacher education program at an NCATE accredited or are teacher candidates from states that are NASDTEC Interstate Certification Project partners may be awarded a license. |