Mississippi Teacher License

Are you a passionate and motivated educator whose aspiration is to teach? Do you want to know how you can be authorized to teach in Mississippi? Let’s dig in deep to explore major procedures that will help you to obtain your teaching license in the state of Mississippi.

How do I get certified to teach in Mississippi?

To be authorized to teach in the state of Mississippi you must earn accredited teacher certification provided by the Mississippi Department of Education (further information can be found here.

A five years educator license is provided to teachers holding at least a bachelor’s degree and proof of state-level teacher preparation program. There are 4 separate classifications of teacher certifications.

• Class A: A standard level of classification provided educators holding a minimum bachelor’s degree in teaching acquiring a minimum of 2.75 GPA.
• Class AA: To obtain this certification, you must meet all the “Class A’’ license’s requirements and hold a master’s degree in teaching education.
• Class AAA: Teachers must complete a specialist’s degree program in addition to meeting all the “Class A” requirements.
• Class AAAA: The highest level provided to candidates who hold a doctoral degree and meet all the “Class A” requirements.

Remember that all 4 class levels require at least 21 ACT (or passing score of Praxis core exam), completed PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching), and Praxis grade-level subject assessment exams.

As soon as all these steps are completed appropriately, you will be qualified to apply for a teaching license. Prior to your license application make sure you possess the following documents:

• Official transcripts
• Signed form of teacher preparation program verification
• Completed application of Mississippi teacher certification
• Praxis score report if the test was taken out of the state of Mississippi. Tests taken in the state will be automatically forwarded to the Mississippi Department of Education.
• Non-refundable application fee

Apply by submitting all the above-mentioned documents on ELMS (Education Licensure Management System). Unlike other states, the Mississippi Department of Education doesn’t require a background check from candidates.

How do I become a teacher in Mississippi without a teaching degree?

If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a different field, there are still certain alternative pathways leading to your authorized teacher career in Mississippi. Below are presented 4 pathways for obtaining education licensure  along with links and information:

• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Mississippi Alternate Path to Quality Teachers License
• The Teach Mississippi Institute
• American Board Certification for Teacher Excellence

The basic requirements of the alternative pathways to teacher licensure include a bachelor’s degree and at least 21 ACT or Praxis core exam.

How many CEUs do teachers need in Mississippi?

Mississippi teaching license offers 5 years of renewable validation if you complete CEU between renewals. For the standard “class A” license 10 hours CEU in your field is needed. Alternatively, 3 semester hours of coursework plus 5 CEU or solely 6 semester hours of coursework also work. In the case of class “AA’’, “AAA”, “AAAA”, the completion of 5 CEU is required or 3 semester hours of coursework.

How long does it take to become a teacher in Mississippi?

Once you have passed all the needed steps and submitted your licensure application it must take up to 10 business days to obtain your license. To receive real-time updates of the review process, visit your ELMS user account.