The overall path is similar everywhere — a bachelor's degree, an approved preparation program, supervised student teaching, required exams, and a background check — but the exams differ by state, and states revise them often. Each guide covers your state’s required tests, licensure steps, alternative routes, reciprocity, and renewal — and points you to the official agency. A living reference, updated as states revise their requirements. Pairs with our How to Become a Teacher section.
All states & D.C.
Praxis Subject + edTPA
Praxis + Alaska studies coursework
NES/AEPA + Constitution requirement
Praxis + PLT + Foundations of Reading
CBEST, CSET, literacy performance & CalTPA
Praxis Subject Assessments
Praxis + Foundations of Reading
Praxis Core + Subject + edTPA
FTCE (Gen. Knowledge, Pro Ed, Subject)
GACE + Georgia Ethics Assessment
Praxis Core + Subject + PLT
Praxis Subject + edTPA
ILTS + performance assessment
Indiana CORE (CASA + content)
Praxis Subject + edTPA
Praxis Subject + PLT
Praxis Subject + PLT
Praxis Core + Subject + PLT
Praxis Core + Subject Assessments
Praxis Core + Subject Assessments
MTEL (Comm. & Literacy + subject)
MTTC + Professional Readiness Exam
MTLE (Basic Skills, Pedagogy, Content)
Praxis Core + Subject + Foundations of Reading
MEGA (MoGEA, Content, MoPTA)
Praxis Subject Assessments
Praxis Core + Subject Assessments
Praxis Core + Subject + PLT
Praxis + Foundations of Reading
Praxis Subject Assessments
NMTA (Basic Skills, Content, Pedagogy)
NYSTCE (EAS & CST) + edTPA
Praxis + Pearson (Foundations of Reading)
Praxis Core + Subject + PLT
OAE (APK + subject) + Foundations of Reading
CEOE (OGET, OSAT, OPTE)
NES + edTPA
Praxis + PECT (PreK-4 & special ed)
Praxis + Foundations of Reading
Praxis Core + Subject + PLT
Praxis + PLT + Indian Studies
Praxis Subject + PLT
TExES exams + Science of Teaching Reading
Praxis Subject Assessments
Praxis + Foundations of Reading
Praxis + VCLA + RVE
WEST-B/E + NES + edTPA
Praxis Core + Subject Assessments
Praxis Core + Subject + PLT
Praxis + Foundations of Reading (FoRT)
Praxis + Constitution requirement