Connecticut Teacher License Renewal Requirements
Teachers in Connecticut can renew their certificates through a combination of coursework and work experience approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
How Connecticut Teachers Can Renew Their Teaching Certificates
In Connecticut, there are three types of teaching certificates that can be renewed. These are the Initial Educator Certificate, Provisional Educator Certificate and Professional Educator Certificate. The requirements for renewing these certificates vary but the general criteria are summarized in the table below.
<table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td> Bachelor's degree (minimum)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td> May be applicable to college coursework</td></tr>
<tr><td>Certification Renewal Period </td><td>Three years (initial certificate)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Requirements for Renewal </td><td> TEAM <br/> Varies by license</td></tr>
<tr><td>Average Salary (2018) </td><td> $43,350 (preschool teachers in CT) <br/> $77,220 (kindergarten teachers in CT) <br/> $75,480 (elementary school teachers in CT) <br/> $76,130 (middle school teachers in CT) <br/> $76,980 (high school teachers in CT)*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td>8% (for high school teachers nationwide), 7% (for kindergarten and elementary school teachers nationwide)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---InitialEducatorCertificate">Initial Educator Certificate</h3><p>The initial educator certificate is the first certificate given to an educator who has satisfied the traditional requirements for certification. This certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed five times. The certificate can only be renewed if the educator has not yet attained the requirements for upgrading the initial certificate. Educators with an initial certificate must complete the TEAM program and the 10 school months of work experience needed to upgrade to a Provisional Educator Certificate.
</p><h3 id="section---ProvisionalEducatorCertificate">Provisional Educator Certificate</h3><p>The provisional certificate is valid for eight years. It can only be renewed once if the educator has not yet met the requirements for upgrading to the Professional Educator Certificate. In this case, the educator must have served at least 10 months in the employ of the Connecticut Board of Education and completed the TEAM program relevant to their endorsement.
</p><h3 id="section---ProfessionalEducatorCertificate">Professional Educator Certificate</h3><p>To upgrade to the Professional Educator Certificate, the educator must complete at least 30 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university that goes beyond their bachelor's degree as well as 30 school months of teaching experience. The professional educator certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed as often as necessary. While continuing education units (CEUs) are no longer required for the renewal of this certificate, Connecticut school districts are required to provide a minimum of 18 hours of professional development annually to their educators. The school districts will need to keep a record of these professional development activities and the educators who were in attendance.
</p><h3 id="section---TeacherEducationAndMentoringTEAMProgram">Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Program</h3><p>This program is a continuous professional growth course that was designed around five main modules. In the TEAM program, new classroom teachers are paired with a trained mentor who can guide them in their expected duties in the classroom. The main modules of the program are:
</p><ul><li>Classroom environment
</li><li>Planning
</li><li>Instruction
</li><li>Assessment
</li><li>Professional responsibilities
</li></ul><p>While the first four modules are classroom-centered, the professional responsibilities module is designed around ethical and moral integrity as well as making connections outside the classroom to the wider community.
</p><h3 id="section---ApplicationProcess">Application Process</h3><p>Applications for certificate renewal should be submitted while the certificate is still valid to avoid having it lapse. Applications can be sent in as early as six months prior to certificate expiration. Educators can submit their applications for renewal online via the Connecticut Educator Certification System that is available on the Connecticut State Department of Education website. In that case, the application fee can be paid via the system using a credit card. Applicants also have the option of completing the physical application form and submitting it to the Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification division of the Connecticut State Department of Education. For that option, the application fee can be paid with a certified bank check or money order.</p>