High School Teacher Certification in Louisiana

<p>High school teachers typically educate students in grades 9-12 on a specific subject, including chemistry, English, history, or a foreign language. In Louisiana, prospective high school teachers need to receive the Level 1 Professional Certificate before teaching. Continue reading below to find out more about the specific requirements. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree with state-approved teacher preparation program</td></tr> <tr><td> Exam Requirements</td><td> Praxis Core or equivalent; Principles of Learning and Teaching (7-12); at least one content exam</td></tr> <tr><td> Certificate Renewal Period </td><td> Three years; may be renewed once</td></tr> <tr><td> Requirements for Renewal </td><td> Six semester hours or upon request of employing district or superintendent</td></tr> <tr><td> Average Salary (2018) </td><td>$51,810*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 8% (all U.S. high school teachers)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) </i></p> <h3 id="section---CompleteDegreeRequirements">Complete Degree Requirements</h3> <p>Those interested in becoming a high school teacher in Louisiana must obtain a bachelor's degree in education related to the subject they plan to teach, such as biology education. The degree must include a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the state. Coursework varies, but can include topics such as secondary school methods, classroom management, and teaching reading in the content subject. As part of the degree requirement, students will complete fieldwork as a student teacher in a local school under the supervision of a licensed mentor teacher. </p> <h3 id="section---FulfillExamRequirements">Fulfill Exam Requirements</h3> <p>Prospective high school teachers must complete three exams to receive certification: a basic skills test, Principles of Learning and Teaching (7-12), and the Praxis content exam in their teaching subject. The basic skills test can be completed by submitting scores from the three Praxis Core subtest (reading, writing, mathematics), ACT (minimum score of 22), or SAT (minimum score of 1030 for the old test or a combined 1100 for the new SAT). Some teacher preparation programs require this exam as part of admission. </p> <p>Prospective teachers must also take the Principles of Learning and Teaching (7-12), which includes 70 multiple-choice questions and four constructed-response questions. This exam covers topics such as student assessment, leadership skills, and the instructional process. The minimum passing score is 157. </p> <p>A Praxis content exam, such as English, mathematics, or social science is also required of all prospective high school teachers. Exam content and minimum passing score will vary, depending on the specific test. </p> <h3 id="section---SubmitApplication">Submit Application</h3> <p>After all requirements have been met, prospective teachers can apply for the level 1 professional certificate. Applicants should submit a completed application form and pay the required fee to the Louisiana State Board of Education. As part of the application process, all school transcripts and exam scores must also be submitted. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and receive approval from the teacher preparation program before applying. </p> <h3 id="section---MeetRenewalRequirements">Meet Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>The level 1 professional certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed once for an additional three years. To renew this certificate, teachers must complete either six semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university, or have approval from the employing district or superintendent. </p> <p>Teachers who are employed for three years in their certification area and pass the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program exam can apply for the Level 2 Professional Certificate.</p>