New Hampshire Teacher License Renewal
When it is time to renew a teaching certification in New Hampshire, there are several ways to go through the process. This article will review two different ways of qualifying and applying for renewal.
How to Renew a Teacher Certification in New Hampshire
<p>Educators in New Hampshire must apply for certification renewal every three years. The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) oversees the renewal process to ensure the educator has met the standards to renew their certification. The school district that the educator is employed with determines how the teacher must apply for renewal.
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<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Education/Experience Required</b></td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Exam Requirements</b></td><td> A basic skills test, Praxis Subject Assessment, Foundations of Reading for elementary and early childhood</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification Renewal Period</b></td><td> 3 Years</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Professional Development Hours Required for Renewal</b></td><td> 75</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary</b></td><td> $58,230 Elementary, $57,640 Middle School, $61,510 High School (New Hampshire, as of May 2018)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Estimated Job Growth</b></td><td> 3% Elementary & Middle School, 4% High School (National Stats 2018 to 2028)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.</i>
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<h3 id="section---RenewalForEducatorsOfApprovedSchoolDistricts">Renewal for Educators of Approved School Districts</h3>
<p>The superintendent of a qualifying school district in which the educator is employed must electronically file a recommendation for renewal. The school district must be a NHDOE approved school district or private school that has developed and implemented a Professional Development Master Plan to guide educators to continue expanding their knowledge in pedagogy methods, professional practices, and subject area knowledge. The professional development master plan evaluates and monitors the teacher's professional growth and validates the 75 hours of development activities to qualify for renewal. Applicants who want to upgrade to or renew an Experienced Educator Certificate must have 3 or more years of full-time teaching experience and be in good standing with teacher evaluations for at least two of the three years prior to renewal.
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<h3 id="section---RenewalForEducatorsOfUnapprovedSchoolDistricts">Renewal for Educators of Unapproved School Districts</h3>
<p>If the renewal applicant is not employed at an approved NHDOE school district or private school that participates in a Professional Development Master Plan program, they must apply for renewal with supporting documentation validating professional growth activities or 75 hours of professional development training completed in the three years prior to filing the renewal. The school district that the applicant works for must submit documented proof of the applicant's professional growth activities by mail or electronically to the NHDOE. All professional growth activities and training must be education or subject area related to qualify as a NHDOE approved activity. The NHDOE will review the activities and determine if the applicant has met the requirements for renewal.
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<h3 id="section---Application">Application</h3>
<p>The application for renewal must be filed before June 30th of the expiration year. A renewal fee of $130 must be submitted along with the application. Candidates that file after June 30th are required to pay an additional $50 fee for filing late. The renewal application can be filed online through the state's Educator Information System, or mailed to the NHDOE. After validating that all requirements for renewal have been met, the teaching certification will be renewed for another 3 years.
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<h3 id="section---TeachingCertificationRequirements">Teaching Certification Requirements</h3>
<p>In order for the applicant to qualify for renewal, they must first obtain a valid teaching certificate. There are five requirements a candidate must fulfill to earn a New Hampshire Educator Certification.
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<ol><li>Have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
</li><li>Complete an NHDOE approved teacher preparation program.
</li><li>Pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Exam (or other approved test of basic skills) and any relevant Praxis Subject Assessments.
</li><li>Complete a state and federal criminal history investigation using the fingerprinting process.
</li><li>Submit an application on the myNHDOE web page and pay the $130 registration fee.</li></ol>