Connecticut Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Education issues teacher certification to applicants who are eligible based on program preparation or teaching experience. To become eligible for certification, one must successfully complete a teacher preparation program at a state-approved institution and pass both the Praxis I and Praxis II examinations. There are also alternative paths to Connecticut teacher certification.
- I want to be a teacher in Connecticut, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about Connecticut’s Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctorate Education Programs and Information.
Spotlight School
Popular Programs:
- MS in Education (for Existing Teachers Grades K-12)
- MA in Teaching (for Aspiring Teachers Grades 5-12)
Connecticut Teacher Education Requirements
To be eligible for Connecticut teaching certification under the program preparation requirements, the applicant must complete a teacher preparation program at a regionally accredited institution, either public or private. Depending upon what the applicant wishes to teach, he or she should complete a bachelor’s degree or higher in early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education. Educators who have not completed a teacher preparation program but have at least two years of teaching experience may also be eligible for certification based on teaching experience. The teaching experience of these candidates must be aligned with the specific grade level and subject endorsement they are seeking.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
Abertus Magnus College: Located in New Haven, CT, Albertus Magnus is a four-year, private liberal arts college founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs. The college currently offers teacher education programs in three main concentration areas including Pre-K-12, Middle School, and Secondary. The undergraduate program is known for introducing its students to field experiences right away to make sure they feel the degree program is a good fit. Freshman observe and assist local teachers for a total of 40 hours during their first semester in the teacher preparation program. Albertus Magnus students score well above their peers on the PRAXIS II test with 100 percent passing the exam on their initial attempt. Students planning on teaching at the secondary level major in a subject area along with taking education courses designed to teach them about instruction and pedagogy.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an unemployment rate of 8.5% in Connecticut at the beginning of 2012, a rate very near the national average. The Occupational Supply & Demand System has projected 6,639 annual job openings in Connecticut in library and education related fields through 2018. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Connecticut had 48,463 public school and 8,240 private school teachers registered in 2008 and 2007 respectively. The starting and average salaries for teachers in 2012 are $40,079 and $69,165, the 3rd highest in the nation, as reported by the NEA. Education accounts for 15% of the total Connecticut state budget, making the cost per pupil $13,848, the sixth highest in the nation according the Census Bureau 2007-2008 report. The Connecticut Education Association lists speech and language, special education, world languages, bilingual education and high school English as the top 5 ‘shortage areas’ in the 2011-2012 school year. Expanding a degree to include these fields may increase employment opportunity in Connecticut throughout the next several years. With an increasing emphasis on tenure reform and an aging teacher population, it is possible that the number annual job openings could increase, or favor newly certified teachers. Please contact Connecticut education and teaching schools for more information regarding certification and hiring outlooks for the next 5 years.
Connecticut Teacher Testing Requirements
To meet the testing requirements set forth by the Connecticut State Board of Education, a prospective teacher must pass both the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) and the Praxis II Subject-Knowledge Tests. Candidates who hold an out-of-state license may be eligible for a testing waiver provided they have at least three years of teaching experience in the same state and school district or official transcripts from an accredited university and a signed statement providing evidence of teaching experience.
Connecticut Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 6,750 | $30,770 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 1,750 | $63,830 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 17,110 | $66,920 |
| Middle School Teachers | 10,200 | $68,740 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 15,260 | $66,870 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Connecticut
Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools
Popular Programs:
- MA in Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education- National Board Preparation
- Early Childhood Education (Certification Only)
- Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
- Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy
- Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Math
Popular Programs:
- Doctor of Management - Graduate Level Instructional Practices
- Doctor of Management - Private Sector Higher Education Leadership
Popular Programs:
- B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 5 Years)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Education
- Special Education (Early Childhood/Elementary)
- Educational Administration: (EDD)
- And more...
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Connecticut
Albertus Magnus College
700 Prospect St
New Haven, CT 06511-1189
(203) 773-8550
Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley St
New Britain, CT 6050
(860) 832-3200
www.ccsu.edu/admission
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 6320
(860) 447-1911
www.conncoll.edu/admission/index.htm
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham St
Willimantic, CT 6226
(860) 465-5000
www.easternct.edu/admis/index.html
Fairfield University
1073 N Benson Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
(203) 254-4000
www.fairfield.edu/admission/uga_admis_types.html
Goodwin College
745 Burnside Ave
East Hartford, CT 6108
(860) 528-4111
Hartford School of Music
834 Asylum Ave
Hartford, CT 06105-2891
(860) 246-2588
Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Ave
Fairfield, CT 06825-1000
(203) 371-7999
www.sacredheart.edu/pages/4_admissions.cfm
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515-1355
(203) 392-5200
www.southernct.edu/admissions/
University of Bridgeport
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604-5620
(203) 576-4000
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 6269
(860) 486-2000
www.admissions.uconn.edu/
University of Hartford
200 Bloomfield Ave
West Hartford, CT 06117-1599
(860) 768-4100
University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516
(800) 342-5864
http://www.newhaven.edu/admissions/
Western Connecticut State University
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810-6826
(203) 837-8200
Page edited by Charles Sipe.
