North Dakota Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in North Dakota
To become a teacher in the state of North Dakota, a candidate must obtain a North Dakota teacher certification. These are issued by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices board. North Dakota statutes indicate that before a teacher can receive his or her first month’s salary, he or she must show a valid teaching certificate to the designated authority in the school district’s central office.
- I want to be a teacher in North Dakota, 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 North Dakota’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)
There are a number of different types of North Dakota teaching certification for candidates interested in becoming a teacher in North Dakota. The most common is the initial license. This is a license that is given to candidates who have met all the requirements for certification in North Dakota. It is valid for two years. The regular teaching license is given to candidates who have met all certification requirements and who have eighteen months of successful teaching experience in schools in North Dakota. These certificates are valid for five years. Other certificates include the alternate license (which is issued if the candidate is going to teach in a documented shortage area) and the out-of-state reciprocal license (for those who have a valid teaching certificate in another state, but have yet to meet the requirements in North Dakota. There are also several endorsement areas, such as for middle school and kindergarten teachers.
In January 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics listed North Dakota’s unemployment rate at 3.8%, one of the lowest rates among US states and significantly lower than the national average of 8.5%. The Occupational Supply & Demand System projects 388 annual job openings in education and library fields in North Dakota through 2018. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, 8,181 public school and 560 private school teachers were employed in North Dakota in fall 2008 and 2007 respectively. The average starting teaching salary in North Dakota is $25,793 and the average overall teaching salary is $44,807, the 4th lowest average among US states according to the National Education Association. The NEA also notes teacher shortages in special education, math and science, particularly in rural areas. The relatively small school system in North Dakota yields fewer overall teaching opportunities, but the competition for these positions are is much less intense than in more populated states. The NEA encourages newly certified teachers to seek positions and pursue subject specialization. Though North Dakota ranks poorly among other US states in terms of average teaching salary, these rankings are not reflective of the cost of living in each state. Please visit the North Dakota Education Association for regular updates on policy changes, legislation and job opportunities for educators in North Dakota. For more information on state certification, please contact local education and teaching schools.
North Dakota Teacher Education Requirements
The most common track that leads to teacher certification in North Dakota is to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program. These programs include a general studies component, professional studies in education, and content-specific coursework. The most common teacher preparation majors are elementary education, middle school education, secondary education, and K-12 education (in fields such as art, music, foreign language, and physical education). For certification, the state of North Dakota requires a 2.50 overall grade point average on all college coursework attempted.
In addition to appropriate academic preparation, a candidate must provide three letters of recommendation and complete a fingerprinting process.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
University of North Dakota: Located in the city of Grand Forks, University of North Dakota is home of the College of Education and Human Development. The College offers students excellent programs that develop them to be future leaders in the educational areas of counseling, teaching, administration, public health and much more. Teaching programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education – a leading accrediting agency in the field of postsecondary educational standards. The largest contingent of students’ majors is in elementary education. The College confers undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Education degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, middle level education, science education, and social studies education.
North Dakota Teacher Testing Requirements
North Dakota is one of the states that uses the Praxis series of tests for teacher certification. All applicants must pass the PPST (Pre-Professional Skills Test)/Praxis I exam. This is a basic skills test that assesses a candidate’s reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Candidates must also obtain a passing score on the Praxis II, which is the subject-area test for their desired area of certification.
North Dakota Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 290 | $23,940 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 590 | $40,140 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 5,680 | $44,270 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 2,750 | $42,630 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in North Dakota
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:
- Early Childhood Education (Certification Only)
- Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education- National Board Preparation
- Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
- M.A. in Education/Secondary Teacher Education
- B.S. in Education / Elementary Education
- A.A. in Elementary Education
- And more...
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...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. Teaching (K-8)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
- B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
- M.A. Teaching - Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- And more...
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in North Dakota
Bismarck State College
1500 Edwards Ave
Bismarck, ND 58506-5587
(701) 224-5400
www.bismarckstate.edu/student/admissions
Dickinson State University
291 Campus Drive
Dickinson, ND 58601-4896
(701) 483-2507
www.dickinsonstate.com
Jamestown College
608 6th St NE
Jamestown, ND 58405
(701) 252-3467
Lake Region State College
1801 College Dr N
Devils Lake, ND 58301-1598
(701) 662-1600
www.lrsc.edu
Mayville State University
330 Third Street NE
Mayville, ND 58257-1299
(701) 788-2301
www.mayvillestate.edu/worldwide_learning/index.cfm
Minot State University
500 University Ave W
Minot, ND 58707
(701) 858-3000
Minot State University-Bottineau Campus
105 Simrall Blvd
Bottineau, ND 58318-1159
(701) 228-2277
North Dakota State College of Science
800 N 6th St
Wahpeton, ND 58076
(701) 671-2403
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
1301 12th Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
(701) 231-8011
www.ndsu.edu/prospective_students/
Sitting Bull College
1341 92nd Street
Fort Yates, ND 58538-9721
(701) 854-8000
Turtle Mountain Community College
BIA #7 North
Belcourt, ND 58316
(701) 477-7862
University of Mary
7500 University Dr
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 255-7500
www.umary.edu/UM/Admissions/
University of North Dakota
University Station
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8193
(800) 225-5863
www.und.edu/admissions/
Valley City State University
101 College St SW
Valley City, ND 58072
(701) 845-7990
www.vcsu.edu/enrollmentservices/
Williston State College
1410 University Ave
Williston, ND 58801-1326
(701) 774-4200
www.wsc.nodak.edu/admission/index.htm
Page edited by Charles Sipe.
