Wyoming Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Wyoming
Applicants who are seeking teacher certification in Wyoming should know that the Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) is the agency that oversees all teacher licensure in the state. They offer teaching certificates in a variety of areas: birth to age 5, birth to age 8 or grade 3, elementary level (K-6), middle level (grades 5-8), secondary level (grades 6-12), special education (grade bands correspond with elementary, middle, and secondary), and K-12 (art, music, physical education, foreign language, etc.). Applicants interested in special education certification should note that there are individual certification areas that correspond with disability categories.
- I want to be a teacher in Wyoming, 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 Wyoming’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:
- AA in Education (Non-Licensure)
- M.Ed. - Teaching and Learning
- M.Ed. Teaching and Learning - Elementary Education
- MA in Teaching - Elementary Education
- And more...
Wyoming Teacher Education Requirements
The most traditional route to Wyoming teacher certification is through the completion of a teacher education program from a regionally or nationally accredited university. Like most states, Wyoming requires that these programs contain a student teaching component and recommendation for licensure by the certification officer at the university. In addition to documentation of the educational preparation, applicants must submit to a background check and fingerprinting, either have coursework or pass an exam related to the US and Wyoming Constitutions, and pass the required tests for certification.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
Laramie County Community College: Laramie County Community College is the largest two-year community college in the state and serves thousands of students seeking to enter the workforce or transfer onto four-year institutions. Students interested in an education major can complete most of the general education requirements at Laramie CC then transfer to a baccalaureate institution to finish their bachelor’s degree. Laramie CC offers excellent academic preparation and intensive services to students. The college works closely with four-year institutions in the state, and has several articulation agreements with four-year schools making the transfer process simple and easy for eager education majors. The school has agreements with in-state institutions such as University of Wyoming among others.
In January 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wyoming’s unemployment rate at 6.3%, well below the national average of 8.5%. The Occupational Supply and Demand System projects 489 annual job openings in education and library related fields in Wyoming through 2018. In fall 2008 and 2007, the National Center for Education Statistics listed 7,000 public school and 260 private school teachers employed throughout the state. The average beginning teacher salary in Wyoming is $43,010 and the average overall teaching salary is $56,100, the 16th highest among US states according to the National Education Association. The NEA classifies the Wyoming job market as tight throughout the state due to declining enrollment and competitive teaching salaries. The Wyoming Education Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association, is a good resource for new or experienced teachers interested in working in Wyoming and lists state policy updates and local employment opportunities. For more specific information regarding state certification, please contact local education and teaching schools.
Wyoming Teacher Testing Requirements
Not every applicant must take the Praxis exam to make them eligible for Wyoming teaching certification. In fact, only those seeking elementary education certification must pass the Praxis II exam called Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. The other area is the Social Studies Composite certificate; applicants for this must take the Praxis II exam called Social Studies: Content Knowledge. At this time, no other applicants need to take a test to be eligible for certification in Wyoming.
Wyoming Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 450 | $26,240 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 440 | $53,810 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 2,960 | $57,440 |
| Middle School Teachers | 1,170 | $60,030 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 1,890 | $58,020 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Wyoming
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:
- 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:
- 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:
- MA in Education (Leadership in Early Childhood Education)
- BA in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Educational Leadership and Administration (Tier 1)
- MA in Education with Instructional Technology Emphasis
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- Doctor of Management - Graduate Level Instructional Practices
- Doctor of Management - Private Sector Higher Education Leadership
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Wyoming
Casper College
125 College Dr
Casper, WY 82601-4699
(307) 268-2110
www.caspercollege.edu/admissions
Central Wyoming College
2660 Peck Avenue
Riverton, WY 82501
(800) 735-8418
www.cwc.edu/Prospective-Students.htm
Eastern Wyoming College
3200 West C St
Torrington, WY 82240-1699
(307) 532-8200
Northwest College-Powell
231 W 6th St
Powell, WY 82435
(307) 754-6000
Sheridan College
3059 S Coffeen Ave
Sheridan, WY 82801
(307) 674-6446
www.sheridan.edu/admissions
University of Wyoming
Corner of Ninth and Ivinson
Laramie, WY 82071
(307) 766-1121
uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/ADMISSIONS/
Page edited by Charles Sipe.
