Hawaii Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs
Alternative teacher preparation programs, or non-traditional programs, are designed for those with a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. There are several routes to alternative certification in the state of Hawaii. These routes are designed for career changers and typically require additional education beyond a bachelor’s degree to achieve full certification. If you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree, visit our guide to traditional certification in Hawaii. Continue reading to learn more about whether alternative route teacher certification is right for you.
Table of Contents
- Hawaii Alternative Certification Requirements
- Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
- Testing Requirements
- Licenses From Another State
- Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
- Best Alternative Certification Programs
- Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
- Additional Resources
Requirements for Alternative Certification
To pursue alternative teacher certification in Hawaii, candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree. They must also complete continuing education through an approved alternative teacher preparation program. These certification programs can be completed in as little as one year as a graduate certificate. Candidates may also choose to pursue a master’s degree in teaching, education, or in a core subject that includes an approved certification program.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Hawaii
The non-traditional paths to educator certification in Hawaii allow those with bachelor’s degrees in subjects other than education to become teachers. There are two routes to earn alternative teacher certification in the state.
Alternative State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP)
The Alternative State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP) route is the main route to alternative teacher certification in Hawaii. This route requires candidates to apply to an approved SATEP and receive a pre-service evaluation. Candidates must then be admitted to the program and take the Praxis Subject Test for the endorsements sought. After all program requirements are met, candidates are eligible for initial teacher licensure in Hawaii.
Standard Limited Career and Technical Education License
Trade professionals with at least three years of experience in their field, an associate degree, and a passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests may be eligible to receive a Standard Limited Career and Technical Education (CTE) License to teach CTE subjects in their area of expertise. To qualify, candidates must meet additional requirements, including:
- Passing 15 hours of pedagogy coursework from a SATEP in the grade level to be taught, or passing 12 hours of pedagogy coursework from a SATEP and the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam in the grade level to be taught
- Passing the Praxis Subject Test for the subject to be taught unless they have a current, valid national industry certification, state license in the subject area, or 30 hours of content coursework in the content area
Testing Requirements for Hawaii Alternative Certification
Candidates for alternative teacher certification in Hawaii must pass the Praxis Subject Tests for the grade levels and subject areas to be taught. Depending on the route to certification, candidates may also be required to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests and/or the Praxis PLT exam.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
Out-of-state applicants may be eligible for a Hawaii teaching certificate if they have completed either an SATEP or have at least three years of teaching experience. For more information, refer to our teaching certificate reciprocity guide or the Teach in Hawaii website.
Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in Hawaii
To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the HTSB for the preparation of teachers.
| State-Approved School | Accreditation | Program Type(s) | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment4 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers4 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate4 | Net Price5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University-Hawaii | AAQEP | Certificate | 10 | 10 | N.Av. | $13,998 |
| Chaminade University | AAQEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $24,933 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | AAQEP | Master’s | 43 | 10 | N.Av. | $29,827 |
| Leeward Community College* | AAQEP | Alternative, Certificate–CTE only | 112 | 47 | 72% | $8,010 |
| University of Hawaii-Hilo | AAQEP | Master’s | 24 | 24 | 71% | $13,969 |
| University of Hawaii-Manoa | AAQEP | Certificate, Master’s | 253 | 128 | 91% | $15,193 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
- *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.
Best Alternative Teacher Certification Programs in Hawaii
We used overall pass rates on the teacher licensing exams to identify the best alternative teacher certification programs in Hawaii. The following schools reported 100% pass rates for alternative and master’s program graduates.
- University of Hawaii-Manoa (Certificate, Master’s)4
Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in Hawaii based on the shortest possible time to completion. The shortest alternative certification programs are often the most affordable because they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.
- Hawaii Pacific University (12 months)
- Leeward Community College (12 months)
Additional Resources
- Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) Licensing & Permits Overview: Guidelines and requirements for all teaching licenses issued in the state of Hawaii.
- Teach for America Hawaii: Guidelines for the alternative route to certification through Teach for America.
Related Articles
- Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
- Hawaii Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
- Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide
References:
1. Hawaii Teacher Standards Board: https://hawaiiteacherstandardsboard.org/
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/