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Iowa Teacher Certification and Career Guide

Teacher certification in Iowa is overseen by the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE). The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Iowa are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  5. Upgrade your license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in Iowa.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Iowa

This section covers the traditional steps to teacher certification in Iowa. Iowa uses a tiered certification system for teachers.

  • Initial License (2-year): Issued to new teachers who meet the state’s basic requirements.
  • Standard License (5-year): For teachers who have completed two years in a public school setting or three years in a private school setting of successful teaching based upon local evaluations.
  • Master License (5-year): For teachers who have completed five years of teaching and earned a master’s degree in the related endorsement area.

If you are a bachelor’s degree holder who has yet to complete a teacher preparation program, check out our guide to alternative teacher certification in Iowa.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

Candidates for teacher licensure in Iowa must complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited school. The bachelor’s degree major you pursue will depend on the grade level and subject you wish to teach. All prospective teachers will also complete an approved teacher preparation program as part of the bachelor’s degree. You can review a list of approved programs on the IDOE website.

Compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Iowa schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your program, you will also complete a student teaching placement, called a clinical experience in Iowa. This is typically a full-time, semester-long placement during which you will have opportunities to lead a classroom while paired with an experienced teacher. In Iowa, teacher candidates admitted into a teacher preparation program must complete at least 80 hours of pre-student teaching field experiences, with at least 10 hours occurring before acceptance into the program. They must also complete at least 14 weeks of full-time clinical experience during their final year in the teacher preparation program. To meet the requirements for state certification, the student teaching placement should be at the grade level and in the subject you wish to teach.

3. Pass the required Iowa teacher exams.

Iowa State SealUnlike most other states, applicants are not required to take exams to evaluate their knowledge. Since 2022, Iowa teacher candidates who completed a state-approved program have not been required to complete professional testing to become eligible for licensure.

4. Apply for Iowa teacher certification.

After completing the required steps listed above, candidates may submit an application for an Initial License. Required supporting documentation includes:

  • Official transcripts
  • Proof of a fingerprint based background check
  • Non-refundable processing fee

Applications should be submitted online via the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) website.

5. Upgrade your license.

Once you have been teaching under an Initial License for two years in a public school with successful evaluations, you can convert your license to a Standard License. Conversions should be requested on the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) website. You cannot apply to convert until one year before your license’s expiration date.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Iowa Teacher Certification Renewal

Both Initial and Standard Licenses may be renewed. Initial Licenses are good for two years and can be renewed up to two times with no credits required. Standard Licenses are good for five years and can be renewed with one of the following:

  • Six renewal credits and the mandatory reporter training for child and dependent adult abuse
  • Master’s degree and 10 years of PK-12 licensed experience

Renewal credits can be from approved Iowa providers or college credits. For more information on renewing a certificate, check the Renewal Information page.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. A list of available endorsements is available on the IDOE website. Educators can add an endorsement with the teacher preparation program institution’s recommendation or by applying for a review of transcripts. Both options should be completed online. For more information, review the Adding an Endorsement page.

Iowa Teaching License Reciprocity

Teachers with at least three years of successful out-of-state teaching experience can apply for a Standard Teaching License in Iowa.

  • Official transcripts
  • Verification of teacher preparation program completion
  • Copy of out-of-state license
  • Verification of required assessments
  • Verification of experience
  • Non-refundable processing fee

If coursework deficiencies are identified after the BoEE’s transcript review, out-of-state applicants will need to apply for a Regional Exchange Teaching License while they complete the missing requirements.

In addition to standard classroom teaching certificates, the IDOE issues credentials in a variety of support and administrative areas. These include:

  • Evaluator License: Must have an Iowa teaching license and complete the required evaluator training.
  • Administrator License: Must hold or be eligible for an Iowa teaching license, have three years of teaching experience, hold a master’s degree, and complete other requirements for an administrative endorsement.
  • Professional Service License: Must hold a master’s degree and complete a related preparation program specific to an education setting.

Professional service areas include school counselors, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, special education supervisors, school social workers, and school audiologists. For more information, review the Licenses and Authorizations page.

Iowa Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

6.5%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in IA through 20322*

There were approximately 1,322 public schools operating in Iowa during the 2017-2018 school year, with a K-12 student enrollment of 511,850.3 There were 35,552 public school teachers in the state during this timeframe, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1.3

Job prospects through 2032 are much stronger in Iowa than the expected national averages, with job growth for Iowa elementary teachers projected at 6.2% compared to 0.7% nationally; for Iowa middle school teachers, 6.3% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for Iowa secondary school teachers, 6.6% compared to 1% nationally.2

The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Iowa teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in IA4Average Annual Openings in IA2IA Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in IA425th Percentile Wages in IA575th Percentile Wages in IA5
Preschool Teachers4,94068011.7%$36,640$28,550$44,260
Preschool Teachers, Special Education2502006.8%$41,300$29,140$53,040
Kindergarten Teachers1,2201906.7%$58,260$47,130$68,010
Elementary School Teachers18,0001,4206.2%$57,850$47,110$64,730
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education1,8401206.5%$57,240$48,220$65,400
Middle School Teachers7,3406506.3%$57,160$46,360$65,370
Middle School Teachers, Special Education700——$59,450$48,520$68,560
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education180206.3%$68,290$62,340$75,540
Secondary School Teachers11,4201,0006.6%$60,820$48,130$68,270
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education1,970——$63,790$54,600$74,090
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education890705.7%$59,520$47,950$74,090

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in Iowa

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2022-2023, Iowa broadly has the following shortages:

In addition to these shortages, Iowa had about 1,000 unfilled positions during the 2022-2023 school year.7 During the 2021-2022 school year, 1,612 teachers in Iowa were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I become an elementary teacher in Iowa?

Answer: You must earn an initial teaching license to become an elementary teacher in Iowa. The requirements for the license (sometimes referred to as a certificate) include earning a bachelor’s degree and completing a teacher preparation program. You must also gain experience through student teaching in an elementary classroom.

Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in Iowa?

Answer: To become a substitute teacher in Iowa, you will need a minimum of an associate’s degree or 60 credit hours. Those who meet this requirement are eligible for the Substitute Authorization, which allows the holder to fill short-term substitute roles (no more than 10 days in a row in the same position in any 30-day period). For a Substitute License, candidates must hold or be eligible to hold a regular Iowa teaching license. Those with a Substitute License may fill short- as well as long-term substitute roles (up to 90 days in a row in the same position).

Question: How many private schools and private school teachers are there in Iowa?

Answer: According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 217 private schools in Iowa, with 4,096 full-time teachers and 42,573 students.8 Iowa requires teachers employed by private schools accredited by the IDOE to hold a license or certificate. Check with private schools in your area to confirm requirements.

References:
1. Iowa Board of Educational Examiners: https://educate.iowa.gov/board-educational-examiners
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Iowa: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ia.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp