The Vermont Teaching and Certification Resource

Those interested in becoming educators in Vermont must earn teacher certification before working in the public school system. The Vermont Agency of Education oversees the state’s certification process, which is outlined below for those looking for more information on how to become a teacher in Vermont.

How to Become a Teacher in Vermont

To qualify for Vermont teacher certification, candidates are required to hold a bachelor’s degree with a major in the liberal arts and sciences or an endorsable subject, complete an approved Vermont teacher preparation program with at least 13 consecutive weeks of student teaching, and pass the required content examinations. Prospective educators who hold a bachelor’s degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Vermont.

Vermont uses a two-tiered structure for teacher licensing. New teachers who meet the basic eligibility requirements receive a Level I license, which is valid for three years and can be renewed. To upgrade to a Level II license, educators must successfully teach for three years with a Level I license, complete 45 hours of continuing education, and provide a self-assessment of teaching practices aligned with Vermont’s standards for educators. Level II licenses are valid for five years.

Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in Vermont

Candidates pursuing Vermont educator certification must complete an approved teacher preparation program to qualify for licensure. The Vermont Agency of Education provides a list of approved programs. You can compare key metrics for these state-approved teacher preparation programs by using the sortable table on our Vermont schools page.

Out-of-state schools, including online schools, must also be approved by that state’s board of education for the preparation of teachers in order to qualify graduates for Vermont educator licensure. Schools should also be accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the US Department of Education.

In addition to regional accreditation, schools may look for national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP accreditation is well-respected for its rigorous standards for educator preparation.

Vermont Teacher Education Requirements

Applicants for teaching certification in Vermont must have earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in the liberal arts and sciences or in the content area for which endorsement is sought. For each additional endorsement, candidates must have at least 18 credit hours in the appropriate content area. Applicants must also complete a state-approved teacher preparation program that included at least 13 consecutive weeks of student teaching. The Vermont Agency of Education only considers coursework that was taken for credit with a grade of “B” or better as meeting licensing requirements. The teacher preparation program completed may be part of a bachelor’s degree, a post-graduate certificate, or a component of a master’s degree. The certification officer of the preparation program must recommend graduates for licensure.

Vermont Teacher Testing Requirements

All applicants pursuing teaching certification in Vermont must complete both the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) and the Praxis subject assessments. The Praxis Core is a basic skills exam that assesses the applicant’s knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics. Applicants must also take the content-specific Praxis subject assessments for the subject(s) in which they seek endorsement.

Additional Vermont Teacher Certification Requirements

All prospective educators must complete a state and national Educational Criminal Record Check through the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) and FBI. Refer to the Vermont Office of Licensing and Professional Standards for instructions on completing this requirement.

Vermont Teachers Licensing Application Process

Once all steps towards Vermont teacher certification have been completed, candidates must apply for a license. The following documentation is required:

• Clearance of criminal background check.
• Official transcripts showing proof of bachelor’s degree and satisfaction of content area requirements.
• Proof of teacher program completion at a state-approved teacher preparation school, along with institutional recommendation for licensure.
• Passing scores on the required Praxis examinations.
• Payment of non-refundable certification processing fee.

Initial applications should be submitted through the online education licensing system. Visit the Vermont Agency of Education for further details on Vermont teacher certification.

Vermont Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

There were an estimated 88,786 students enrolled in Vermont’s 312 K-12 public schools during the 2016-2017 school year.³ Based on an estimated 8,186 teachers during the same time period, Vermont had a student-to-teacher ratio of about 11:1.³

Although overall, the number of teaching jobs in Vermont is expected to contract in the coming years, there will still be some openings due to replacements as current teachers retire. Projections suggest that there will be 230 average annual job openings for elementary school teachers, 60 average annual job openings for middle school teachers, and 160 average annual job openings for secondary school teachers in Vermont through 2026.³ The average annual salary of elementary school teachers in Vermont is $62,430, while middle school teachers earn an average annual salary of $59,170 and secondary school teachers earn an average annual salary of $65,850.⁴ The Vermont NEA, a local branch of the National Education Association, is a resource for teachers interested in current education issues and employment in Vermont.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2018.⁴

Teacher Shortages in Vermont

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2021-2022, Vermont broadly has the following shortages⁵:

• Administrative (Superintendent), Pre-K-12
• Career and Technical Education (Family and Consumer Science), 7-12
• Drivers Education (Driver and Traffic Safety Education), 9-12
• Health and Physical Fitness (General), Pre-K-12
• Health and Physical Fitness (Health Science), 7-12
• Mathematics (Basic and Advanced Mathematics), 7-12
• Special Education (Generic Special Education)
• Support Staff (Guidance and Counseling; Library/Media Specialist), Pre-K-12
• World Languages (Spanish), Pre-K-12

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I become a high school teacher in Vermont?

Answer: To become a high school teacher in Vermont, you must be certified through the state. This requires earning a bachelor’s degree with a major in the subject area that you will teach. You also need to complete a teacher preparation program and pass the Praxis exams for educators as well as a criminal history records check.

Question: Does Vermont have reciprocity?

Answer: The state of Vermont offers licensure through educator reciprocity with all states except New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Teachers from these states will have to apply for licensure via transcript review.

Question: Is there a teacher shortage in Vermont?

Answer: Vermont reports teacher shortages for the 2021-22 school year for administrative and support staff; basic and advanced math; career and technical education; Spanish; health and physical fitness; and drivers education.⁵

References:
1. Vermont Agency of Education: https://education.vermont.gov/
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, 2016-2017: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Vermont: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_vt.htm
5. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/