Navigating Education Jobs in Idaho: Requirements and Pathways to Certification

Embarking on a career in education in Idaho requires a clear understanding of the state's certification requirements and available pathways. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the necessary qualifications, alternative routes to certification, salary expectations, and resources for aspiring and current educators in Idaho.

Minimum Requirements for Teacher Certification

To become a certified educator in Idaho, candidates must meet the minimum requirements set by Idaho Code §33-1202. This includes completing a state-approved teacher preparation program. The State Board of Education holds the authority to refuse or revoke a certificate from any applicant based on justifiable reasons.

All states require at least a bachelor's degree to teach.

Traditional Teacher Certification Programs

Traditional teacher preparation programs, typically offered through colleges and universities, provide comprehensive training that includes coursework and student teaching experience, culminating in a degree and preparing candidates for initial teacher certification. Boise State Teacher Education offers undergraduate and graduate programs that lead to teacher certification in Idaho, with fully online options also available. The College of Education offers programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels, providing a lifetime of professional growth and opportunities with a variety of enrollment options from traditional classrooms to fully online.

To find Idaho universities offering teacher preparation programs, visit the "Be an Educator" page for more information.

Read also: Explore Idaho Education Jobs

Alternative Routes to Certification

Graduates of accredited colleges or universities who did not major in Education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Non-traditional routes are designed for individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree, or higher, and are seeking to transition into teaching. These pathways allow candidates to teach while completing certification requirements. All candidates following alternate routes for certification are issued a three-year Interim Certificate.

American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)

The state of Idaho officially recognizes the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) certification as a route to your Idaho teaching credential. Furthermore, a computer-based alternative certification plan is available through ABCTE.

Program Details:

Self-paced online program.
Applicants take the Professional Teaching and Knowledge assessment and subject area assessment(s).
Upon passing the assessments, candidates receive a “Classroom Ready Certificate” from ABCTE and apply to the Idaho Department of Education for their three-year ABCTE Interim Certificate.
Candidates must be employed in an Idaho K-12 school to complete the ABCTE Clinical Experience with a mentor within the first year of the ABCTE Interim Certificate.

Content Specialists

There is also an alternative route available for content specialists - experts in a specific subject - to teach in districts that have a shortage of teachers in that area.

College and University Programs

Several colleges in Idaho offer non-traditional certification programs tailored to specific teaching areas for candidates with a bachelor’s degree:

College of Southern Idaho (CSI)
Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC)

Program Details (CSI):

The candidate will proceed through three phases and five modules.
Phase One: Proof of Content Knowledge and Individualized Learning Plans - content knowledge via a Praxis II assessment, Individualized Learning Plan (ILP), and work with a mentor.
Phase Two: Pedagogy Boot Camp, Professional Learning Community and Support (Modules 1-5). The modules offer a hybrid class module with online instruction/support and three face-to-face seminars per module.
Phase Three: Mentoring and Performance Assessment - candidates will be evaluated by a trained supervisor to complete the Common Summative Assessment.

Program Details (LCSC):

An Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) is created for each candidate.
While working in a school setting and with support and coaching from college faculty and local mentors, candidates’ complete requirements of their ILP and five self-paced, mastery-based online modules they can start or complete any time during the calendar year.
Candidates complete performance-based assessments and upload artifacts of their teaching when they are comfortable they have mastered the requirements.
When the candidate is ready, they coordinate with college faculty to complete Idaho’s Common Summative Assessment.

Alternative Authorization

Those who have been hired to teach during their student teaching year can work with the hiring school to apply for an Alternative Authorization.

Teach For America (TFA)

Teach For America (TFA) recruits leaders from all backgrounds to become TFA “corps members,” who commit to teaching for two years as full-time, salaried employees of local public schools. TFA Idaho teachers work in Caldwell, Garden City, Homedale, and other rural communities in the state.

TFA Requirements and Benefits:

Applicants must possess U.S. citizenship, national/legal resident status, or be a DACA recipient or EAD holder.
Corps members must complete steps to become highly qualified in the subject(s) they’ll teach and work toward full teaching certification during their two-year commitment.
Corps members receive a salary and benefits from the school district, charter school, or pre-K center where they work, paid the same as other beginning teachers.
They are entitled to medical benefits through their school or district.
They may be eligible for additional financial incentives exclusively available to TFA corps members.
After their two-year commitment, corps members may choose to stay in the classroom for additional years.

TFA Program Details:

The candidate applies and participates in an interview and selection process.
Once selected, the candidate must pass the Praxis II assessment in their content area and attend a summer bootcamp.
The candidate will work with a mentor for two years and complete the Idaho Department of Education mentor requirements.
During the first year of teaching, they will take two courses at Boise State University.

Interim Certificate Requirements

Candidates pursuing non-traditional routes typically receive an interim certificate valid for three years, during which they must complete program requirements, including mentorship, assessments, and state-specific courses, to qualify for a five-year renewable certificate. All candidates following alternate routes for certification must complete a state-approved reading instruction course.

Praxis Tests

For certification purposes, the Praxis is the State Board of Education (SBOE)-approved content and performance assessments used in Idaho. Additional Certificates and/or endorsements added to an existing certificate/credential through a traditional teacher preparation program may require a Praxis Test. However, individuals certified through the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) test are not required to take a Praxis test.

Interstate Reciprocity

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Idaho, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page.

Salary and Benefits

According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average teacher in Idaho makes around $48,000 to $51,000 per year, depending on grade level taught. Idaho uses a salary schedule that rewards teachers for years of service to the state as well as higher levels of education. Idaho public school teachers age 65 or older with more than 60 months of creditable teaching service are eligible for full retirement benefits courtesy of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI).

Teacher Evaluation Framework

Idaho public schools follow the Danielson Framework for Teaching as a statewide research-based foundation for teacher evaluation. The framework has four key areas: planning and preparation, learning environment, instruction and use of assessment, and professional responsibilities, each of which involve different professional development programs and initiatives.

Advanced Education

A master’s degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.

Commitment to High Standards

Idaho has a strong commitment to high standards for all school personnel and works with teachers, administrators, and other education professionals seeking their certification.

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