AS certification

American Samoa teacher certification

American Samoa reports 8 teaching credentials and 1 alternative route to Title II, and licensed 20 new teachers in the latest year.

Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with American Samoa Department of Education.

Teaching credentials in American Samoa

Each row is a credential American Samoa reported to Title II. Initial means a first credential for a new teacher. Years is the length of validity.

American Samoa credentials
Credential	Initial	Years	Renewable	Grade levels
Professional Teaching Certificate I	No	5	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Professional Teaching Certificate II	No	5	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Professional Teaching Certificate III	No	5	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Professional Teaching Certificate IV	No	5	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Professional Teaching Certificate V	No	5	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Professional Teaching Certificate VI	No	8	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Provisional Teaching Certificate	Yes	3	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Temporary Certificate (TC)	Yes	3	Yes	PK-6, 6-8, 9-12

Requirements

Yes means the state reports the item as required for that credential. Tests shows only whether tests are required; Title II does not name the tests.

Credential	Bachelor's	Master's	Education degree	Prep program	Tests	Performance assessment	Clinical	Coursework	Credit hours	Min. GPA	Transcripts	Employment	Mentoring	Recency	Background check	Fingerprint	Police check
Professional Teaching Certificate I	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Professional Teaching Certificate II	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Professional Teaching Certificate III	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Professional Teaching Certificate IV	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Professional Teaching Certificate V	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Professional Teaching Certificate VI	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Provisional Teaching Certificate	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Temporary Certificate (TC)	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Verify a teaching license in American Samoa

Teaching licenses in American Samoa are verified on the lookup service run by American Samoa Department of Education. Search there by the teacher's name or certificate number to see current status.

PT3 does not verify licenses and holds no records of individual teachers.

Renewal

Renew times is how many times the credential can be renewed; renewal years is the length of each renewal.

Renewal
Credential	Renewable	Renew times	Renewal years	Details
Professional Teaching Certificate I	Yes	10	5	Completion of Master's degree
Professional Teaching Certificate II	Yes	10	5	Completion of Master's degree
Professional Teaching Certificate III	Yes	10	5	Complete Certification coursework
Professional Teaching Certificate IV	Yes	10	5	80 hours of documented participation and/or presentation or professional development training. Relevant content area continuing Education coursework
Professional Teaching Certificate V	Yes	10	5	80 hours of documented participation and/or presentation or professional development training. Relevant content area continuing Education coursework
Professional Teaching Certificate VI	Yes	10	8	80 hours of documented participation and/or presentation or professional development training. Relevant content area continuing Education coursework
Provisional Teaching Certificate	Yes	3	3	Any teacher who doesn't meet requirements to move into the Professional Teacher Certificate level by the end of this period must apply to the Certification Board for an extension. Granting an extension is contingent on application meeting the following: 1.)Satisfactory rating of performance evaluation (for the last 3 years) by the principal; 2.) Recommendation by the Principal; 3.) Approval by Board of a specific plan for meeting a course of study for the Professional Teacher Certification I.
Temporary Certificate (TC)	Yes	1	1	This certificate will be issued only to those with a qualification that is below BA or BS degree. Teachers who are hired on a temporary basis will be on a short term contract and renewal will depend on a decision by a review board. Teachers need to join the Pathway to Certification program to complete BEd program and Certification coursework.

Emergency and temporary credentials

Emergency credentials
Credential	Initial	Years	Renewable	Grade levels
Provisional Teaching Certificate	Yes	3	Yes	PK-5, 6-8, 9-12
Temporary Certificate (TC)	Yes	3	Yes	PK-6, 6-8, 9-12

Out-of-state teachers

Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for American Samoa. Ask American Samoa Department of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.

Newly licensed teachers prepared out of state: 1.

Alternative routes

NOCTI (teach while completing)

All alternative routes in American Samoa

About American Samoa certification

The certification and training of teachers in American Samoa is legally mandated (Public Law Title 16.1001, A.S.C.A.). The mandate served as the catalyst by which the American Samoa Department of Education (ASDOE) formalized partnerships with two (2) institutions of higher education (IHE) to provide teacher preparation and trainings. Officially known as the University of Hawaii's Territorial Teacher Training Assistance Program (TTTAP), its humble beginnings in the late seventies (70’s) has endured more than three (3) decades of educational reforms and has produced several hundred teachers with undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education. Additionally, the American Samoa Community College has developed and now offers a Bachelor's of Education in Elementary Education.

In recent years, the ASDOE has revamped its teacher certification requirements to include the adoption in 2010 of the federal definition of a highly qualified teacher (HQT) and the Praxis I/CORE & II in 2014 as the official licensing tests for teachers. Certification course requirements have been revised to meet the increasing demands of 21st century education for the school age population of American Samoa.

How to become a teacher in American Samoa American Samoa teacher preparation providers

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a teaching certificate in American Samoa?

American Samoa reports 8 credentials to Title II, 2 of them initial. 1 initial credentials require a bachelor's degree, 0 require a preparation program and 1 require tests. Apply through American Samoa Department of Education.

How do I verify a teaching license in American Samoa?

Licenses are verified on the lookup service run by American Samoa Department of Education. PT3 does not verify licenses.

Can I renew a American Samoa teaching certificate?

8 of 8 American Samoa credentials are reported as renewable. Renewal details by credential are listed in the Renewal section.

Does American Samoa issue emergency or temporary teaching certificates?

Yes. Title II lists 2: Provisional Teaching Certificate; Temporary Certificate (TC).

Can I teach in American Samoa with an out-of-state license?

Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for American Samoa. Ask American Samoa Department of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.

Is there alternative teacher certification in American Samoa?

Yes. American Samoa reports 1 alternative route to Title II.