ID certification

Idaho teacher certification

Idaho reports 12 teaching credentials and 4 alternative routes to Title II, and licensed 874 new teachers in the latest year.

Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with Office of the State Board of Education.

Teaching credentials in Idaho

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

Idaho credentials
Credential	Initial	Years	Renewable	Grade levels
Alternative Authorization - Content Specialist	Yes	3	No	PK-8, 6-9, 6-12
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Certificate	No	3	No	PK-8, 6-9, 6-12
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Endorsement	No	1	Yes	PK-6, 6-9, 6-12
American Indian Tribal Language Certificate	Yes	5	Yes	K-6, 6-9, 6-12
Emergency Provisional Authorization	Yes	1	Yes	K-8, 6-9, 6-12
Interim Certificate - Out of State	Yes	3	No	PK-8, 6-9, 6-12
Junior ROTC Instructor certificate	Yes	5	Yes	6-9, 9-12
Limited Occupational Specialist Certificate	Yes	3	No	6-9, 6-12
Non-Traditional Route to Teacher Certification	Yes	3	No	PK-8, 6-9, 6-12
Occupational Specialist Certificate	Yes	5	Yes	6-9, 6-12
Postsecondary Specialist	Yes	5	Yes	6-9, 6-12
Standard Instructional Certificate	Yes	5	Yes	PK-8, 5-9, 6-12

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
Alternative Authorization - Content Specialist	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Certificate	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Endorsement	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
American Indian Tribal Language Certificate	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Emergency Provisional Authorization	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Interim Certificate - Out of State	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Junior ROTC Instructor certificate	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Limited Occupational Specialist Certificate	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Non-Traditional Route to Teacher Certification	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Occupational Specialist Certificate	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Postsecondary Specialist	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Standard Instructional Certificate	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Verify a teaching license in Idaho

Teaching licenses in Idaho are verified on the lookup service run by Office of the State Board 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
Alternative Authorization - Content Specialist	No	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Certificate	No	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Endorsement	Yes	2	1	This alternative authorization allows a local education agency to request additional endorsement for a candidate. This authorization is valid for one (1) year and may be renewed for two (2) additional years with evidence of satisfactory progress.
American Indian Tribal Language Certificate	Yes	99	5	Not reported
Emergency Provisional Authorization	Yes	1	1	The local education agency must declare another emergency year exists and submit another application to the Idaho Department of Education for Idaho State Board of Education approval.
Interim Certificate - Out of State	No	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Junior ROTC Instructor certificate	Yes	99	5	Not reported
Limited Occupational Specialist Certificate	No	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Non-Traditional Route to Teacher Certification	No	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Occupational Specialist Certificate	Yes	99	5	All certificated personnel are required to complete at least six (6) semester credit hours or the equivalent within the five (5)-year period of validity of the certificate being renewed. Credits taken for recertification/renewal must be educationally related to the professional development of the applicant. They must also be specifically tied to content areas and/or an area of other endorsement, or be specific to pedagogical best practices for administrative/teacher leadership, or be tied to a specific area of need designated by district administration. At least three (3) semester credits must be taken for university or college credit. In-service hours may be used by Idaho educators who hold a current Idaho teaching certificate as a substitute for up to three (3) of the six (6) semester credit hours required for certificate renewal. Fifteen (15) contact hours are equivalent to one (1) in-service hour. Continuing Education Units verified only by a CEU transcript or certificate cannot be accepted. However, if training that earned CEUs is signed off on an Idaho District Inservice Form, those clock hours may be accepted. Transcripts must be provided upon request to verify the recertification/renewal credits completed through an accredited college or university.
Postsecondary Specialist	Yes	99	5	A renewal application, accompanied by a new written recommendation from the postsecondary institution where the individual is employed. The recommendation must come from the dean (or higher) level of the college/department in which the individual is employed.
Standard Instructional Certificate	Yes	99	5	All certificated personnel are required to complete at least six (6) semester credit hours or the equivalent within the five (5)-year period of validity of the certificate being renewed. Credits taken for recertification/renewal must be educationally related to the professional development of the applicant. They must also be specifically tied to content areas and/or an area of other endorsement, or be specific to pedagogical best practices for administrative/teacher leadership, or be tied to a specific area of need designated by district administration. At least three (3) semester credits must be taken for university or college credit. In-service hours may be used by Idaho educators who hold a current Idaho teaching certificate as a substitute for up to three (3) of the six (6) semester credit hours required for certificate renewal. Fifteen (15) contact hours are equivalent to one (1) in-service hour. Continuing Education Units verified only by a CEU transcript or certificate cannot be accepted. However, if training that earned CEUs is signed off on an Idaho District Inservice Form, those clock hours may be accepted. Transcripts must be provided to verify the recertification/renewal credits completed through an accredited college or university.

Emergency and temporary credentials

Emergency credentials
Credential	Initial	Years	Renewable	Grade levels
Emergency Provisional Authorization	Yes	1	Yes	K-8, 6-9, 6-12

Out-of-state teachers

Out-of-state credentials
Credential	Initial	Years	Renewable	Grade levels
Interim Certificate - Out of State	Yes	3	No	PK-8, 6-9, 6-12

Newly licensed teachers prepared out of state: 786.

Alternative routes

Alternative Authorization - Content Specialist (teach while completing)
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Certification (teach while completing)
Alternative Authorization - Teacher to New Endorsement (teach while completing)
Non-Traditional Route to Teacher Certification (teach while completing)

All alternative routes in Idaho

How to become a teacher in Idaho Idaho teacher preparation providers

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a teaching certificate in Idaho?

Idaho reports 12 credentials to Title II, 10 of them initial. 5 initial credentials require a bachelor's degree, 3 require a preparation program and 3 require tests. Apply through Office of the State Board of Education.

How do I verify a teaching license in Idaho?

Licenses are verified on the lookup service run by Office of the State Board of Education. PT3 does not verify licenses.

Can I renew a Idaho teaching certificate?

7 of 12 Idaho credentials are reported as renewable. Renewal details by credential are listed in the Renewal section.

Does Idaho issue emergency or temporary teaching certificates?

Yes. Title II lists 1: Emergency Provisional Authorization.

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

Idaho lists 1 credential for out-of-state teachers: Interim Certificate - Out of State.

Is there alternative teacher certification in Idaho?

Yes. Idaho reports 4 alternative routes to Title II.