US territory
How to become a teacher in American Samoa
Steps drawn from the state's data
- Apply to American Samoa Department of Education for an initial credential.
- Career changers can use one of 1 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.
Teacher preparation providers in American Samoa
| Provider | Program types | Enrollment | Completers |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa Community College | Traditional | 46 | 8 |
| University of Hawaii-Manoa: American Samoa cohort | Traditional | 36 | 22 |
About teacher preparation in American Samoa
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.