As of 2020, Connecticut's State Department of Education reported a total of 206 school districts where teachers can serve in some capacity. Keeping your teaching certificate up-to-date will help you maintain your position so you don't have to repeat any of the initial teaching requirements.
Connecticut Teacher Requirements
| Average Salary for Teachers in Connecticut (2019)* | $78,070 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education) $79,510 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special Education and Career/Technical Education) $78,540 (Secondary School Teachers, Except Special Education and Career/Technical Education) |
| Required Degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Field | Education or subject-specific degree |
| Testing Requirements | Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators and Praxis Subject-Specific Examination |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Teacher Certification Renewal in Connecticut
After completing a bachelor's degree program and passing the Praxis tests, Connecticut teachers are issued an initial educator certificate. This certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed a number of times. With an initial educator certificate and one year of successful teaching experience, teachers can then apply for the provisional educator certificate. This certificate lasts for eight years and is generally not renewable. After three years of teaching experience with a provisional certificate, teachers can complete additional coursework to obtain their professional educator certificate. Teachers do not need to maintain their professional certificate as the district will now provide professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Initial Educator Certificate
The first certificate Connecticut issues is the initial educator certificate. Candidates are able to earn their next level of certification, the provisional educator certificate, by one of the following ways:
- Complete the Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Program and have 10 months of relevant work experience during the initial certificate
- Complete 30 months of relevant work experience during the last 10 years in an approved school outside of Connecticut
Initial certificates can be renewed up to five times before candidates must meet the eligibility requirements at the time of application.
Candidates who qualify to advance to their provisional certificate will need to select the upgrade application and pay a $250 application fee.
Candidates with an expired certificate can apply for renewal if it is within five years of the expiration date. After that, candidates will need to meet all applicable requirements, including three semester hours of education technology and alternative student assessment or child/adolescent development.
Provisional Educator Certificate
The second level of Connecticut certification is the provisional educator, which is valid for eight years. This certificate is only renewable in certain cases.
Candidates are able to earn their next level of certification, the professional educator, after they meet two conditions:
- Complete a minimum of 30 hours of college coursework beyond a bachelor's degree at an approved educational institution
- Complete 30 months of relevant work experience during the provisional certificate
Candidates with an expired certificate can qualify for a new one upon meeting all educational and examination requirements at the time of application. Certificate levels will be decided after a thorough assessment of candidates' applications and accompanying documents.
Professional Educator Certificate
Candidates do not have to meet continuing education credits for the professional educator certificate. However, school districts must offer a minimum of 18 hours of professional development training during each school year.
Candidates can apply for continuation of their certificate six months prior to the expiration date, but no later than six weeks. The application process consists of a paper or electronic application and does not cost anything.
Resources for Connecticut Teachers
All Connecticut teachers need to have passing scores on the Praxis Core examination.
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators - Combined Test: Practice & Study Guide
