Professional Licensure or Certification
Alternate Routes to Teacher Licensure or Certification
Individuals who have a completed one of the MS Department of Education approved Alternate Routes to Teaching* programs should review this page to determine if they meet the educational requirements where you live or plan to work.
State licensing requirements are always subject to change at the discretion of the state licensing board. The University will routinely update this page, but we strongly recommend you inquire with the applicable state board to confirm your eligibility for licensure prior to enrolling in a Teacher Education program. For any questions regarding licensure, please contact the state/territory agency directly. And refer to the links for state compliance and requirements for licensure and school certification below.
While many states accept Mississippi licensure through reciprocity agreements, each state has its own certification requirements, which may include additional coursework, testing, or background checks. Some state licensing boards require additional requirements beyond academic and clinical requirements, including (but are not limited to): additional post-graduation examinations or experience, application and licensing fees, criminal background checks, reference checks, fingerprint submissions, etc. Continuing education may also be required for the maintenance of licensure. Ensure you understand and review any additional requirements before enrolling in an Alternate Route to Teaching program.
Carefully review the academic and clinical prerequisites for your intended state/territory of licensure and whether our program meets those educational requirements for licensure. Use the agency contact information provided below to clarify or confirm any requirements.
Search Disclosures by State
| State/Territory | Does NOT Meet Curriculum Requirements | Meets Curriculum Requirements, Allows Direct Application |
Meets Curriculum Requirements, RECIPROCITY |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Alaska | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| American Samoa | Yes | American Samoa has no language which indicates reciprocity for alternate route licensure. | ||
| Arizona | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. Students will need to show evidence of coursework in US and Arizona Constitution. This is an allowable 3-year deficiency. | ||
| Arkansas | Yes | |||
| California | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Colorado | Yes | |||
| Connecticut | Yes | Must have 30 school months of successful service within last 10 years under a valid out-of-state certificate to be exempt from testing. Must have 20 schools months under a valid out-of-state certificate to be eligible for a provisional license. | ||
| Delaware | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| District of Columbia | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Federated States of Micronesia | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Florida | Yes | Eligible for a Temporary Certificate. Must complete the FLORIDA TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION |
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| Georgia | Yes | |||
| Guam | Yes | All persons issued an educational professional certificate who have not completed a three (3 ) semester credit course in Guam history of culture shall complete one (1) such course during the first year after certification. Failure to meet this requirement shall constitute sufficient cause to cancel the certificate until the deficiency is corrected. | ||
| Hawaii | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Idaho | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Illinois | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Indiana | Yes | Students would need to get 5 year license before going to another state. Refer to the undergraduate tab for additional requirements. | ||
| Iowa | Yes | Iowa has reciprocity with all states providing education licensure. This means any individual completing a program in your state which leads to education licensure will be granted a similar license in Iowa providing the institution can verify the candidate has completed all requirements for licensure within that state or the candidate can submit an education license issued from that state. | ||
| Kansas | Yes | |||
| Kentucky | Yes | In this option, candidates complete training through an approved institute that addresses multiple research-based teaching strategies and practices. Candidates with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an academic content area, 2.75 GPA, a passing score on the GRE or Core Academic Skills for Educators assessment, and a passing score on the Praxis II academic content assessment in the area in which certification is being sought may be eligible for this pathway. The EPSB has approved two Option 7 programs: The CKEC Teacher Certification Institute (contact Ramona Karsner) and the Nelson County Schools New Teacher Institute (contact Karen Lee). | ||
| Louisiana | Yes | For experienced teachers who hold active out-of-state teacher certification and have at least three years of experience, Louisiana offers limited reciprocity. Applicants should apply for an Out-of-State Teaching Certificate, which is valid for three years. | ||
| Maine | Yes | |||
| Maryland | Yes | |||
| Massachusetts | Yes (only standard renewable-not 3yr) |
You are a candidate for this route if you: | ||
| Michigan | Yes (only standard renewable-not 3yr) |
In order to be issued a Standard Teaching Certificate based on completion of an out-of-state program, Michigan does not impose additional educational requirements beyond what Mississippi State would require for its graduates to be recommended for teacher certification in Mississippi. Michigan honors the programs approved for teacher certification by other states for licensure and does not generally impose additional educational requirements for teacher certification beyond completion of a program approved by the educator preparation provider’s home state to lead to teacher licensure. For program completers with less than three years of successful teaching, passage of the appropriate Michigan Test(s) for Teacher Certification is required. Mississippi State program completers may be issued a nonrenewable one-year Temporary Teaching Certificate in order to complete testing requirements. | ||
| Minnesota | Yes | |||
| Mississippi | Yes | |||
| Missouri | Yes | |||
| Montana | Yes | |||
| Nebraska | Yes | |||
| Nevada | Yes | |||
| New Hampshire | Yes | Another pathway that the state offers for teacher certification is known as reciprocity, in which the candidate is awarded an Experienced Educator License (EEL). Option A provides for the acceptance of candidates from other states who have graduated from an approved state program. Transcripts documenting program completion will be needed including copies of test scores and any out of state licenses. Reciprocity Option B allows New Hampshire to accept teachers who have been employed as a certified educator in another state for at least three years out of the last seven years. Transcripts, letters from employers and copies of out of state licenses and test scores are also required. If a teacher's certification is from another country, the 'foreign evaluation' process is an option. Experience letters and license information will be needed. | ||
| New Jersey | Yes | |||
| New Mexico | Yes | |||
| New York | Yes | |||
| North Carolina | Yes | |||
| North Dakota | Yes | |||
| Northern Mariana Islands | ||||
| Ohio | Yes | |||
| Oklahoma | Yes | |||
| Oregon | Yes | FIRST OREGON TEACHING LICENSE | ||
| Pennsylvania | Yes | One must present passing scores on PA required licesnure exams as well as verification of 2 years of experience teaching under the licesnure area along with the standard Mississippi Educator's license. Candidate must also have a 3.0 overall program GPA. There are no provisions for a temporary certificate unless a district chooses to request one on the candidates behalf. Must also have a 3.0 program GPA. Pennsylvania Department of Education | ||
| Puerto Rico | Yes | |||
| Republic of Palau | Yes | |||
| Republic of the Marshall Islands | Yes | |||
| Rhode Island | Yes | Required Document Checklist | ||
| South Carolina | Yes | Reciprocity is granted. South Carolina Department of Education | ||
| South Dakota | Yes | offers reciprocity IF candiate has 3 years of experience within the past 5 years. South Dakota Department of Education - Educator Certification | ||
| Tennessee | Yes | |||
| Texas | Yes | Yes (with standard license in another state can receive "review" for provisional license) |
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| U.S. Virgin Islands | Yes | Complete a course in U.S. Virgin Islands history within the first year of employment. | ||
| Utah | Yes | Yes | If you have a standard renewable educator license from another state or country you may apply for a Utah Educator License, using the License Equivalency Review (LER) application for submission to Utah State Board of Education. Utah requires testing and (on website) a list of "equivalent" tests (ETS/Praxis II). Candidates in elementary education, special education and early childhood education will also have to meet passing scores on the Foundations of Reading assessment. | |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | Eligibility for licensure through reciprocity is determined by meeting requirements under the rules of reciprocity per the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. Receiving standard MS license first appears to be best means of seeking reciprocity. | |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | An individual coming into Virginia from any state may qualify for a Virginia teaching license with comparable endorsement areas if the individual has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program through an accredited four-year college or university, if the individual holds a valid out-of-state teaching license (full credential without deficiencies), or holds an active national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). For reciprocity: For individuals who have obtained a valid out-of-state license, with full credentials and without deficiencies, that is in force at the time the application for a Virginia license is received by the Department of Education. Each such individual shall establish a file in the Department of Education by submitting a complete application packet, which shall include official student transcripts. No service requirements or licensing assessments shall be required for any such individual | |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | ||
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | ||
| Wisconsin | Yes | |||
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes |
Disclaimer: Although all state licensing boards have been reviewed by the University of Mississippi for program adherence to meet the educational requirements, it is up to each student to review the boards as well and be knowledgeable of all requirements. Some boards require additional tests, or unique state specifications. These requirements are noted here but are also privy to change without notice. (Updated: 11/25/2025)
*The MS Department of Education allows an individual who holds a bachelor’s degree (non-education) and would like to transition into teaching but lacks the certification or license to enroll in an alternate route to licensure program. Currently, there are three methods to obtain certification through the Alternate Route. https://mdek12.org/licensure/alternate/