How to become a teacher in New Jersey

If you're interested in becoming a public school teacher in New Jersey, you must meet certain criteria, including earning a college degree and state certification. Discover how you can start your teaching career and become an educator in the Garden State.

What does a teacher do?

A teacher educates students in certain subjects that can span across several areas, from math and science to music and art. Your realm of responsibilities can include:

• Creating lesson plans
• Curriculum instruction
• Grading assignments
• Classroom management
• Assessing student progress

As a teacher in New Jersey, you can focus on a specific area to match your educational skills and teaching interests, such as:

• Early childhood education
• Middle school education
• Secondary education
• Postsecondary education
• Technical education

Steps to become a teacher in New Jersey

To become a teacher in New Jersey, you must earn a college degree and complete a teacher preparation program while working toward certification.

Below, find the steps you must take to become a teacher in New Jersey. Since curriculum can vary, it's important to verify that the teaching program you are considering meets the state requirements for licensure.

Step 1: Earn a teaching degree

New Jersey requires potential teachers to earn an accredited bachelor's degree in education or a related field with a GPA of at least 3.0 for teacher certification. So earning a four-year degree in your area should be a first step.

If you aim to educate middle or high school students or pursue a career as a technical education instructor, consider specializing in the subject you wish to teach. To instruct at the postsecondary level, you usually need a master's degree in education or a more advanced degree.

Step 2: Complete a teacher preparation program

Next, you must complete an approved educator preparation program (EPP) at an accredited institution of higher education, which can take around one to two years. Many colleges and universities around the state offer these programs, and you can often finish them concurrently with your bachelor's degree program.

The state of New Jersey also requires around 175 hours of student teaching to earn certification, and fieldwork in your teacher preparation program can usually help fulfill some requirements.

Step 3: Pass the Praxis exams for your respective area

Another step to becoming a teacher in New Jersey is passing the Praxis certification exams focused on your specific grade level and subject area. For example, to be certified in teaching preschool-age children through third grade, you need to pass the early childhood education Praxis test. If you plan to teach middle or high school, you can also take certification exams in specializations like world languages.

The scores required to pass Praxis exams vary, and once you pass, your school district can request a provisional teacher certificate for you, which New Jersey requires for newly hired teachers.

Step 4: Apply for your teacher certification in New Jersey

The state of New Jersey generally requires that all teachers get certified. You can typically apply for your certification after you earn a bachelor's degree, complete your teacher preparation program and teaching experience, and pass the Praxis certification exams that pertain to your specific grade level and teaching subject.

The provisional certificate you receive after passing your Praxis exam enables you to be employed as a teacher in New Jersey for up to two years. During this time, you can apply for your standard certificate, which is your permanent teaching certificate.

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