1. Earn a bachelor’s degree

    To become a certified teacher in the state of Oregon you must earn, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

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  2. Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program

    In order to receive a teaching license in Oregon, you must complete a teacher education program approved by the state, which will consist of college coursework and student teaching.

    This requirement can be met through a bachelor's degree or master's degree program, typically a master of arts in teaching (MAT). Candidates can choose from programs that offer elementary or secondary certification.

    Teaching Programs

  3. Pass required exams

    • You must pass the Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment Exam. Some educator preparation providers (EPPs) meet this requirement through coursework, and others will require that you take and pass the assessment. Check with your EPP to determine your institution's requirements.
    • You must pass the exam(s) for the subject area you want to teach (view TSPC list). Although there are teaching endorsements at multiple levels for some subjects (e.g. Foundational English Language Arts and English Language Arts), it is generally advisable to earn the higher level endorsement, as this will give you more options in the future.
    • Middle school teachers ordinarily learn about the subject they want to teach through their undergraduate major, followed by a state-approved master’s level teacher-preparation program.

    See Oregon’s Teacher Standards and Practices Commission for a listing of all possible endorsements and corresponding schools that offer preparation for these.

    You must also pass an approved Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA). One common route for this is taking the edTPA, but TSPC has also allowed education preparation providers (EPPs) to create their own assessment, provided it is approved by TSPC.

  4. Submit your Oregon teaching credential application

    Upon satisfying the above requirements, you may apply for a Preliminary Teaching License from Oregon’s Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. The application process requires a background check, which includes submitting fingerprints.

    Note: If you completed an out-of-state teacher preparation program, you can apply for the Reciprocal Teaching License.

Getting into a Teacher License Program

The Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), an independent state agency that awards educator licenses and approves educator preparation programs, requires prospective teachers to complete a state-approved preliminary teacher licensure program.

Admission to one of these accredited programs typically includes the following requirements:

  • A minimum 2.50-3.0 GPA, either overall or in the last two semesters of your undergraduate coursework 
  • Proof of strong academic preparation for multiple subjects in general education/major coursework
  • Previous experience working with children in a classroom setting
  • A strong recommendation from at least one non-family member who is familiar with your work with children
  • Ideal teacher candidates are focused, open to multiple viewpoints, enthusiastic about learning, able to negotiate systems, and excellent at communicating.

Be sure to contact the teacher education program of your choice to learn about specific requirements for admission.

Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program

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