Become a Teacher in New Jersey

Step One: New Jersey Prerequisite Coursework

All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Here are New Jersey’s undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:

• Elementary Education: For certification as an elementary school teacher, completion of a major in the liberal arts or sciences or a minimum of 60 liberal arts credits is required. A “liberal arts major” means any college major such as philosophy, history, literature, sociology, science, mathematics, or world language that is intended primarily to provide general knowledge and to develop an individual’s general intellectual capacities to reason and evaluate, as opposed to professional or vocational skills. The New Jersey Department of Education will make the final determination as to which courses will be counted towards liberal arts study. All credits must appear on a regionally accredited 2- or 4-year college/university transcript.
• Secondary English/Language Arts: Current regulations for certification require that applicants complete a minimum of 30 credits in a coherent sequence in English. A coherent sequence requires that at least 12 credits are completed at the advanced level of study (junior, senior or graduate level). All credits must appear on a regionally accredited 2- or 4-year college/university transcript.
• Secondary Mathematics: Current regulations for certification require that applicants complete a minimum of 30 credits in a coherent sequence in Math. A coherent sequence requires that at least 12 credits are completed at the advanced level of study (junior, senior or graduate level). All credits must appear on a regionally accredited 2- or 4-year college/university transcript.
• Secondary History/Social Science/Social Studies: Current regulations for certification require that applicants complete a minimum of 30 credits in a coherent sequence in Social Studies. Social Studies includes American history, European history, world history, government, political science, sociology, geography, anthropology, and economics. A coherent sequence requires that at least 12 credits are completed at the advanced level of study (junior, senior or graduate level). Within the 30 credits, the candidate must complete a minimum of 15-semester hour credits in history to include a minimum of one course in American History and one course in World History. All credits must appear on a regionally accredited 2- or 4-year college/university transcript.
• Secondary Biology Current regulations for certification require that applicants complete a minimum of 30 credits in a coherent sequence in Biology. A coherent sequence requires that at least 12 credits are completed at the advanced level of study (junior, senior or graduate level). All credits must appear on a regionally accredited 2- or 4-year college/university transcript.

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Master’s Requirements

Many schools of education now offer online MAT programs that provide increased flexibility by allowing aspiring or working teachers to attend class and complete coursework from any location that has an Internet connection. Online MAT programs are a practical option for students who have professional and personal commitments that make it difficult to obtain teaching certification through a full-time program.

The best online programs offer the same curriculum as the school’s on-campus program and apply the same admission requirements. Providing students with the ability to communicate with instructors and classmates in a face-to-face online environment is another hallmark of a good online program. In addition, candidates in online MAT programs should be provided with the opportunity to complete student teaching fieldwork in the local community.

Learn more about getting your MAT online with our partner USC Rossier School of Education.

Step Two: New Jersey Teacher Preparation

Teacher preparation in New Jersey includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program (for a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing) or a 24-hour pre-service Introduction to the Teaching Profession program (for a Certificate of Eligibility).

Alternative Certification

Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive a teaching certificate in New Jersey by applying for a Certificate of Eligibility. Learn about alternative teacher certification on the Certification Map New Jersey Alternative Certification page.

Typically, teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often include instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design, and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.

While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more teacher scholarships specific to the State of New Jersey, visit our New Jersey Teacher Scholarships page.

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Step Three: New Jersey Required Tests

To become a licensed teacher in the state of New Jersey, teaching candidates must fulfill a basic skills requirement and complete the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) required for their area of certification.

Basic Skills Requirement

All candidates for a CE or CEAS (except those seeking a CE with a career and technical education endorsement) are required to fulfill a basic skills requirement by taking the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam. An SAT, ACT, or GRE score in the top third percentile for the year in which it was taken also meets this requirement. For CEAS candidates, the basic skills requirement must be met before acceptance into a teacher preparation program.

Secondary Education Subject Area Certification

All Grades (K-12) Certification

Visit the Praxis New Jersey’s Test Requirements page for a complete list of available assessments.

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Step Four: New Jersey Application Requirements

All teaching candidates seeking certification in New Jersey must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college/university
• Complete either a state-approved teacher preparation program or district training program for licensure
• Pass an approved test to meet the basic skills requirement, as well as any Praxis II exams required for subject area certification(s)
• Submit required forms and mandated fees

Visit New Jersey’s Licensure Process web page for more information regarding the requirements under your specific circumstances.

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New Jersey Certification Reciprocity

New Jersey will accept teaching credentials from other states as equivalent to a CEAS, with some stipulations. There is no reciprocity for a CE. Contact the New Jersey Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.

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New Jersey Teacher Salary

• Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: New Jersey provides no support for teachers teaching in high-needs schools or in shortage subject areas. Limited incentives are handled by individual districts.
• Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: New Jersey has strong induction policies in place.
• Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $69,500, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $76,430, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in New Jersey makes 122% of the salary of the average worker in New Jersey.
• Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15

Teacher salaries were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2017 Occupational Employment Statistics report.

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New Jersey Certification Resources & Links

• New Jersey Department of Education

Division of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness
100 Riverview Plaza, P.O. Box 500
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
(609) 376-3500

• New Jersey Teacher Tenure
• Troops to Teachers New Jersey: In New Jersey, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Mid-Atlantic Region Office.
• Teachers Test Prep: Free online Praxis Study Guides and Praxis Practice Tests, and a variety of preparation options to meet your individual needs, including prep classes, private tutoring, and online prep.
• Become a Substitute Teacher in New Jersey