Certification cluster
Teacher certification reciprocity
One national hub, not a 51-by-51 pairwise matrix. Each state links to the reciprocity section sourced from that state’s own department of education guidance.
Browse teaching certification by state
How reciprocity is sourced
Reciprocity summaries come from each state agency’s published page and are cited there, not from a third-party agreement database.
- AlabamaAlabama issues Class B, Class A, and Class AA Professional Educator Certificates to applicants who hold a valid professional educator certi…
- AlaskaEducators with a current, valid, regular out-of-state teacher certificate and two years of teaching under that certificate may apply for Al…
- ArizonaArizona offers reciprocity for holders of a valid comparable out-of-state certificate. Required exams may be exempt when reciprocity criter…
- ArkansasApply in AELS for licensure by reciprocity with the $75.00 nonrefundable fee, official transcripts, a copy of a current or expired out-of-s…
- CaliforniaOut-of-state educators with a professional-level license may apply through CTC prepared-out-of-state pathways; specific routes depend on ex…
- ColoradoCDE states licenses never directly transfer. Out-of-state/out-of-country preparation completers apply for a first Colorado teacher license…
- ConnecticutCSDE’s multiple-pathways materials allow applicants who completed an approved out-of-state program and/or document 30 months of successful…
- DelawareOut-of-state applicants apply in DEEDS for the license tier that matches experience (Initial if under four years of licensed teaching; Cont…
- District of ColumbiaApplicants who hold an active full credential or license without deficiencies from another U.S. state or territory may seek a DC credential…
- FloridaFlorida offers reciprocity for holders of a valid standard out-of-state certificate or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (…
- GeorgiaGaPSC reviews out-of-state credentials under its own reciprocity rules. Educators with a valid or expired professional certificate and thre…
- HawaiiHTSB issues licenses to holders of a valid, unrevoked out-of-state teaching license (Provisional-equivalent issued first on or after July 1…
- IdahoIdaho’s out-of-state page accepts a current, valid out-of-state certificate issued after full completion of a state-approved certification…
- IllinoisIllinois offers full reciprocity for out-of-state educators effective January 2026, with content test requirements applied per ISBE rules.
- IndianaOut-of-state applicants with a valid license who completed a CAEP/AAQEP-accredited or state-approved program must pass a content test in ev…
- IowaOut-of-state program completers apply for a first Iowa teaching license using official transcripts, program verification or another state’s…
- KansasOut-of-state applicants need a bachelor’s degree, a state-approved teacher preparation program, recency (eight credit hours or one year of…
- KentuckyKentucky’s official out-of-state page describes two tracks. Compact-eligible certificates from participating Interstate Teacher Mobility Co…
- LouisianaLouisiana issues two credentials to holders of a standard out-of-state teaching certificate. A Level 1 professional certificate (three year…
- MainePathway 3 on Maine’s How to Become a Maine Educator page states that individuals may receive a reciprocal professional certificate if they…
- MarylandOut-of-State Professional License pathway: bachelor's degree, valid professional out-of-state license, passing reading instruction assessme…
- MassachusettsOut-of-state educators may qualify for Temporary (one year, three years OOS experience), Provisional (five years), or Initial licenses depe…
- MichiganOut-of-state educators may apply for Michigan certification through MOECS; MDE evaluates credentials against Michigan standards.
- MinnesotaPELSB’s Tier 3 application and FY25 guidance allow a professional license through: a Minnesota-approved program; an out-of-state approved p…
- MississippiMDE’s Educator Licensure FAQ states the Department shall grant a standard five-year license to any individual who possesses a valid standar…
- MissouriIndividuals with a valid certificate from another state may receive a comparable Missouri certificate after verification. Applicants who co…
- MontanaMontana does not grant automatic reciprocity. Out-of-state teachers apply through Teach Montana with official transcripts, a fingerprint ba…
- NebraskaOut-of-state applicants use TEACH and follow the Out-of-State Applicant process on NDE's certification site. Fingerprints apply if the appl…
- NevadaApplicants who hold a valid, non-conditional, non-provisional, unexpired educator license from another state or country may be eligible for…
- New HampshireOut-of-state educators use Bureau of Credentialing pathways in Ed 505, including demonstrated competencies based on experience under an out…
- New JerseyOut-of-state educators with a valid standard or CEAS-equivalent certificate may qualify for New Jersey certification through reciprocity re…
- New MexicoOut-of-state teachers apply as initial applicants in the NMPED portal for $150 with official transcripts of a regionally accredited bachelo…
- New YorkOut-of-state educators may qualify for an Initial-level certificate through NYSED reciprocity pathways when holding valid comparable creden…
- North CarolinaOut-of-state educators may apply for North Carolina licensure; NCDPI evaluates credentials and may require additional exams such as Pearson…
- North DakotaEducators who completed an accredited program with student teaching and hold a valid license from another U.S. state or territory apply for…
- OhioOut-of-state educators may apply for Ohio licensure through credential review; specific requirements depend on preparation and experience.
- OklahomaOut-of-state and out-of-country reciprocity applications are filed in OECS as their own application types. OSDE still requires Oklahoma cer…
- OregonThe Reciprocal Teaching License is a one-year, non-renewable license for teachers who completed an educator preparation program and hold an…
- PennsylvaniaOut-of-state educators may apply for Pennsylvania certification through TIMS; PDE evaluates credentials against Pennsylvania requirements.
- Rhode IslandRIDE offers reciprocity for completers of a state-approved out-of-state preparation program that leads to a comparable Rhode Island certifi…
- South CarolinaOut-of-state certificate holders apply through My SC Educator Portal using the Out-of-State Educators standard application, pay the $105 pr…
- South DakotaThe Secretary may recognize an educator certificate issued by another state and issue an equivalent South Dakota certificate based on compl…
- TennesseeOut-of-state educators with valid initial- or professional-level licenses, or completers of out-of-state EPPs with program recommendation,…
- TexasTexas does not offer standard reciprocity. Out-of-state certified educators must apply through a Review of Credentials, and TEA determines…
- UtahHolders of a standard renewable educator license from another U.S. state or country use the License Equivalency Review (LER) in SM Apply. U…
- VermontVermont accepts professional teaching licenses from all United States jurisdictions, including states, commonwealths, districts, and the De…
- VirginiaVirginia offers reciprocity for holders of valid out-of-state licenses, completers of VDOE-approved out-of-state educator preparation progr…
- WashingtonOut-of-state candidates may qualify by completing an approved out-of-state preparation program with institutional recommendation, or by hol…
- West VirginiaOut-of-state professional teaching certificate holders apply with Form 20R ($100). The resulting West Virginia certificate is valid for thr…
- WisconsinLicense Based on Reciprocity requires a valid out-of-state license in good standing plus PI-1613 employment verification documenting at lea…
- WyomingOut-of-state traditional completers apply with an Institutional Recommendation showing they are eligible for licensure in the program’s sta…
Phase 1 states with verified reciprocity summaries
Looking for full licensure steps? Browse certification by state.