Are Online Teacher Certifications Honored in All States?
Reciprocity agreements make it easy for teachers to convert their certificate to an analogous
teaching certificate in another state. In other words, thanks to regional and national reciprocity
agreements, an online teacher certification may open the door to teaching opportunities
nationwide.
A few things to keep in mind about teacher certification reciprocity:
● Reciprocity is not automatic and will require you to contact the department of education
in the state you wish to teach to determine what criteria is required to complete the.
transfer
● Reciprocity is not a guarantee that all certificates will be accepted by a receiving state,
so wait until you receive confirmation of certificate transfer before making plans to move
● Reciprocity is not always a full license or certificate transfer, which means educators
may need to complete additional requirements such as coursework or assessments
before receiving a full professional certificate by the receiving state
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
One of the largest reciprocity agreements in the country is the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement,
a collection of over 50 individual agreements by states and Canadian provinces. Each individual
agreement that makes up the larger NASDTEC Interstate Agreement outlines which states will
accept which educator certificates from other states.
The minimum components of an “approved educator preparation program” under the NASDTEC
Interstate Agreement are the completion of a Bachelor’s degree, supervised clinical practice and
a planned program of study.
The Interstate Agreement also defines teacher licensure in “stages” to help create a common
language for member states and jurisdictions regarding reciprocity requirements.
Stages of teacher licensure under the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement are described below:
● Stage 1 Teacher License – License issued to an individual who holds a minimum of a.
Bachelor’s degree, has met approved teacher preparation program admission
requirements but has not met specific requirements of the issuing state or jurisdiction.
● Stage 2 Teacher License – License issued to an individual who holds a minimum of a.
Bachelor’s degree, has completed an approved teacher preparation program, but has
not met specific requirements of the issuing state or jurisdiction.
● Stage 3 Teacher License – License issued to an individual who holds a minimum of a.
Bachelor’s degree, has completed an approved teacher preparation program, and has
met all specific requirements of the issuing state or jurisdiction.
● Stage 4 Teacher License – License issued to an individual who holds a minimum of a.
Master’s degree, has completed an approved teacher preparation program, and has met
or exceeded all specific requirements of the issuing state or jurisdiction.
Regional Reciprocity Agreements
In addition to the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, there are also several smaller regional
reciprocity agreements between neighboring states to address teacher mobility and interstate
licensing requirements.
The Northeast Common Market, for example, is comprised of eight states in the northeastern
U.S. — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode
Island and Vermont — that allows teachers with an initial license in one state to teach in another
state for up to two years before meeting the latter state’s licensing requirements.
Another formal regional reciprocity agreement is the Midwest Regional Exchange, which
includes Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and
Wisconsin.
Learn More About Teaching Certificate Reciprocity
Refer to this page on teaching certificate state reciprocity requirements to find the transfer
policies for the state(s) you wish to teach in. If you have not earned state certification, the Online
Accelerated Teacher Certification (OATCERT) program from Saint Joseph’s University will help
you achieve your Pennsylvania Level 1 Secondary Instructional and Educational Specialist
Certification that can be converted to another state’s teaching license if you plan to move in the future.
Request more information on the OATCERT program or call 866-758-7670 to learn more.