Become a Teacher in Oregon
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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Oregon
Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 02/20/2019)
Generally speaking, states require that teachers hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. Some states require additional undergraduate coursework, but Oregon does not. In terms of undergraduate requirements, applicants for Oregon’s Preliminary Teaching License must only hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent.
Educator Preparation Programs in Oregon are reviewed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. In reviewing programs, the commission considers course syllabi, professors’ curriculum vitae, and other aspects. For a full list of teacher education programs approved by the state, see the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission of Oregon.
Educators in Oregon must pass two tests. The first is the Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Education Environment Examination, also known as the Civil Rights/Ethics Exam. The second is the Subject Matter Exam specific to the license and endorsement being sought. Depending on the subject area, the particular test may be administered by Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments or ETS Praxis.
You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms' Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.
Initial Teaching Certifications
Oregon’s Teacher Standards and Practices Commission offers a number of different teaching licenses which are issued according to applicants’ backgrounds. The Preliminary Teaching License is reserved for new teachers who have completed a Commission-approved teacher preparation program. It is valid for three years, and may not be renewed. Following the expiration of the Preliminary Teaching License, teachers in Oregon may apply for the Professional Teaching License, which has a term of five years and may be renewed.
Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard's Bok Center
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
The Higher Education Teaching Certificate online short course aims to give you the opportunity to engage deeply with and reflect on your teaching practices, portfolio, and journey in the higher education (HE) field. Loosely based on the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and in association with HarvardX, this course gives you the opportunity to explore the focus areas of pedagogy, course and assessment design, professional communication, language and culture of the classroom, and reflections on teaching – entirely online, from anywhere in the world.
Alternative Certification in Oregon
Oregon offers a number of alternative teaching licensure options for teachers including a transitional license for teachers to work while getting their full license, and specialized teaching area licenses for subjects such as Chinese and Jazz Dance.
Oregon Teacher Certification Information & Links
Transferring Your Certification
Certification Reciprocity in Oregon
One route to alternative teaching licensure in Oregon is through the Troops to Teachers Program. Focused on assisting eligible military personnel transition into new careers as public school teachers in high-need schools, the program provides former service members with financial assistance, certification support and job hunting advice.
To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Oregon, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.
Career Advancement
Professional Development for Oregon Teachers
The Oregon Department of Education offers a constantly updated series of events which you can find with their professional development calendar. The Oregon Department of Education has also partnered with outside organizations in order to provide Oregon teachers with additional professional development opportunities, including the Oregon School Personnel Association (OSPA). Oregon requires a minimum number of Professional Development Units for license renewal. The number changes over time; check the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission website for current requirements.
Benefits of a Master's Degree in Oregon
It is no longer enough to only have years of experience teaching. After No Child Left Behind, the Every Student Succeeds Act and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master's degree in the field of education can give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as increased hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.
After a master’s program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security as well as higher pay. According to the Portland Public Schools Teacher Salary Schedule, starting out as a teacher with a master’s degree in Portland, you will earn around $9,667 more than a teacher starting out with only a bachelor’s degree, and this differential will grow with your years of experience.
Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.
Explore Featured Program Options in Education
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
The Higher Education Teaching Certificate online short course aims to give you the opportunity to engage deeply with and reflect on your teaching practices, portfolio, and journey in the higher education (HE) field. Loosely based on the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and in association with HarvardX, this course gives you the opportunity to explore the focus areas of pedagogy, course and assessment design, professional communication, language and culture of the classroom, and reflections on teaching – entirely online, from anywhere in the world.
Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Oregon
Oregon Teaching Jobs
The Oregon Department of Education posts career opportunities on its website and also recommends that job-seekers peruse the Oregon Job Opportunities page on GovernmentJobs.com.
Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.
Oregon Teacher Salary and Incentives
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average teacher in Oregon makes $61,631 per year. Oregon teachers may also receive other compensation, such as loan forgiveness for educators working in high-needs schools.
Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.
Oregon Teacher Benefits and Retirement
The Oregon Department of Education offers a constantly updated series of professional development events which you can find on their the Oregon Department of Education online calendar. The department has also partnered with outside organizations to provide Oregon teachers with additional professional development opportunities, including the Oregon School Personnel Association. Oregon requires a minimum number of Professional Development Units for license renewal. The amount necessary changes over time; check the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission website for current requirements.
Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.
Oregon Teacher Shortage Areas
A teacher shortage area is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as “an area of specific grade, subject matter or discipline classification, or a geographic area in which … there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary school teachers.” The Department allows states to identify their own teacher shortage areas, but encourages them to follow a prescribed methodology based on unfilled teaching positions, teaching positions filled by instructors with irregular certifications, and positions filled by teachers certified in other subject areas.
- Bilingual/English Language Learner
- Mathematics
- School Nurse
- Science
- Spanish
- Special Education
- Speech Pathologist
Financial Aid in Oregon
Oregon residents are eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program and the TEACH Grant, which offer financial aid to students in return for agreements to teach in high-need schools.
Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.
Information last updated: July 2026