Become a Teacher in New Hampshire
NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
101 Pleasant Street Concord
NH 03301-3494
(603)-271-3494
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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in New Hampshire
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: 04/30/2020)
All states require at least a bachelor’s degree to teach. New Hampshire does not have any additional credit hour requirements, although each field or subject area requires specific competencies. See NH Teacher Certification Standards for more information.
Teacher certification programs can be taken online or on-site. They typically include an educational theory and classroom skills seminar and a fieldwork component of student teaching in the area. See the New Hampshire Department of Education’s list of N.H. Approved Collegiate Programs of Preparation for the Academic Professions for more information.
Most states require tests to show competency in basic skills as well as in the desired subject area. New Hampshire requires the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests, as well as Praxis II: Content Assessment exam(s) for subject areas. Candidates seeking certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Reading and Writing Teaching, and Reading and Writing Specialist are required to also take the Foundations of Reading exam administered by Pearson.
You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.com's Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.
Initial Teaching Certifications
To earn your New Hampshire teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Learn more about earning your New Hampshire teaching credential through the New Hampshire Department of Education Bureau of Credentialing.
Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.
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 New Hampshire
The State of New Hampshire offers four alternative routes to certification:
Alternative 2 is a process whereby New Hampshire accepts candidates from all states and other jurisdictions if the candidate graduated from an approved state program, or has been employed as a certified teacher for at least three years out of the last seven, or completed an alternative certification program.
Alternative 3 is designed for candidates who have gained the competencies, skills, and knowledge through means other than Alternative 1 or Alternative 2. The Alternative 3 process includes both a written examination and an oral review. Candidates may request teaching, administrative, or educational specialist certification on the basis of demonstrated competencies and equivalent experiences.
Alternative 4 is designed for individuals who have skills and knowledge in an area where there is a shortage of qualified teachers. Each shortage area has its own requirements for competencies, coursework, and/or experience. The district superintendent then draws up an Individualized Professional Development Plan leading to full certification.
Alternative 5 involves on-the-job training for candidates holding a bachelor’s degree with some coursework in the area(s) to be taught (30 credits are required for secondary school subjects). This route is available if a local school district is willing to assume the responsibility for training and supervising the teacher candidate
For additional information about alternative paths to certification in the State of New Hampshire, please consult the New Hampshire Department of Education website.
New Hampshire Teacher Certification Information & Links
Transferring Your Certification
Certification Reciprocity in New Hampshire
Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. Through the Alternative 2 certification process, New Hampshire will recognize education and/or certification in other states. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in New Hampshire, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the New Hampshire Department of Education.
Career Advancement
Professional Development for New Hampshire Teachers
New Hampshire has a network of online and on-site professional development organizations, including NEA-NH and New Hampshire Educators Online. See the New Hampshire Department of Education’s list of resource links for more details.
Benefits of a Master's Degree in New Hampshire
It is no longer enough to just have years of experience in teaching. After No Child Left Behind 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 should give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more 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 may have more job security and the potential for higher pay.
Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.
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 New Hampshire
New Hampshire Teaching Jobs
The New Hampshire Department of Education provides links to job search engines that list New Hampshire teaching positions.
Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.
New Hampshire Teacher Salary and Incentives
The average teacher in New Hampshire makes $69,000 to $62,000 per year depending on grade level taught, according to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. New Hampshire also provides loan forgiveness to teachers willing to work in high--need schools or shortage subjects. More detailed salary information can be found on the Department of Education’s New Hampshire Teacher Salary Reports page.
Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.
New Hampshire Teacher Benefits and Retirement
Public school teachers in New Hampshire are enrolled in the New Hampshire Retirement System. Eligibility is dependent on when you started teaching, age, and length of service.
Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.
New Hampshire Teacher Shortage Areas
Teacher Shortage information was provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listings for 2020-21, and was determined by examining the most recent data about unfilled teaching positions; positions filled by teachers certified by irregular, provisional, temporary, or emergency certification; and teachers teaching in subject areas other than their area of preparation.
- New Hampshire is not currently reporting any shortage areas.
Financial Aid in New Hampshire
New Hampshire residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant that gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need field in a low-income area.
Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.
Information last updated: May 2020