Become a Teacher in Idaho

To earn your Idaho teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Visit the Idaho Department of Education Certification page to learn more about getting your Teaching Credential in Idaho. Learn more about getting your teaching credential. 

Graduates of accredited colleges or universities who did not major in Education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. You can learn more about obtaining Alternative Authorization status on the Idaho State Department of Education Website.

The state of Idaho officially recognizes the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) certification as a route to your Idaho teaching credential. Either of these routes requires a year of state-approved mentoring.

There is also an alternative route available for content specialists – experts in a specific subject – to teach in districts that have a shortage of teachers in that area. Those who qualify can obtain a 1 year alternative authorization that can be renewed 2 additional times as an alternative preparation program is completed..

Furthermore, a computer-based alternative certification plan is available through ABCTE. All candidates following alternate routes for certification are issued a three-year Interim Certificate and must complete a state-approved reading instruction course. Veterans may also be eligible for the Idaho Troops to Teachers program.

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Idaho, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Idaho Department of Education.

The Idaho Department of Education maintains a teaching job database that allows you to search by region, subject area, grade and whether a job is full- or part-time.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average teacher in Idaho makes around $48,000 to $51,000 per year, depending on grade level taught. Idaho uses a salary schedule that rewards teachers for years of service to the state as well as higher levels of education. However, there is no differential pay offered for teaching in high-need districts or subjects.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Idaho public school teachers age 65 or older with more than 60 months of creditable teaching service are eligible for full retirement benefits courtesy of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). Benefits are calculated using highest average monthly salary and months of creditable service.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

The United States Department of Education defines a Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) as a subject matter or grade level within a state in which there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary teachers.  The shortage may be caused by teaching positions that are unfilled or are filled by teachers who have temporary certification or teach in an academic subject other than their area of preparation.  According to a report by the US Department of Education, Idaho has the following Teacher Shortage Areas:

Idaho residents are eligible for the  Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship, as well as the TEACH Grant, which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.

Learn more about how to finance your Master’s degree on Teach.com.

Idaho public schools follow the Danielson Framework for Teaching as a statewide research-based foundation for teacher evaluation. The framework has four key areas: planning and preparation, learning environment, instruction and use of assessment, and professional responsibilities, each of which involve different professional development programs and initiatives. Teachers must complete 6 professional development credits during each licensing period.

It is no longer enough to just have years of experience for 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 will 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 have more job security and higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.