Become a Teacher in Vermont
VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
219 North Main Street, Suite 402
Barre, VT 05641
(802) 479-1030
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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Vermont
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)
As in most states, in Vermont, teacher education programs are a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The coursework often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, teaching methodology and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. Fieldwork includes observing classrooms, student teaching or completing an internship.
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for teachers in all states, including Vermont. Some states also have undergraduate credit hour requirements for teachers seeking certification in specific specialty areas. Vermont does not list specific course or credit hour requirements, but every college or university teacher preparation program will have requirements of its own. Contact your teacher preparation program or the Department of Education for more information. Vermont requires student teaching in addition to completing a teacher preparation program.
Teachers in Vermont are required to complete an approved teacher education program from an accredited college or university. A list of approved teacher preparation programs can be found on the State of Vermont Agency of Education website.
In Vermont, teachers are required to pass the relevant Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests and Praxis II content tests. A full list of tests required by subject area can be found on the State of Vermont Agency of Education website.
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
Teachers in Vermont start out with a Level I Professional Educator’s License, which is valid for three years and may be renewed if the applicant is not recommended for endorsement to Level II.
Teachers are eligible for a Level II Professional Educator’s License, renewable every five years, once they have: taught for three years with a Level I License; completed three credits or 45 hours of professional learning; documented a self-assessment in relation to the Core Teaching Standards and Progressions or the Core Leadership Standards; and provided documentation of any valid licenses or credentials required.
You may also be able to earn your Vermont teaching credential through interstate reciprocity if you already have a valid teaching certificate or credential from another state.
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 Vermont
Individuals wishing to teach in the state of Vermont who have a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education and have not earned a teaching certificate can yet receive an alternative teaching certificate. The State of Vermont Agency of Education has developed an alternate licensing route called License by Evaluation or Peer Review, in which applicants submit their qualifications to a review panel that determines whether or not the applicant meets requirements for licensure based on evidence of competence, preparation, and experience.
Vermont Teacher Certification Information & Links
Transferring Your Certification
Certification Reciprocity in Vermont
Certification Reciprocity in Vermont
The State of Vermont Agency of Education accepts teaching credentials from other states through interstate reciprocity. Contact the agency in regards to your particular situation, and see the Teach.com reciprocity page for more information.
Learn more about certification reciprocity in Vermont on the Vermont State Department of Education website.
To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Vermont, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.
Career Advancement
Professional Development for Vermont Teachers
The State of Vermont Agency of Education offers professional development opportunities through the Vermont Professional Learning Network, which features Collaborative Learning Groups by region. Groups will include face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings, and a showcase event.
The Agency of Education also delineates standards for teaching and leadership, and education quality, which teachers may find helpful as they plan their professional development. In addition, teachers in Vermont may benefit from the Vermont Department of Human Resources’ programs providing classroom electives, online classes, tuition reimbursement and the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plant.
Utilizing these assets can allow teachers to develop their own educational plans while continuing their employment at Vermont schools.
Benefits of a Master's Degree in Vermont
Teachers with a master's degree in the field of education may earn a higher salary than teachers without a master’s degree.
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 Vermont
Vermont Teaching Jobs
The State of Vermont Agency of Education recommends that teachers search for employment in Vermont schools through Vermont Education Jobs, which is powered by SchoolSpring, a nationwide network of websites advertising school job postings. Listings are updated each day, and job-seekers can search for positions by region and teaching specialty.
Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.
Vermont Teacher Salary and Incentives
According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for Vermont teachers is $63,000 to $67,000, depending on grade level taught. Teachers in Vermont are paid according to district-wide salary schedules that vary compensation by experience and educational attainment.
Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.
Vermont Teacher Benefits and Retirement
The Vermont State Teachers’ Retirement System (VSTRS) , part of the Office of the State Treasurer, administers teacher pension benefits and retiree health benefits in the state. As of 2019, there were almost 10,000 active members and more than 9,000 retired ones. More information about VSTRS can be found on the Office of the State Treasurer website.
Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.
Vermont Teacher Shortage Areas
A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to the Learning Policy Institute.
The following is a list of teacher shortage areas in Vermont for the 2020-21 school year as reported by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Principal
- Career and Technology Education
- Health and Physical Education
- Math Science
- Library/Media Specialist
- Nurse
- French
- Spanish
Financial Aid in Vermont
Educators in Vermont who wish to pursue their Master’s in Teaching but lack the financial means to do so may want to consider applying for private scholarships, such as The Roothbert Fund, which provides grants for undergraduate or graduate study to candidates “motivated by spiritual values.” Vermont residents are also eligible for the TEACH Grant, which offers financial aid to students in return for service teaching in high-needs schools.
Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.
Information last updated: May 2020