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Requirements For a Level 1 Louisiana Teacher Certificate
- Bachelor’s degree from a teacher education program
- Yearlong teaching residency internship with positive assessments of your work
- Completion of the Praxis exams
- Filling all the necessary documents for your application as a Louisiana teacher
- Criminal background check before employment
Requirements For Upgrading to a Level 2 Louisiana Teacher Certificate
- Complete two years of education
- Pass the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program
Exams Needed
- Praxis I basic skills test
- Praxis II core area exam
Standards Necessary For Renewing Your Louisiana Teacher License
- Have three of five years of successful improvement and evaluation in the Compass Information System
A Note For Louisiana Degrees
The certificates for education in Louisiana are consistent among all parishes in the state. These include both rural and urban sites, plus in places where foreign languages may be the most prominent ones people speak.
The Teach Louisiana website provides information on all the things available for prospective teachers, including reports on how you can manage your credentials.
Earning a Degree For Your Level 1 Professional Certificate
The first license you can acquire when becoming a Louisiana teacher is a Level 1 Professional Certificate. The Level 1 certificate lasts for three years before you need to transfer to a Level 2 certificate, but the school system that employs you can request that your Level 1 license be extended by one or two years if necessary.
Firstly, you will require a bachelor’s degree from a teacher education program. However, a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree is suitable. It should focus on whatever field of study you wish to teach. You can review the endorsements available through the state to determine what is suitable for your studies and what you can consider when providing educational services.
Necessary Study Points For a License
The state of Louisiana requires its prospective teachers to undergo a thorough study to receive one’s license. As a result, a yearlong teaching residency internship is a necessity as part of a teacher education program. However, the residency will help you learn about managing lesson plans, classroom situations, and other activities surrounding your studies.
You must also exhibit the general competencies for teaching during your residency. Furthermore, these competencies will dictate how well you educate people and whether you can receive your Level 1 certificate. The competencies you must follow include:
- Illustrating recognition of the content in your field of teaching
- Understanding the pedagogy necessary for the classroom
- Being able to develop lesson plans and other items for educational purposes
- Providing suitable educational opportunities to your students, including identifying the needs each person holds
- Eliciting information from students and using it to tailor your educational efforts and plans
- Developing individualized strategies for each student surrounding how well each person can learn new ideas and concepts in the school environment
Your mentoring teacher will analyze your performance and will grade you based on how well you perform and what you must do to improve your work effort.
Tests You Must Complete
Any prospective Louisiana teacher must complete the necessary tests to move forward in one’s studies. Among the tests to finish include the Praxis I Basic Skills test and the Praxis II content area test. However, these are separate Praxis II exams for world languages, vocational education, and for supporting students with mental or physical disabilities.
You may be eligible to skip the Praxis I test if you have a suitable ACT or SAT score. Furthermore, you can submit reports on your prior ACT or SAT exams to the state to confirm your ability to manage your basic skills work. As for the content area test, you must complete one surrounding the grade level you will teach and the content area you will support.
Other Points For Your Application
Your application for the license must also include your sealed college transcripts, your Praxis score reports, and a completed Professional Conduct Form. You should receive this as part of the application process through the preparation program you completed. You must also pay a $50 fee to the Louisiana Department of Education to process the application. Finally, you should get a full answer to your application in about two to three weeks after you complete the work.
About the Background Check
You must complete a criminal background check before you can receive employment with any school in the state. A background check is not necessary for when you apply for Level 1 certification, but you will still need that check before you can get a job anywhere in the state.
You must also undergo state and federal checks with the FBI and the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. A fingerprint file is necessary during the check.
Upgrading to a Level 2 Certificate
You can attain a Level 2 certificate for teaching in Louisiana after teaching as a Level 1 instructor for two years. The Level 2 certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed after each period ends. You’ll need to renew your license a few months before it expires.
In addition to having two years of education experience, you must also complete the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment program. The program entails a thorough review of your educational efforts and how you teach students. Furthermore, you may work under the tutelage of a guiding teacher who can explain to you what you are doing and how you can improve your efforts.
Renewing Your License
You must meet the standards in the Compass Information System for three of the five years in your certificate. These include standards for providing quality education and services to students. You may be observed surrounding:
- Your teaching activities
- How well you educate your students
- Student growth scores, including how their grades may improve as the year progresses
- Your ability to produce higher scores among students year after year
The analysis effort focuses on confirming your ability to help students and provide proper support. Your school district may review the reports surrounding what is happening and what is necessary when you’re trying to handle many functions in the classroom.
Teach Louisiana provides information on how you can renew your license.