Rhode Island Teacher Requirements

Teacher Requirements

Requirements For Becoming a Rhode Island Teacher

Here are all the requirements you need to meet to become a Rhode Island teacher.

Bachelor’s degree
Completion of an applicable teacher preparation program
Completion of the necessary tests
Background check and other application data

Tests To Complete for a Rhode Island Teacher

Praxis I test; you may be exempt if you have a master’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or greater or if you completed other tests.
Praxis PLT test
Praxis II content area exam

How to Move To a Further Rhode Island Teacher License

Complete additional years of teaching experience
Receive satisfactory assessments each year

Renewal Rules

Twenty professional learning units for an Initial license holder, or fifteen units for the other two licenses; these must be attained during the period when your license is valid.

Introductory Points For Becoming a Rhode Island Teacher

The Rhode Island Department of Education provides students access to certification to become teachers in the state. The Office of Educator Quality and Certification reviews applications surrounding what is open.

The Department of Education can take weeks to complete reviews for specific groups. Still, the application may be expedited if you are certified in specific subjects with a teacher shortage. Check with the Department of Education to learn about what shortages are ongoing within the state.

Types of Rhode Island Teacher Certificates

There are three certificates you could attain in Rhode Island:

Initial: for those who have a bachelor’s degree and meet all exam and education requirements; valid for three years
Professional: for people who have three successful years in the Initial program; good for five years
Advanced: for those with five or more years of experience and have attained high professional ratings while on the Professional level; good for seven years.

You can move up the ladder when you have enough positive reviews, and you have been teaching students for enough years. Those who have Advanced certificates may receive higher salaries and reach the top priority level for studies.

Standards For Application

You must hold a bachelor’s degree in your field of study when applying to become a Rhode Island teacher. You must also complete a teacher preparation program within the state.

The Rhode Island Educator Preparation Program series educates prospective teachers on what they can do when becoming licensed educators in the state. The program entails reviewing how well you can complete different teaching processes, including evaluations, lesson plans, and instructional efforts. You may participate in an internship or student teaching program to observe how a class works and receive guidance from a tutor teacher.

The state has multiple approved providers for these programs, including Providence College, Brown University, and the University of Rhode Island.

You can also utilize an out-of-state program if it is a part of the NASDTEC Interstate Certification Agreement.

Your teacher education program should last for at least twelve weeks. The timing should be enough to ensure you have enough experience in teaching and understand the aspects of managing a classroom.

Your application also requires you to complete the necessary tests and submit all transcripts from the colleges you attended to the Office of Educator Quality and Certification in Providence. You must also complete a criminal background check before you can become eligible to teach children in Rhode Island.

Tests To Complete

The first test you must complete is the Praxis I basic skills test. The Praxis I exam entails math, reading, and writing. You must have a composite score of 535 or greater to pass this exam.

You may also use one of these tests you have taken as a substitute for the Praxis I exam:

1150 or greater on the SAT; this includes a score of 530 or greater on both segments
ACT scores of at least 24 on the reading portion and 20 for math
1100 or greater on the GRE, including minimums of 465 on the verbal part and 584 for quantitative

You will also be exempt from the Praxis I test if you have a master’s degree in your field with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

You may require pedagogy tests surrounding the principles of learning and teaching for students in specific grade levels. The Praxis PLT test will be necessary based on the grade level you will manage in your work.

The state requires students to complete various tests surrounding whatever certifications they need to complete. These exams work in the Praxis II series. The types of content area tests you can complete in the Praxis II series will vary and entail content knowledge about a specific subject.

The passing scores for the PLT and Praxis II tests will vary by subject. The state licensing board can provide details on what scores you may require. You can also check the official Praxis website to learn more about what works and what you can get out of any tests you wish to complete.

Rules For Renewing Your Rhode Island License

You can renew your license by attaining enough professional learning units during your license period. You will need twenty units if you have an Initial license or fifteen units for a Professional or Advanced certificate.

These study units may come from an accredited service provider recognized by the state. You can complete in-person or online studies surrounding your content area for teaching, pedagogical studies, or points on teaching and theories in the field. Much of the work is about keeping you updated on the best trends surrounding the field at hand.

You can consult your local school district for details on what renewal options are available. You can also check with the Office of Educator Quality and Certification for details on how you can manage the recertification process. The system provides full information on what you can expect from your studies and how they may work.

Resources

https://www.ride.ri.gov/TeachersAdministrators/EducatorCertification.aspx – Office of Educator Quality and Certification

https://www.ride.ri.gov/TeachersAdministrators/EducatorCertification/RIEducatorPreparationPrograms.aspx#12581-ri-approved-programs – Teacher preparation programs available in Rhode Island

https://www.ride.ri.gov/TeachersAdministrators/EducatorCertification.aspx#22652-requirements – Rhode Island educator certification requirements

https://www.ride.ri.gov/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Teachers-and-Administrators-Excellent-Educators/Educator-Certification/Cert-main-page/RI_Required_Certification_Tests.pdf – Tests to complete for a license in Rhode Island