Professions / Education

Occupational licensing · Education · 51 state boards

Elementary School Teacher Licensing Requirements by State

Elementary School Teacher licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Elementary School Teacher across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Childcare Center Director, School Counselor, School Librarian / Media Specialist.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Avg initial fee
$134
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Elementary School Teacher: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $134. Same-lane boards: Childcare Center Director, School Counselor, School Librarian / Media Specialist.

Instructs students in grades K-6. Requires state teaching certificate.

Elementary School Teacher initial fees swing $35 (NH) to $247 (CA), a $212 spread across 51 boards ; Childcare Center Director often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Elementary School Teacher drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Childcare Center Director and School Counselor in education. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Elementary School Teacher states

51

Above median

Elementary School Teacher first fee

$134

Below median

Elementary School Teacher renewal

$88

Below median

Board gates for Elementary School Teacher: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 150 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Childcare Center Director / School Counselor before calling this license soft or hard.

Elementary School Teacher: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Elementary School Teacher

A $212 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 35) and California ($ 247) bracket the field, a 7.1× spread for identical practice rights.

NH

New Hampshire

$35 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
5 years

CA

California

$247 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
5 years

Elementary School Teacher boards vs Childcare Center Director / School Counselor - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama - Yes $102 $71 5 yrs 150 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Alaska - Yes $67 $52 5 yrs 150 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Arizona - Yes $214 $131 5 yrs 150 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Arkansas - Yes $87 $63 5 yrs 150 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
California - Yes $247 $148 5 yrs 150 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Colorado - Yes $218 $133 5 yrs 150 Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
Connecticut - Yes $180 $113 5 yrs 150 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Delaware - Yes $154 $99 5 yrs 150 Also Psychologist · Roofer
District of Columbia - Yes $158 $101 5 yrs 150 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Florida - Yes $169 $106 5 yrs 150 Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
Georgia - Yes $134 $88 5 yrs 150 Also Electrician · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Hawaii - Yes $205 $126 5 yrs 150 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Idaho - Yes $64 $51 5 yrs 150 Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Illinois - Yes $233 $141 5 yrs 150 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Indiana - Yes $128 $85 5 yrs 150 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Iowa - Yes $76 $57 5 yrs 150 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
Kansas - Yes $73 $55 5 yrs 150 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Kentucky - Yes $93 $66 5 yrs 150 Also Debt Collector · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Louisiana - Yes $192 $119 5 yrs 150 Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
Maine - Yes $41 $38 5 yrs 150 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Maryland - Yes $177 $111 5 yrs 150 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Massachusetts - Yes $172 $108 5 yrs 150 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Michigan - Yes $137 $89 5 yrs 150 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Minnesota - Yes $111 $75 5 yrs 150 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Mississippi - Yes $99 $69 5 yrs 150 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Missouri - Yes $108 $74 5 yrs 150 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Montana - Yes $198 $122 5 yrs 150 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Nebraska - Yes $70 $54 5 yrs 150 Also Medical Lab Technician · Optometrist
Nevada - Yes $226 $137 5 yrs 150 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
New Hampshire - Yes $35 $35 5 yrs 150 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
New Jersey - Yes $174 $110 5 yrs 150 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
New Mexico - Yes $201 $124 5 yrs 150 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
New York - Yes $162 $103 5 yrs 150 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
North Carolina - Yes $131 $86 5 yrs 150 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
North Dakota - Yes $58 $47 5 yrs 150 Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Ohio - Yes $145 $94 5 yrs 150 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Oklahoma - Yes $79 $58 5 yrs 150 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Oregon - Yes $237 $143 5 yrs 150 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Pennsylvania - Yes $157 $100 5 yrs 150 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Rhode Island - Yes $195 $120 5 yrs 150 Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
South Carolina - Yes $81 $60 5 yrs 150 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
South Dakota - Yes $52 $44 5 yrs 150 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Tennessee - Yes $116 $79 5 yrs 150 Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
Texas - Yes $148 $96 5 yrs 150 Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Utah - Yes $96 $68 5 yrs 150 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Vermont - Yes $44 $40 5 yrs 150 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Virginia - Yes $122 $82 5 yrs 150 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Washington - Yes $209 $128 5 yrs 150 Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
West Virginia - Yes $96 $68 5 yrs 150 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Wisconsin - Yes $105 $72 5 yrs 150 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Wyoming - Yes $47 $41 5 yrs 150 Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician

What to do with this

Elementary School Teacher is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Elementary School Teacher's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #25 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Initial fees for Elementary School Teacher range from $35 (NH) to $247 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Childcare Center Director →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Elementary School Teacher requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.