Rhode Island Elementary School Teacher License Requirements
Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.
Instructs students in grades K-6. Requires state teaching certificate.
What the Rhode Island data shows for Elementary School Teachers
Rhode Island's path to elementary school teacher licensure runs through board-approved instruction and a passing score on State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Rhode Island folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree in Education".
Budget $195 to get started, plus $120 at each renewal on a 5-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 150-hour continuing-education requirement per 5-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.
For elementary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.
Licensing Ease Score
A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.
Licensing Requirements in Rhode Island
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Frequently Asked Questions
What license do I need for Elementary School Teacher in Rhode Island? ▼
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Related Guides
What to do with this elementary school teacher license
Elementary School Teacher in Rhode Island, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an elementary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.
- See how Rhode Island's elementary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Elementary School Teacher in every state
- Confirm whether your out-of-state elementary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
- See how Rhode Island's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Rhode Island overview
Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Rhode Island licensing board before making career decisions.
Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.