Professions / Education

Occupational licensing · Education · 51 state boards

Secondary School Teacher Licensing Requirements by State

Secondary 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.

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

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

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

Board Pathway Strip

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

Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

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

Secondary School Teacher states

51

Bottom quartile, lowest

Secondary School Teacher first fee

$134

Below median

Secondary School Teacher renewal

$88

Below median

Board gates for Secondary 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 / Elementary School Teacher before calling this license soft or hard.

Training-hour peers beyond education

Coverage band

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Secondary 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

Secondary School Teacher boards vs Childcare Center Director / Elementary School Teacher - 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 Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Alaska - Yes $67 $52 5 yrs 150 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
Arizona - Yes $214 $131 5 yrs 150 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Arkansas - Yes $87 $63 5 yrs 150 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
California - Yes $247 $148 5 yrs 150 Also School Counselor · Surgical Technologist
Colorado - Yes $218 $133 5 yrs 150 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
Connecticut - Yes $180 $113 5 yrs 150 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Delaware - Yes $154 $99 5 yrs 150 Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
District of Columbia - Yes $158 $101 5 yrs 150 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Florida - Yes $169 $106 5 yrs 150 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Georgia - Yes $134 $88 5 yrs 150 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Hawaii - Yes $205 $126 5 yrs 150 Also Respiratory Therapist · Sign Language Interpreter
Idaho - Yes $64 $51 5 yrs 150 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Illinois - Yes $233 $141 5 yrs 150 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Indiana - Yes $128 $85 5 yrs 150 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Iowa - Yes $76 $57 5 yrs 150 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Kansas - Yes $73 $55 5 yrs 150 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Kentucky - Yes $93 $66 5 yrs 150 Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Louisiana - Yes $192 $119 5 yrs 150 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Maine - Yes $41 $38 5 yrs 150 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Maryland - Yes $177 $111 5 yrs 150 Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Massachusetts - Yes $172 $108 5 yrs 150 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Michigan - Yes $137 $89 5 yrs 150 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Minnesota - Yes $111 $75 5 yrs 150 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Mississippi - Yes $99 $69 5 yrs 150 Also Registered Nurse · Septic System Installer
Missouri - Yes $108 $74 5 yrs 150 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Montana - Yes $198 $122 5 yrs 150 Also Respiratory Therapist · Sign Language Interpreter
Nebraska - Yes $70 $54 5 yrs 150 Also School Bus Driver · Substitute Teacher
Nevada - Yes $226 $137 5 yrs 150 Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
New Hampshire - Yes $35 $35 5 yrs 150 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
New Jersey - Yes $174 $110 5 yrs 150 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
New Mexico - Yes $201 $124 5 yrs 150 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
New York - Yes $162 $103 5 yrs 150 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
North Carolina - Yes $131 $86 5 yrs 150 Also Respiratory Therapist · Sign Language Interpreter
North Dakota - Yes $58 $47 5 yrs 150 Also Roofer · Speech-Language Pathologist
Ohio - Yes $145 $94 5 yrs 150 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Oklahoma - Yes $79 $58 5 yrs 150 Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
Oregon - Yes $237 $143 5 yrs 150 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Pennsylvania - Yes $157 $100 5 yrs 150 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Rhode Island - Yes $195 $120 5 yrs 150 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
South Carolina - Yes $81 $60 5 yrs 150 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
South Dakota - Yes $52 $44 5 yrs 150 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Tennessee - Yes $116 $79 5 yrs 150 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
Texas - Yes $148 $96 5 yrs 150 Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Utah - Yes $96 $68 5 yrs 150 Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Vermont - Yes $44 $40 5 yrs 150 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
Virginia - Yes $122 $82 5 yrs 150 Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
Washington - Yes $209 $128 5 yrs 150 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
West Virginia - Yes $96 $68 5 yrs 150 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Wisconsin - Yes $105 $72 5 yrs 150 Also Licensed Professional Counselor · Mortgage Loan Originator
Wyoming - Yes $47 $41 5 yrs 150 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator

What to do with this

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

  • Compare Secondary School Teacher's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #84 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Initial fees for Secondary 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

Compare states →Childcare Center Director →Strictest 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. Secondary 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.