Secondary School Teacher / New Jersey
2026 data New Jersey board official source

New Jersey Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

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

What the New Jersey data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Becoming a licensed secondary school teacher in New Jersey means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. New Jersey regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

The initial price tag is $174, and renewal costs $110 every 5 years. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

On reciprocity, secondary school teachers should know: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
49/100
Secondary School Teacher · New Jersey

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.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$174
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$22/yr
$110 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in New Jersey

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$174
Renewal Fee
$110
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher All New Jersey licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with New Jersey licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Secondary School Teacher in New Jersey? ▼
New Jersey's requirements cover, the State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $174. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in New Jersey? ▼
To become a licensed secondary school teacher in New Jersey, you must meet the state's requirements. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the New Jersey licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to New Jersey from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for secondary school teachers nationally works like this: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into New Jersey. Verify the specifics with the New Jersey licensing board.
Does New Jersey require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for secondary school teacher licensing in New Jersey. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in New Jersey? ▼
Licensed secondary school teachers in New Jersey must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $110.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in New Jersey, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how New Jersey's secondary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Secondary School Teacher in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state secondary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how New Jersey's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. New Jersey overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the New Jersey 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.