Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide

If you’re a first-time teacher, your pathway will depend on your educational background.

If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree: You can earn your degree and teaching certificate at the same time. Some teaching programs even let you add a master’s degree for just one additional year!  

If you do have a bachelor’s degree, your basic choices are:
 

• A master’s degree program: A standard master’s program offers extra time and practice before you lead your own classroom. This can be a great option if you have less experience with students!
• A post-baccalaureate program: This option lets you earn your certification in as little as one year. Some post-baccalaureate programs are certification-only, while others let you earn your certification and college credit.

If you have previous teaching experience, you may be able to fast-track or save money on your Connecticut teacher certification! Here are some scenarios that may qualify:
 

• You have at least two years of full-time teaching experience in your desired certification area. You may be able to get certified right away.
• You have at least ten months of successful teaching experience in the past ten years. You may be able to waive your teaching program’s student teaching requirement. 
• You have a certification in a Northeastern region state or territory. You may qualify for “enhanced reciprocity.” Basically, this means you can fast-track your teacher certification. 

You may qualify for other certification pathways or perks if any of these apply to you:
 

• You have a bachelor’s degree that isn’t in education.
• You’re a non-certified school employee. 
• You’re a tradesperson. 
• You’re bilingual. 
• You’re a military service member, veteran or family member. 

Short answer: It depends.

Longer answer: Your total costs will vary depending on your teaching program and the tests required for your particular certification endorsement area. Here are some of the costs you can expect while you obtain your initial certification: 

• Initial certification (1): $200
• Content-specific exams (2): $64–$180

It depends on the type of program and where you are currently.

Here's what you can expect for most programs:

• Bachelor’s degree & certification: About 4 years
• Master’s degree & certification: 1–2 years
• Certification-only: About 1 year

If you have a bachelor’s degree from outside of the U.S., your credentials must be evaluated by an approved foreign credential evaluation agency. This agency will determine the U.S. equivalents for your coursework and grades. You may also need to pass an English proficiency exam.

If you earned a teacher certification outside of the U.S., you’ll need to submit additional paperwork.

Learn more about certification for international educators.

There are two tiers of Connecticut teacher certification: initial and professional. You’ll earn an initial certification to start. Your initial certification is good for 10 years!

To advance through to a professional certification, you’ll need to gain years of experience and meet certain criteria, such as earning a master's degree. 

Connecticut has a history of competitive compensation for educators. 

In 2023, starting salaries for Connecticut teachers averaged at $48,800. Overall teacher salaries (including teachers who have been on the job for a while) averaged over $83,000. That’s the sixth highest teacher salary in the nation! (4)

Learn more about teacher salaries and benefits. 

Wondering how to pay for your program? We can help! Here are a few of the resources TEACH Connecticut offers:

• TEACH Connecticut scholarships for future educators
• $100 back for any application-related costs
• Information about financial resources with our Finances Guide
• Explore scholarships and other opportunities with our Financial Aid Explorer.