Choose Your Endorsement Area

Decide what you want to teach, and choose the certification endorsement area that’s right for you. Read this page or download our full certification guide.

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A future Connecticut teacher in front of a blue background. Around her head are illustrations of a diploma, graduation cap and blue ribbon.

Before you enroll in a teaching program, you’ll need to decide what you want to teach — the subject and age group. On this page, we’ll go over your options.

1
What's an endorsement area?
2
How do I choose an endorsement area?
3
What endorsements can I earn?
4
Get the Certification Guide

What is an endorsement area?

A Connecticut high school math teacher leads a geometry lesson on a chalkboard. Next to him is an icon that says "Subject: Math"

A quick note on language: Your teacher certification is the document that lets you teach in a Connecticut classroom. Your certification or endorsement area refers to the specific subjects and grade levels you’re qualified to teach.

You can have endorsements in multiple subjects, and you can add endorsements throughout your career!

How do I choose an endorsement area?

If you already know what subject you want to teach, you can jump to the next section.

Not sure or open to different subjects? Click on the tabs to see how you can maximize your job opportunities.

In some cases, you may have multiple certification endorsement options to choose from. For example, if you want to teach fourth, fifth or sixth grade, you could earn an elementary endorsement for grades 1–6 or an endorsement for grades 4–8 in a specific subject area, like social studies or math.

What endorsements can I earn?

Once you know the grade and subject you want to teach, you can select your certification endorsement area. Click the tabs to explore your options.

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Elementary	PreK–6
Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education and Special Education	Nursery–Grade 3 (Elementary Ed) Nursery–K (Special Ed)
Integrated Early Childhood/Special Education	Birth–K
Montessori, Elementary (You may need an additional certification from Association Montessori International.)	1–6
Montessori, Primary (You may need an additional certification from Association Montessori International.)	Birth–K

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Art	PreK–12
Dance (You can also teach this with a P.E. endorsement.)	PreK–12
Music	PreK–12
Theatre and Drama (You can also teach this with an English endorsement.)	PreK–12

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
English	4–12
English, Middle School	4–8
History & Social Studies	4–12	✅
History & Social Studies, Middle School	4–8
Latin & Classical Humanities	4–12

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Agriculture	PreK–12
Biology	4–12	✅
Biology, Middle School	4–8	✅
Chemistry	4–12	✅
Chemistry, Middle School	4–8	✅
Earth Science	4–12	✅
Earth Science, Middle School	4–8	✅
General Science	4–12	✅
General Science, Middle School	4–8	✅
Integrated Science, Middle School	4–8	✅
Mathematics	4–12	✅
Mathematics, Middle School	4–8	✅
Physics	4–12	✅
Physics, Middle School	4–8	✅
Technology Education	PreK–12	✅

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Health	PreK–12
Physical Education	PreK–12

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Blind	PreK–12	✅
Comprehensive Special Education	K–12	✅
Hard of Hearing	PreK–12	✅
Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education & Special Education	Nursery–Grade 3 (Elementary Ed) Nursery–K (Special Ed)	✅
Integrated Early Childhood/Special Education	Birth–K	✅
Partially Sighted	PreK–12	✅

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Business	4–12
Health Occupations, Comprehensive High School (You must have career experience in this field.)	9–12
Health Occupations, Vocational Technical Schools (You must have career experience in this field.)	9–12
Home Economics	PreK–12
Marketing Education (You must have career experience in this field.)	4–12
Occupational Subject, Vocational Technical Schools (You must have career experience in this field.)	9–12
Practical Nurse Education Instruction (You must have career experience in this field.)	9–12
Trade & Industrial Occupations, Comprehensive High School (You must have career experience in this field.)	9–12
Vocational Agriculture (You must have career experience in this field.)	4–12

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
Bilingual Education (This requires an endorsement in one other area AND coursework in your teaching subject.)	PreK–12	✅
Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (This requires three years of classroom teaching experience.)	1–12
School Library Media Specialist	PreK–12
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)	PreK–12	✅
Unique Subject-Area Endorsement
World Language Instructor, Elementary (You'll also need a world language endorsement.)	1–6

Get the Certification Guide

The cover of the TEACH Connecticut Certification Guide

Keep a list of endorsement areas handy, and step-by-step details on pathways to teaching and how to get certified in Connecticut.

It’s all free in our certification guide!

Get the Free Guide

What’s next

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Have questions about becoming a certified CT teacher? Talk to an expert. Attend a group info session or get 1-on-1 advice on what to teach and how to choose and apply to the right program. It's all free.

All About the Durational Shortage Area Permit

if you have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to start teaching right away with a DSAP.

Shortage Areas. Connecticut State Department of Education. https://portal.ct.gov/sde/talent_office/talent-office-home-page/shortage-areas
Endorsement Codes. Connecticut Bureau of Certification. https://portal.ct.gov/sdecertification/Knowledge-Base/Articles/Resources/Endorsements/Endorsement-Codes?language=en_US

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Choose Your Endorsement Area

What is an endorsement area?

How do I choose an endorsement area?

What subjects are "shortage areas"?

What endorsements can I earn?

Get the Certification Guide

What’s next

Connecticut Program Explorer

Career Coaching in Connecticut

All About the Durational Shortage Area Permit

References

Sign Up for Free Resources

Subject	Grades	Shortage Area?
French	4–12	✅
German	4–12	✅
Italian	4–12	✅
Mandarin Chinese	4–12	✅
Portuguese	4–12	✅
Russian	4–12	✅
Spanish	4–12	✅
Other World Language	4–12	✅

Choose Your Endorsement Area

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How do I choose an endorsement area?

What endorsements can I earn?

Get the Certification Guide

What is an endorsement area?

How do I choose an endorsement area?

What subjects are "shortage areas"?

Consider a K–12 subject

What endorsements can I earn?

Elementary & Early Childhood

Fine Arts

Humanities & Social Studies

Math, Science & Technology

Physical Education & Health

Special Education

World Languages

Career & Technical Education

Academic Specialties

Get the Certification Guide

What’s next

Connecticut Program Explorer

Career Coaching in Connecticut

All About the Durational Shortage Area Permit

References

Sign Up for Free Resources

What's an endorsement area?