How to Become a Teacher in Idaho: Tests, Fees and Routes

By the Transforming Education editorial team. Every fact on this page was checked against the source linked beside it on November 7, 2026.

No degree yet: the traditional route

For high school students, college students and anyone without a bachelor's degree. You earn the degree and the teacher preparation in one program.

Initial Certificate for Idaho Graduates

Most Idaho teachers complete a state-approved educator preparation program, usually a degree program at an Idaho college or university that combines coursework, assessments and student teaching. The college of education then verifies completion with an Institutional Recommendation, and the Idaho Department of Education issues the certificate after reviewing transcripts, the Praxis score sheet and a background check.

1. Complete a state-approved educator preparation program at an Idaho college or university.
2. Pass the Praxis assessment for your endorsement area and keep a copy of the score report.
3. Complete a Background Investigation Check unless one was done through your college for student teaching within the past three years.
4. Ask your college of education to complete the Institutional Recommendation Form.
5. Mail one packet with the signed application, the $75 fee, official transcripts, the recommendation form and the Praxis score sheet to the Idaho Department of Education.

Source: sde.idaho.gov

Bachelor's in another field: the alternative route

For people who already hold a bachelor's degree in a subject other than education.

Interim Certificate for Non-traditional Candidates

Candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree can qualify through one of four recognized non-traditional programs: ABCTE, the College of Southern Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College or Teach For America. After meeting the program's preliminary requirements, the candidate receives a three-year interim certificate and must teach as teacher of record while completing mentoring and Idaho-specific requirements. Completers then apply for the five-year renewable certificate.

1. Choose a non-traditional program: ABCTE, College of Southern Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College or Teach For America.
2. Meet the program's entry requirements, such as the ABCTE certificate or a passing Praxis content score for CSI, LCSC and Teach For America.
3. Apply for the three-year interim certificate with the application packet, the $100 fee, transcripts, a background check and your program documents.
4. Teach as teacher of record and complete a two-year state board-approved mentoring program with successful evaluations.
5. Complete the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy course or assessment and, for All Subjects K-8, special education or mathematics endorsements, the MTI/TMT requirement.
6. Apply for the five-year renewable certificate with the district/charter and mentor recommendation form.

Source: sde.idaho.gov

Changing careers into teaching in Idaho

If you already have a bachelor's degree and some years in another job, start with the alternative route described above. It is built for people who did not study education. The 4 programs below are on the state's approved list, and 2 of them say their coursework is online.

For pay context, the median annual wage for high school teachers in Idaho was $61,690 in May 2025, according to the BLS OEWS state estimates. If your background matches a subject on the state's shortage list, that list is further down this page.

State-approved alternative certification programs

Programs shown are a selection from the state's approved list, checked November 7, 2026. "Online" reflects what the program or the state says about its coursework; teaching practice is always in a real school. The full, current list is on the agency's approved-program page.

Licensed in another state

For teachers who hold a license from another state and want to teach in Idaho.

Certificate for Out-of-State Applicants

Teachers who hold a current, valid certificate issued after completing a state-approved program in a state recognized by the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement can apply for Idaho certification. Recent completers of a CAEP or AAQEP accredited program (within the last two calendar years) may apply with an institutional recommendation instead of a license. A content assessment is required only when the applicant has no current out-of-state credential.

1. Confirm your out-of-state certificate is current and valid, or that you completed a CAEP or AAQEP accredited program within the last two calendar years.
2. Complete and sign the Idaho Educator Certification Application.
3. Complete a Background Investigation Check packet and pay the processing fee.
4. Include a copy of your out-of-state license (or the institutional recommendation) and official transcripts showing at least a bachelor's degree.
5. Mail everything in one packet with the $75 application fee to the Idaho Department of Education.

Source: sde.idaho.gov

Required tests, codes and qualifying scores

Idaho uses Praxis, Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment and ABCTE for teacher licensure. The table lists the core tests by license area, with the qualifying score and fee exactly as the source publishes them. Which tests you take depends on the license area you are seeking, so check the full list for your subject before you register.

Scores and fees change. Confirm both on the testing company's page before you register.

Fees, background check and license validity

Background check

Applicants for a first Idaho certificate, or for reinstatement of a certificate expired more than four months, must complete a Background Investigation Check. Fingerprints must be taken on an Idaho Department of Education fingerprint card by a police department, sheriff's office or other facility with trained staff, and submitted with the identification verification form, BIC form and processing fee. If a previous check was completed within the last six months, only the BIC form is needed. Fee: $37.00 (postmarked after September 20, 2026; $32.00 if postmarked by that date). Source

Your first license

License: Standard Instructional Certificate. It is valid for 5 years. Renewable. Alternative authorization and non-traditional candidates first receive a three-year, non-renewable Interim Certificate and must complete program and state requirements before applying for the five-year certificate. Source

Renewal

Five-year renewable certificates expire on August 31 and can be renewed from January 1 through August 31 of the expiration year; no extensions are granted, and an expired certificate requires reinstatement. Renewal requires six semester credits earned during the validity period, at least three of them from an accredited college or university, with up to three from approved in-service hours or CEUs at 15 hours per credit. Credits must relate to the endorsement area or to professional practice. Requirement: 6 semester credits every 5 years. Source

Teacher pay in Idaho

Elementary teachers in Idaho earned a median of $61,600 a year in May 2025, $2,370 below the national median of $63,970. Half of teachers in each occupation earn more than the median and half earn less. What you earn in a given district depends on its salary schedule, your experience and any graduate credits.

Annual wages, cross-industry estimates, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 state tables, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API on November 7, 2026. Special education teachers are shown separately; our guide to the online master's in special education covers the add-on and initial-license options.

Teacher shortage areas, 2026-27

Idaho reported these subject areas to the US Department of Education as teacher shortage areas for the 2026-27 school year.

• Core Subjects: Elementary Education (statewide)

Source: US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas report, retrieved November 7, 2026.