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.
Approved Educator Preparation Program (AEPPNH)
Candidates complete a New Hampshire program approved by the State Board of Education, and the institution recommends them to the Bureau of Credentialing for licensure. Program recommendations are valid for three years from the date of recommendation. Every pathway also requires the Basic Academic Skills Assessment (where it applies), any subject area tests, the endorsement requirements, and a criminal history record check clearance for first-time applicants.
- Choose an endorsement and complete a New Hampshire approved educator preparation program
- Meet the Basic Academic Skills Assessment and subject area testing requirements
- Complete the criminal history record check clearance as a first-time applicant
- Have your program recommend you to the Bureau of Credentialing
- Apply and pay the fee in myNHDOE/EIS within three years of the recommendation
Bachelor's in another field: the alternative route
For people who already hold a bachelor's degree in a subject other than education.
Site-Based Licensing Plan (SBLP)
Candidates first obtain a Statement of Eligibility, which requires at least a bachelor's degree, the Basic Academic Skills Assessment where required, and the specific endorsement requirements. Once hired by a New Hampshire school in that role, they submit a Beginning of Plan and work under an Intern Authorization, with three years to meet the remaining licensing requirements. The SBLP leads to the same license as an approved preparation program.
- Hold at least a conferred bachelor's degree and meet the Basic Academic Skills Assessment if required
- Apply for a Statement of Eligibility for the endorsement sought
- Get hired by a New Hampshire PK-12 employer in the role of the endorsement
- Submit a Beginning of Plan to receive an Intern Authorization
- Meet the remaining competencies and any subject tests within three years
- Submit the End of Plan to apply for the full license
Changing careers into teaching in New Hampshire
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.
For pay context, the median annual wage for high school teachers in New Hampshire was $77,060 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
Not verified yet: the state's website could not be reached when we checked. Check with the agency.
Licensed in another state
For teachers who hold a license from another state and want to teach in New Hampshire.
Out-of-State Applicant
Out-of-state applicants qualify either by completing an approved educator preparation program in another state (AEPPOS) or by documenting three of the last seven years of experience under a full, valid out-of-state license (DCEX). Only full licenses are reciprocal, and the endorsement must be comparable to a New Hampshire endorsement in content and grade level. New Hampshire's testing and endorsement-specific requirements still apply.
- Confirm your program or full license is reciprocal using the Bureau's reciprocity table
- Document an approved out-of-state program within three years, or three of the last seven years of experience under a full license
- Meet New Hampshire's Basic Academic Skills Assessment and subject area testing requirements
- Complete the criminal history record check clearance as a first-time applicant
- Apply and upload documents in myNHDOE/EIS
Required tests, codes and qualifying scores
New Hampshire uses NES (Pearson) and Praxis 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.
| Test | Code | Qualifying score | Fee | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Academic Skills: Reading, Writing and Mathematics subtests NES (Pearson) · Basic skills | National cut score set for each subtest (no single number published by the state) | Not published | Basic Academic Skills Assessment for initial teacher or instructional specialist licensure (SAT, GRE or ACT at or above the 50th percentile, or a comparable test, may also meet it) Source | |
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined (Reading 5713, Writing 5723, Mathematics 5733) Praxis · Basic skills | 5752 | Reading (5713): 156; Writing (5723): 162; Mathematics (5733): 150 | $150 | Listed by ETS for all areas. The state's Basic Academic Skills page names the NES Essential Academic Skills test, so confirm which test the Bureau of Credentialing accepts Source |
| Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (subtests 5002, 5003, 5004, 5005) Praxis · Subject knowledge | 5001 | Reading and Language Arts (5002): 157; Mathematics (5003): 157; Social Studies (5004): 155; Science (5005): 159 | $180 | Elementary Education Source |
| Foundations of Reading (New Hampshire) NES (Pearson) · Reading instruction | 890 | National cut score set for each subtest (no single number published by the state) | Not published | Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education Teacher endorsements (applications received on or after July 1, 2025) Source |
| English Language Arts: Content and Analysis Praxis · Subject knowledge | 5039 | 168 | $156 | English Language Arts (secondary) Source |
| Mathematics Praxis · Subject knowledge | 5165 | 159 | $130 | Mathematics (secondary) Source |
| Biology Praxis · Subject knowledge | 5236 | 154 | $120 | Life Sciences (secondary) Source |
| Chemistry Praxis · Subject knowledge | 5246 | 146 | $130 | Chemistry (secondary) Source |
| Social Studies: Content and Interpretation Praxis · Subject knowledge | 5086 | 153 | $156 | Social Studies (secondary) Source |
Scores and fees change. Confirm both on the testing company's page before you register.
Fees, background check and license validity
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Educator License (BEL) or Experienced Educator License (EEL), any pathway, with one endorsement | $150.00 | Source |
| Add another endorsement to a BEL or EEL | $150.00 | Source |
| Site-Based Licensing Plan: Statement of Eligibility (per endorsement) | $120.00 | Source |
| Site-Based Licensing Plan: Intern Authorization (per endorsement) | $500.00 | Source |
| BEL, EEL or Master Teacher License renewal (3-year cycle) | $150.00 | Source |
| Lapsed license reinstatement fee | $100.00 | Source |
| Criminal History Record Check Clearance, first-time applicant | $100.00 | Source |
Background check
First-time applicants need a Criminal History Record Check Clearance covering both New Hampshire and FBI records. Applicants submit an application and fee to the NH Department of Safety, Division of State Police, and are fingerprinted by LiveScan or ink card, then pay the Bureau of Credentialing $100 for clearance processing at the time of the license application. Department of Safety fees are separate. Fee: $100.00. Source
Your first license
License: Beginning Educator License (BEL). It is valid for 3-year renewal cycle. Applicants meeting requirements are issued a BEL unless they request and document eligibility for the Experienced Educator License, which needs at least 3 years of full-time experience, effective or higher ratings for 2 consecutive years, and a completed renewal cycle. Source
Renewal
Educator licenses renew on a three-year cycle, either as a recommended renewal through an employer's professional development master plan or as a DOE renewal submitted by the educator. Renewal requires 30 hours of professional development for each endorsement area held and 45 hours aligned with the Professional Education Requirements in Ed 505.03. The renewal fee is $150. Requirement: 30 hours per endorsement held plus 45 hours aligned with Ed 505.03, every 3 years. Source
Teacher pay in New Hampshire
Elementary teachers in New Hampshire earned a median of $72,410 a year in May 2025, $8,440 above 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.
| Teachers | Median | Mean | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary SOC 25-2021 | $72,410 | $69,930 | $63,970 |
| Middle school SOC 25-2022 | $71,140 | $69,030 | $64,370 |
| High school (secondary) SOC 25-2031 | $77,060 | $72,040 | $72,040 |
| Special education, elementary SOC 25-2052 | $65,160 | $66,620 | $65,120 |
| Special education, middle school SOC 25-2057 | $66,760 | $67,090 | $66,810 |
| Special education, secondary SOC 25-2058 | $69,560 | $74,140 | $74,260 |
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
New Hampshire reported these subject areas to the US Department of Education as teacher shortage areas for the 2026-27 school year.
- Art and Music Education: Music (statewide)
- Career and Technical Education: Consumer Home Economics (statewide)
- Computer Science (statewide)
- English as a Second Language: English as a Second Language (statewide)
- Health and Physical Fitness: Health Science, Physical Education (statewide)
- Mathematics (statewide)
- Science: Chemistry, Life Sciences, Physical Science, Physics (statewide)
- Special Education: Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood, Emotional Disabilities, Generic Special Education (statewide)
- World Languages: French (statewide)
Source: US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas report, retrieved November 7, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What tests do you need to become a teacher in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire uses NES (Pearson) and Praxis. Core tests include Essential Academic Skills: Reading, Writing and Mathematics subtests; Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined (Reading 5713, Writing 5723, Mathematics 5733) (5752); Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (subtests 5002, 5003, 5004, 5005) (5001); Foundations of Reading (New Hampshire) (890). Qualifying scores and fees for each test are in the table on this page. The exact list depends on your license area, so confirm it with the New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing before you register.
Can you become a teacher in New Hampshire without a teaching degree?
Yes, if you hold a bachelor's degree. Candidates first obtain a Statement of Eligibility, which requires at least a bachelor's degree, the Basic Academic Skills Assessment where required, and the specific endorsement requirements. See our guide to alternative teacher certification for how these programs compare.
How much does a teaching license cost in New Hampshire?
Published fees include Beginning Educator License (BEL) or Experienced Educator License (EEL), any pathway, with one endorsement: $150.00; Add another endorsement to a BEL or EEL: $150.00; Site-Based Licensing Plan: Statement of Eligibility (per endorsement): $120.00; background check: $100.00. Add the cost of your required tests (listed above) and your preparation program. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing.
Does New Hampshire accept teaching licenses from other states?
Out-of-state applicants qualify either by completing an approved educator preparation program in another state (AEPPOS) or by documenting three of the last seven years of experience under a full, valid out-of-state license (DCEX). Contact the New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing before you move to confirm which tests or coursework, if any, you will need.
How much do teachers make in New Hampshire?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, median annual pay in New Hampshire was $72,410 for elementary teachers, $71,140 for middle school teachers and $77,060 for high school teachers. Pay varies by district, experience and education.
Sources
- Credentialing Help Desk Knowledge Base New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- New Applicant or Add an Endorsement New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Complete an Approved Educator Preparation Program New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Site-Based Licensing Plan (SBLP) Overview New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Statement of Eligibility (SOE) Requirements New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Out-of-State Applicant New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- License Reciprocity New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Basic Academic Skills Assessment (BASA) and Subject Area Testing Information New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Fee Schedule (effective 7/1/2025) New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- First-Time Applicant (Criminal History Record Check Clearance) New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Upgrade to an Experienced Educator License (EEL) New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Educator Professional Development Requirements New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- DOE Renewal New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Foundations of Reading for New Hampshire Pearson (National Evaluation Series) (accessed November 7, 2026)
- New Hampshire Required Tests (Praxis) ETS (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Overview of New Hampshire Testing Requirements ETS (Praxis) (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Biology (5236) ETS (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates, New Hampshire US Bureau of Labor Statistics (accessed November 7, 2026)
- BLS Public Data API (OEWS series OEUS330000000000025202113, OEUS330000000000025202213, OEUS330000000000025203113 and related) US Bureau of Labor Statistics (accessed November 7, 2026)
- Teacher Shortage Areas report, 2026-27 US Department of Education (accessed November 7, 2026)