Louisiana

For certification in Louisiana, all candidates must:

• Earn a baccalaureate degree.
• Complete a state-approved educator preparation program at a college or university OR complete one of Louisiana's alternative certification routes.
• Pass the Praxis tests for their certification area.
• Submit the appropriate application forms and fees.
• Check out Teach Louisiana for specific certification requirements.

• If you test in Louisiana at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in Louisiana, your score report will be sent automatically to the Louisiana Department of Education.
• If you test outside Louisiana or your Praxis profile address is not in Louisiana, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the Louisiana Department of Education. To have your scores sent to the Louisiana Department of Education, you must select the Louisiana Department of Education (state code 7330) as a score recipient when you register.
• For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports, you must select the Louisiana Department of Education (state code 7330) with each additional score report request.
• The state of Louisiana uses Social Security numbers to process certification requests. If you choose not to provide this number, your scores will not be electronically reported to the Louisiana Department of Education's certification database. Your certification will be delayed, thus requiring you to provide your original, hard-copy score report.

In-state applicants

All teacher candidates applying for initial licensure are required to:

• Pass Praxis content exams, Principles of Learning and Teaching, or specific pedagogy exam(s).
• Note: Candidates pursuing alternate routes for licensure must satisfy the same testing requirements as candidates in the traditional program.

Persons holding a valid Louisiana educator license who wish to qualify for additional areas of licensure must submit acceptable scores on the Praxis content exams (when applicable) for the areas desired and grade-level-appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching or specific pedagogy exam(s). For information on the requirements for specific add-on endorsements, check out the Teach Louisiana Teacher Certification Center.

Out-of-state applicants

• If an applicant has completed an out-of-state educator preparation program and held or is eligible for a standard educator license/certificate in another state, he/she/they may qualify for issuance of a Louisiana Out-of-State (OS) Certificate (valid for a 3-year period and not renewable).
• The OS certificate provides a transition period that permits the holder to be employed in Louisiana K–12 schools while he/she/they complies with Louisiana Praxis requirements or meets Praxis exclusion eligibility requirements.
• For information on exclusion requirements, review Teach Louisiana (Word) — Bulletin 746.

There are three alternate routes leading to educator certification in Louisiana, including:

• practitioner teacher program
• master's degree program
• certification-only program

For more information about Louisiana's alternate route programs, review Teach Louisiana's Alternate Teacher Preparation page.

Alternate certification

Candidates pursuing alternate routes for licensure must satisfy the same testing requirements as candidates in the traditional program. All candidates entering an alternate route early childhood PK–3, elementary 1–5, or special education certification program must demonstrate proficiency in the State Board's Reading Competencies through either the required reading course credit hours or by passing the Praxis Teaching Reading: K–12 exam (5206).