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Teaching in Louisiana Snapshot
$51,810
Secondary School Teacher Salary
$48,630
Elementary School Teacher Salary
$11,199
Public School Spending Per Student
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LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
1201 North Third St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(877) 453-2721
University of Southern California (USC)
USC Rossier School of Education
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Master of Arts in Teaching online
The Master of Arts in Teaching online (MAT online) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares aspiring teachers for diverse and high-needs educational settings and can be completed in as few as 12 months.
- Fieldwork placement
- Complete in 12-36 months
- GRE scores not required
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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Louisiana
Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 04/26/2020)
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Prerequisite Coursework in Louisiana
All states require at least a bachelor’s degree to teach. Louisiana requires a certification area of focus, education coursework, field experience and student teaching. Louisiana requires 180 hours of field experiences, and a yearlong teaching residency experience as part of any teacher preparation program.
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Louisiana Teacher Certification Programs
Teacher certification programs can be taken online or on-site. They typically include an educational theory and classroom skills seminar and a fieldwork component of student teaching in the area. A list of accredited teacher preparation programs can be found on the Louisiana Department of Education’s preparation page.
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Required Tests for Louisiana
Most states require tests to show competency in basic skills as well as in the desired subject area. Louisiana requires thePPST (Pre Professional Skills Test) for Basic Skills, and thePraxis II: Subject Tests and Praxis II PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching for subject area competence.
You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.com’sUltimate Guide to the Praxis Examsandread more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.
Initial Teaching Certifications
To earn your Louisiana teaching credential you will have to complete the required amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Louisiana issues three levels of teacher certification.
The beginning Level 1 Professional Certificate is valid for three years. The Level 2 Professional Certificate, renewable every five years, is issued to teachers with at least three years of experience and ce who have passed the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program (LaTAAP), a two-year period of mentoring and assessment that evaluates the teacher’s knowledge of his/her subject area and classroom management skills. The Level 3 Professional Certificate is issued to teachers with five years of experience in their area of certification who have passed the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program (LaTAAP) and completed a master’s degree.
Visit the Louisiana Department of Education to learn more about getting your teaching credential.Learn more about getting your teaching credential at Teach.com.
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Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard’s Bok Center
Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
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Higher Education Teaching Certificate
Deepen your understanding of higher-order teaching practices and broaden your skill set while creating a unique and inclusive strategy for your specific context.
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Alternative Certification in Louisiana
Louisiana has several routes to aPractitioner Licensewhich can allow a teacher to work in the classroom for up to three years (with annual renewal) while they complete an approved licensing program. The Practitioner Teacher program combines intensive coursework—24 to 33 credit hours depending on the area you plan to teach—with full-time teaching. TheMaster’s Degree Alternative Certification Programis an option that leads to certification as well as a master’s degree. The Certification-Only program can be completed face-to-face or online and does not require a full-time commitment.
For more information about different types of certification, visit the Teach Louisianacertification page.
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Transferring Your Certification
Certification Reciprocity in Louisiana
Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Louisiana, visit the Teach.comreciprocity pageor go to the Louisiana Department of Education’s out-of-state applicants page for more information.
To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Louisiana, check out ourTeacher Certification Reciprocitypage on Teach.com.
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Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Louisiana
Louisiana Teaching Jobs
In Louisiana, teachers earned an average of $49,000-$52,000 per year, according to 2018 data from theBureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, Louisiana provides differential pay for teachers willing to work in high demand districts and in shortage subjects. Salaries in Louisiana vary by parish, for more information go toLouisiana Department of Education’s Workforce page.
Learn more about finding ateaching jobon Teach.com.
Louisiana Teacher Salary and Incentives
Louisiana teachers become vested in thestate retirement systemafter 10 years of service. Employees hired on or after July 1, 2015 are allowed to retire at age 62 after 5 years of service, or any age after 20 years of service. Other benefits include health insurance, paid holidays, sick and annual leave, and promotional opportunities. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a teacher in Louisiana, check out theSummary of Louisiana Teacher Benefits.
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Louisiana Teacher Benefits and Retirement
Louisiana teachers become vested in the state retirement system after 10 years of service. Employees hired on or after July 1, 2015 are allowed to retire at age 62 after 5 years of service, or any age after 20 years of service.The employee required contributions to theLouisiana State Employees’ Retirement Systemis currently 8 percent of the gross salary for employees hired on or after July 1, 2016. Other benefits include health insurance, paid holidays, sick and annual leave, and promotional opportunities. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a teacher in Louisiana, check out theSummary of Louisiana Teacher Benefits.
Learn more aboutbenefits for teacherson Teach.com.
A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to theLearning Policy Institute.
The following is a list of teacher shortage areas in Louisiana for the 2017-18 school year as reported by theU.S. Department of Education.
- English as a Second Language
- Mathematics
- Science
- Special Education
- World Languages
Financial Aid in Louisiana
Louisiana residents are eligible for theApplegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarshipas well as theTEACH Grant, a grant which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.
Learn more abouthow to finance your Master’s degreeon Teach.com.
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Career Advancement
Professional Development for Louisiana Teachers
Louisiana follows theLearning Forwardstandards for staff development. This Professional Learning Association is widely recognized as a leader in the field of professional development. The standards are based on three questions: What are the students expected to know and be able to do? What are teachers expected to know and be able to do to ensure student success? Where must staff development focus to meet both of these goals? Teachers work in a cohort style method based on their subject areas and grade levels. Upon completion a Mentor Teacher distinction from the Department of Education. Tom Manning, Learning Forwards associate director of consulting and networks spoke about the program with Education Week,Louisiana is Taking the Lead in Mentoring New Teachers. More information about professional development can be found atThe Louisiana Department of Education Website.
Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Louisiana
It is no longer enough to only have years of experience teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, teachers are almost solely evaluated by their success in the classroom. A master’s degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor. After a master’s program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security and higher pay.
Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.
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USC Rossier School of Education
info
Master of Arts in Teaching online
The Master of Arts in Teaching online (MAT online) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares aspiring teachers for diverse and high-needs educational settings and can be completed in as few as 12 months.
- Fieldwork placement
- Complete in 12-36 months
- GRE scores not required
Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
info
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
Deepen your understanding of higher-order teaching practices and broaden your skill set while creating a unique and inclusive strategy for your specific context.
infoSPONSORED
Last Updated May 2020
FAQs
Can you teach in Louisiana without certification? ›
All states require at least a bachelor's degree to teach. Louisiana requires a certification area of focus, education coursework, field experience and student teaching. Louisiana requires 180 hours of field experiences, and a yearlong teaching residency experience as part of any teacher preparation program.
Is there a teacher shortage in Louisiana? ›BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A teacher shortage stills looms in Louisiana. “We surveyed human resource directors across the state. We made a determination that we need 2,520 additional teachers in the state,” says Louisiana School Superintendent Cade Brumley.
Is the Praxis Core waived in Louisiana? ›(KSLA) - Louisiana state officials have voted to change the requirements in place to become a teacher. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 546 into law on June 18. The law means people no longer have to take the Praxis Core Exam to enter into teacher preparation programs.
How long does it take to complete Iteach Louisiana? ›The whole iteach program is designed to be completed within one school year, but you have two full school years to find a teaching position while enrolled in iteach.
Is Praxis still required in Louisiana? ›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).
Is the Praxis test hard? ›Fifty-four percent of those who take the Praxis test on elementary-level content fail on their first try. Twenty-five percent never manage to pass. (In nursing, by contrast, 85% of test-takers pass their licensing test on the first try.)
How many teachers are in Louisiana? ›| Public education in Louisiana | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Schools | Teachers |
| Louisiana | 1,214 | 34,642 |
| United States | 90,323 | 2,783,705 |
Compass is a social emotional curriculum used with staff and students to build upon their social and emotional wellness. We know that students cannot perform academically until they are socially and emotionally balanced. This program helps them develop both individually and in relationships within our school community.
What is a Level 1 teaching certificate in Louisiana? ›Level 1 Professional Certificate: This is the type of certificate you normally obtain as an initial teaching certificate in Louisiana when you graduate with a bachelor's degree from a state-approved teacher education program. It is valid for three years.
What happens when you pass the Praxis? ›Taking a Praxis Subject Assessment (or in-state equivalent)
Once you've passed your “foundational” Praxis exams (the Praxis Core and sometimes also the PLT), you'll need to take a certification exam specific to the area you'll be teaching in.
Where can I teach without certification? ›
For example, some private, charter and not-for-profit schools don't require applicants to have a teaching degree or hold state licensure. If you want to teach in the public school system (either as an elementary or high-school subject teacher), however, you will need a teaching license or teaching credential.
Is iTeach a good program? ›“The iTeach program did a great job preparing me for the classroom. My field supervisor was amazing! I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking for an alternative certification program.” –Terri M.
What does getting your certification prove? ›A certificate verifies that a person has completed a course or series of courses at an educational institution. A certification verifies that a professional has met a certain set of criteria for a skill or job as measured by a third-party assessment.
How do I get a Louisiana teaching license? ›In order to earn Louisiana teacher certification, candidates must take and pass the Praxis exams appropriate to the grade level(s) and subject(s) they wish to teach. The required examinations include the Core Academic Skills for Educators to assesses the candidate's basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.
How do I get a Level 1 teaching certificate in Louisiana? ›To earn a Level 1 teacher certification you will need to complete a bachelor's degree program and a teacher preparation program with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Traditionally in Louisiana, the preparation program is completed as a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Science degree program.
How do I become a temporary authority to teach in Louisiana? ›Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT)
Applicants must hold a degree from a regionally accredited college or university; have passing scores on the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPSTs) Reading and Writing examinations or appropriate scores on ACT or SAT; at least a 2.20 GPA; and qualify under TAT hiring conditions.
You must have at least a high school diploma to substitute teach in Louisiana. If you do not have an associate's or bachelor's degree (or are not currently working towards one), you may need to complete standardized examinations to demonstrate that you have at least a 10th grade proficiency in reading and mathematics.