Requirements To Become Teacher in Delaware

So, you want to become a teacher in Delaware, endearingly coined the ‘First State’. Need some help getting a push in the right direction? Well congratulations, you landed here and that’s a good start. Let’s begin by looking at the overview of the teaching industry in Delaware. As of last year there were approximately 574,000 students in the state. Delaware has 208 public schools, broken down into 105 elementary, 32 middle, and 42 high schools. Teachers in Delaware had one of the highest average salaries in the United States of $54,260 in 2009-2010 (according to bls.gov), with incrementally higher salaries going to those with higher qualifications. Let’s take a look at what acquiring the license takes.

Preliminary Requirements

Initial Educator License:

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
  • Pass the Praxis I PPST (Pre-Professional Skills Assessments) Test
  • Pass the Praxis II Subject Assessment test relative to your desire in subject matter
  • Open a user account through the Delaware Educator Data System (DEEDS)
  • Complete the Application for Certification including appropriate paperwork
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Some schools and districts may have additional requirements

Applying for Accreditation

After satisfying these requirements, you must then submit the packet for your Application for Teaching Certification through the Delaware Educator Data Systems (DEEDS) program and pay any required fees, as well as go in for fingerprinting by a state agency.

What next?

Once you have fulfilled these requirements and submitted the appropriate paperwork, you should look into receiving national board teacher certification, as most schools offer financial incentive to those who have one.