Requirements For a School Teacher in Hawaii
So, you want to become a teacher in Hawaii, the beautiful island 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 Hawaii. Hawaii is the only state in the nation that has a unified school system, all decisions being made by the state run board of education. As of last year there were approximately 183,609 students in the state. Hawaii has 284 public schools, broken down into 183 elementary, 36 middle, and 42 high schools. Teachers in Hawaii had an average salary of $49,292 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
Provisional License:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
- Complete a State Approved Teacher Educator Program (SATEP)
- Pass the Praxis I Basic Skills Assessment Test administered by the Educational Testing Services
- Pass the Praxis II Content Knowledge Assessment
- Pass a criminal background check
- Some schools and districts may have additional requirements
Applying for Hawaii Teaching Accreditation
After satisfying these requirements, you must then download the Provisional Hawaii Teaching License Application, fill it out, and submit it. Required information includes references and documentation from Universities and Colleges. Some secondary schools may require additional specific subject matter coursework and testing, so make sure to check with the individual district requirements.
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. The Provisional License is valid for a period of 3 years, at which point it must be renewed.