Certification Requirements for Teacher of Secondary Education (Grades 9–12)

PURPOSE: The State Board of Education is authorized to grant certificates of license to teach in any of the public schools of the state and establish requirements and qualifications for those certificates. This rule outlines the requirements for application for a certificate of license to teach Secondary Education. (1) An applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Secondary Education who possesses good moral character may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Secondary Education subject to the certification requirements found in 5 CSR 20-400.500 and the following additional certification requirements specific to Secondary Education: (A) General Requirements— 1. A baccalaureate degree from a college or university having an educator preparation program approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (department) or from a college or university having an educator preparation program approved by the state education agency in states other than Missouri; 2. The applicant must have a recommendation from the designated official at a baccalaureate or higher-level educator preparation program approved by the department; 3. The applicant must possess a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in the specific content area for which certification is sought; 4. The applicant must achieve a score equal to or in excess of the qualifying score on the required exit assessment(s) as defined in 5 CSR 20-400.440. The official score shall be submitted to the department; 5. The applicant must complete the professional requirements as determined by the recommending educator preparation program, which may exceed these minimum requirements; and 6. Individuals who completed an educator preparation program outside of the United States shall provide documentation of completion of coursework in the following: A. English Composition, two (2) courses, each a minimum of two (2) semester hours; B. U.S. History, three (3) semester hours; and C. U.S. Government, three (3) semester hours; (B) Professional Requirements Effective until August 1, 2025. A minimum requirement of thirty-six (36) semester hours in professional education. Competency must be demonstrated in the following topics to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: 1. Content Planning and Delivery. Candidates are prepared with a deep knowledge of and understand the relationship among curriculum, instruction, and assessment— A. Curriculum and Instructional Planning; B. Instructional Strategies and Techniques in Content Area Specialty; C. Assessment, Student Data, and Data-Based DecisionMaking; D. Strategies for Content Literacy; E. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; and F. English Language Learning; 2. Individual Student Needs. Candidates build a robust knowledge of learners and the learning environment— A. Psychological Development of the Child and Adolescent; B. Psychology/Education of the Exceptional Child; C. Differentiated Learning; D. Classroom Management; E. Cultural Diversity; and F. Educational Psychology; 3. Schools and the Teaching Profession. Candidates fully understand the role of schools and schooling as well as the professional responsibilities of teachers, including a means of professional growth— A. Consultation and Collaboration; and B. Legal/Ethical Aspects of Teaching; and 4. Secondary Literacy (minimum of six (6) semester hours), to include coursework specific to teaching reading and writing in the content area for which certification is sought, and to include instructional interventions for students with reading deficits; (C) Professional Requirements Effective August 1, 2025. A minimum requirement of thirty-six (36) semester hours in professional education. Competency must be demonstrated in the following topics to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: 1. Content Planning and Delivery. Candidates are prepared with a deep knowledge of and understand the relationship among curriculum, instruction, and assessment— A. Curriculum and Instructional Planning; B. Instructional Strategies and Techniques in Content Area Specialty; C. Assessment, Student Data, and Data-Based DecisionMaking; D. Strategies for Content Literacy; E. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; and F. English Language Learning; 2. Individual Student Needs. Candidates build a robust knowledge of learners and the learning environment— A. Psychological Development of the Child and Adolescent; B. Psychology/Education of the Exceptional Child; C. Differentiated Learning; D. Classroom Management; E. Cultural Diversity; and F. Educational Psychology; 3. Schools and the Teaching Profession. Candidates fully understand the role of schools and schooling as well as the professional responsibilities of teachers, including a means of professional growth— A. Consultation and Collaboration; and B. Legal/Ethical Aspects of Teaching; and 4. Secondary Literacy (minimum of six (6) semester hours). Candidates demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to support the development of student literacy. At a minimum, coursework must address the following topics: A. The core components of reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary; B. Oral and written language development; C. Identification of reading deficiencies, dyslexia, and other language difficulties; D. The selection and use of reading curricula and instructional materials; E. The administration and interpretation of assessments; F. The translation of assessment results into effective practice in the classroom specific to the needs of students; and G. Methods of teaching reading and writing in the content area; and (D) Field and Clinical Experiences (ten (10) semester hours). Field and clinical experiences should be appropriate to the progress of the student through the program and should be supervised through a close partnership of highly qualified professionals in appropriate school settings. 1. Early Field Experiences (one (1) semester hour with a minimum of thirty (30) clock hours). The early field experience includes placements in which candidates observe students, support teachers, and respond to specific class assignments. The candidate may work with students individually and/or in small groups as requested and under the supervision of the classroom teacher. 2. Mid-Level Field Experiences (one (1) semester hour with a minimum of forty-five (45) clock hours). The mid-level experience occurs between the initial placement and the culminating clinical experiences. At the mid-level, candidates continue to observe; respond to specific class assignments; and work with students individually, in small groups, and in whole class settings as requested and under the supervision of the classroom teacher. 3. Culminating Clinical Experiences (eight (8) semester hours with a minimum of twelve (12) weeks in one (1) placement). The culminating experience refers to placements typically in the final sequence leading up to and including student teaching. Candidates actively participate and complete required assignments, work with students as requested and under the supervision of the classroom teacher, and have the opportunity and responsibility to lead the class over an extended period of time. (2) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) (A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Agriculture may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Agriculture subject to completion of at least fifty-three (53) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) A minimum of forty-five (45) semester hours shall be completed from paragraphs (2)(A)1.–7.— 1. Animal Science, minimum of three (3) semester hours; 2. Agronomy, minimum of three (3) semester hours; 3. Agricultural Business, minimum of three (3) semester hours; 4. Agricultural Economics, minimum of three (3) semester hours; 5. Agricultural Mechanics, minimum of three (3) semester hours; 6. Horticulture, minimum of three (3) semester hours; and 7. Electives (27 semester hours) Must include twelve (12) semester hours from sections 1.–6. and fifteen (15) semester hours of other agriculture-related coursework; and (B) A minimum of eight (8) semester hours shall be completed from paragraphs (2)(B)1.–7.— 1. Methods of Teaching Vocational Agriculture; 2. Program Planning; 3. Developing and Supervising Occupational Experience Programs— A. Ownership (Entrepreneurship); and B. Placement; 4. Developing and Using Instruction Materials and Teaching Aids; 5. Supervising Student Organizations; 6. Teaching Agriculture Mechanics; and 7. Planning and Conducting Adult Programs for Young and Adult Farmers. (3) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) (A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Business may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Business subject to completion of at least thirty-nine (39) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Accounting, six (6) semester hours; (B) Economics, six (6) semester hours; (C) Business/Consumer Related Law, three (3) semester hours; (D) Business Communications, three (3) semester hours; (E) Management, three (3) semester hours; (F) Marketing, three (3) semester hours; (G) Computer/Emerging Technology, six (6) semester hours; (H) Electives, three (3) semester hours; and (I) Administration of Business and Marketing Education Programs, three (3) semester hours. (4) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) (A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Driver Education who is certified in another elementary, middle school, or secondary teaching field may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Driver Education subject to completion of at least twelve (12) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Introduction to Safety Education, three (3) semester hours; (B) Driver Task Analysis, three (3) semester hours; (C) Developing Vehicle Operation Skills and Competencies, three (3) semester hours; and (D) Developing Classroom Knowledge, three (3) semester hours. (5) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach English may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach English subject to completion of at least thirty-three (33) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Composition and Rhetoric (to include a course in the teaching of writing), twelve (12) semester hours; (B) Study of the English Language (to include modern grammar, history of the language, and/or dialects), six (6) semester hours; (C) American Literature (to include at least one (1) major unit or module in literature for adolescents and one (1) in literature of ethnic groups), six (6) semester hours; (D) English and/or World Literature, six (6) semester hours; and (E) Elective English Credits, three (3) semester hours. (6) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Journalism may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Journalism subject to completion of at least thirty-three (33) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) News Writing and Reporting, six (6) semester hours; (B) Editing, three (3) semester hours; (C) Communications Law, three (3) semester hours; (D) Mass Communications Theory, three (3) semester hours; (E) Scholastic Publications, three (3) semester hours; and (F) Electives—Photography, Graphics, Advertising, Broadcasting, History of Journalism, Mass Media and Society, News Media Experience, and other related areas, fifteen (15) semester hours— 1. News media experience (e.g., professional news media, college publications, etc.) must be included in the program on a credit or noncredit basis. (7) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) (A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Marketing may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Marketing subject to completion of at least thirty-six (36) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Management or Business Administration, three (3) semester hours; (B) Economics, six (6) semester hours; (C) Electives from Business, Management, or Entrepreneurship, nine (9) semester hours; (D) Marketing (suggested areas: Distribution, Financing, Marketing-Information Management, Promotion, Selling, Product/Service Management, International Marketing, and E-commerce Marketing), fifteen (15) semester hours; and (E) Coordination of Cooperative Education, three (3) semester hours. (8) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Mathematics must also— (A) Be in possession of a baccalaureate or higher degree, from a regionally accredited college or university, in Mathematics; or (B) Have completed at least thirty-three (33) semester hours in mathematics-related coursework, with at least twentyfour (24) hours addressing all of the following six (6) areas, with demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: 1. Algebra; 2. Geometry; 3. Trigonometry; 4. Pre-Calculus; 5. Calculus; and 6. Statistics. (9) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Biology may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Biology subject to completion of at least thirty-five (35) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) History/Philosophy of Science and Technology, three (3) semester hours; (B) A minimum of twenty (20) hours in Biology, which must include— 1. Cell Biology; 2. Plant Form and Function; 3. Animal Form and Function; 4. Genetics; 5. Evolution; and 6. Biology Electives; and (C) A minimum of twelve (12) additional hours in Science, which includes— 1. Chemistry; 2. Physics; 3. Earth Science; and 4. Environmental Science. (10) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Chemistry may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Chemistry subject to completion of at least thirty-five (35) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) History/Philosophy of Science and Technology, three (3) semester hours; (B) A minimum of twenty (20) hours in Chemistry, which must include— 1. Inorganic Chemistry; 2. Analytical Chemistry; 3. Organic Chemistry; 4. Physical Chemistry; 5. Biochemistry; and 6. Chemistry Electives; and (C) A minimum of twelve (12) additional hours in Science, which includes— 1. Biology; 2. Physics; 3. Earth Science; and 4. Environmental Science. (11) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Earth Science may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Earth Science subject to completion of at least thirty-five (35) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) History/Philosophy of Science and Technology, three (3) semester hours; (B) A minimum of twenty (20) hours in Earth Science, which must include— 1. Astronomy; 2. Meteorology; 3. Geology/Physical Geography; and 4. Earth Science Electives; and (C) A minimum of twelve (12) additional hours in Science, which includes— 1. Chemistry; 2. Biology; 3. Physics; and 4. Environmental Science. (12) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Physics may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Physics subject to completion of at least thirty-five (35) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) History/Philosophy of Science and Technology, three (3) semester hours; (B) A minimum of twenty (20) hours in Physics, which must include— 1. Mechanics; 2. Electricity and Magnetism; 3. Heat, Sound, and Light; 4. Atomic or Modern Physics; and 5. Physics Electives; and (C) A minimum of twelve (12) additional hours in Science, which includes— 1. Chemistry; 2. Biology; 3. Earth Science; and 4. Environmental Science. (13) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Social Science may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Social Science subject to completion of at least thirty-nine (39) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) U.S. History, twelve (12) semester hours; (B) World History, nine (9) semester hours; (C) Political Science (State and U.S. Government), six (6) semester hours; (D) Economics, three (3) semester hours; (E) Geography, three (3) semester hours; and (F) Behavioral Science (Sociology, Anthropology, or Psychology), six (6) semester hours. (14) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Speech and Theatre may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Speech and Theatre subject to completion of at least thirty (30) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Speech, twelve (12) semester hours (must include three (3) semester hours of debate); (B) Theatre, twelve (12) semester hours; and (C) Electives (from Speech, Theatre, and/or Mass Communications), six (6) semester hours. (15) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Technology and Engineering may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Technology and Engineering subject to completion of at least thirty-six (36) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Communication Technology, six (6) semester hours; (B) Energy and Power, six (6) semester hours; (C) Materials and Processes Technology, six (6) semester hours; (D) Organization and Administration, six (6) semester hours; and (E) Electives, twelve (12) semester hours. (16) As of July 1, 2025, in addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)–(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach General Science may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach General Science subject to completion of at least thirty-five (35) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation provider: (A) History/Philosophy of Science and Technology, three (3) semester hours; and (B) A minimum of thirty-two (32) hours in General Science, which must include— 1. Chemistry; 2. Biology; 3. Physics; 4. Earth Science; 5. Astronomy; and 6. Environmental Science. (17) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1)(A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach Computer Science (Grades 9-12) must either 1) have been awarded a baccalaureate or higher degree in Computer Science (or a closely related field) by a college or university that has been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, or 2) have completed at least thirty (30) hours in coursework in Computer Science and demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the educator preparation provider, mastery of the following competencies: (A) Take actions to foster an inclusive computing culture; (B) Collaborate with others around computing tasks; (C) Communicate effectively and appropriately around computing; (D) Recognize and define computational problems; (E) Develop and use abstractions to address computing challenges; (F) Create, test, and refine computational artifacts; (G) Demonstrate an understanding of the function of various hardware and software components; (H) Explain how abstractions impact implementation and use of hardware and software components; (I) Evaluate how these components use logic and interact to input, process, store, and output information, and apply systematic troubleshooting strategies to diagnose and resolve system problems; (J) Model how computing devices communicate and organize data through networks and the internet; (K) Analyze cybersecurity measures and protocols while balancing security requirements with system usability; (L) Collect and store digital data using appropriate formats and structures; (M) Apply visualization and transformation techniques to process data; (N) Develop representative models to analyze patterns, understand real-world phenomena, and generate accurate predictions based on refined hypotheses; (O) Design, implement, and analyze programs through an iterative process by developing algorithms, using variables and control structures, creating modular code, and applying systematic program development practices (e.g., generalizable patterns, Application Programming Interfaces libraries, integrated development environments, etc.) while using appropriate programming languages and technologies to code, debug, and review solutions; (P) Analyze how computing systems influence human behaviors, cultural norms, equity and access, and social interactions; and (Q) Evaluate computing’s societal impacts through the lenses of safety, legal frameworks, and ethical considerations, examining both beneficial and detrimental effects on society. AUTHORITY: sections 161.092, 168.011, 168.071, 168.081, and 168.405, RSMo 2016, and sections 168.021, 168.400, and 168.409, RSMo Supp. 2025.* Original rule filed Oct. 29, 2013, effective May 30, 2014. Amended: Filed Jan. 15, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. Amended: Filed Nov. 2, 2020, effective May 30, 2021. Amended: Filed Aug. 27, 2021, effective March 30, 2022. Amended: Filed Feb. 10, 2023, effective Sept. 30, 2023. Amended: Filed March 11, 2024, effective Oct. 30, 2024. Amended: Filed Dec. 10, 2024, effective July 30, 2025. Amended: Filed June 13, 2025, effective Jan. 30, 2026. *Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014; 168.011, RSMo 1963, amended 1984; 168.021, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025; 168.071, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2014; 168.081, RSMo 1963, amended 1984, 2002, 2014; 168.400, RSMo 1985, amended 1990, 2002, 2024; 168.405, RSMo 1985; and 168.409, RSMo 1985, amended 2025.