Certification Requirements for Teacher of K-12 Education

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 K-12 Education. (1) An applicant for a Missouri certificate of license to teach K-12 Education who possesses good moral character may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach K-12 Education subject to the certification requirements found in 5 CSR 20-400.500 and the following additional certification requirements specific to K-12 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. A minimum requirement of twenty-six (26) semester hours in professional education. Competency must be demonstrated in the following topics listed 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. Literacy (minimum of three (3) semester hours) to include coursework in methods of teaching reading and writing in the content area for which certification is sought. 5. 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. Such field and clinical experiences shall include experiences at both the elementary and the secondary level. A. 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. B. 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. C. 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 Art may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Art 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) Design—Composition, three (3) semester hours; (B) Drawing, three (3) semester hours; (C) Painting, three (3) semester hours; (D) Graphics (such as Printmaking, Photography, and Serigraphy), three (3) semester hours; (E) Ceramics, three (3) semester hours; (F) Sculpture, three (3) semester hours; (G) Fibers (such as Weaving, Macramé, and Fiber Sculpture), three (3) semester hours; (H) History, Theory, Criticism in the Visual Arts, three (3) semester hours; (I) Instructional Techniques for Art K-12, three (3) semester hours; and (J) Electives, three (3) semester hours. (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 Dance may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Dance 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) Ballet Technique, six (6) semester hours; (B) Contemporary Technique, six (6) semester hours; (C) Other Techniques, to include Tap, Jazz, Yoga, Folk, Ballroom, six (6) semester hours; (D) Dance Theory, three (3) semester hours; (E) Dance Composition, three (3) semester hours; and (F) Elective from paragraphs 1-4 below, six (6) hours: 1. Anatomy and Kinesiology; 2. Ethnology (dance in other cultures); 3. Music for Dance; or 4. Somatics (body-mind techniques). (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 Family and Consumer Sciences may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Family and Consumer Sciences subject to completion of at least thirtythree (33) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) Program Development and Professional Practice, two (2) semester hours; (B) Career and Technical Student Organizations, one (1) semester hour; (C) Nutrition, Health, and Wellness (including Health Issues and Concepts as well as Scientific Principles Related to Food Preparation), six (6) semester hours; (D) Family and Consumer Resource Management, twelve (12) semester hours (including three (3) semester hours each in Personal Finance; Family and Consumer Resource Management; Housing and Environment; and Textiles, Apparel, and Fashion); (E) Human Development and Parenting, six (6) semester hours; and (F) Family and Interpersonal Relationships, six (6) 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 World Languages may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach World Languages subject to completion of at least thirty (30) semester hours in the language to be taught, or twenty-seven (27) semester hours plus two (2) or more earned units of high school credit in that language. Additionally, the applicant must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours in upper-level courses with no more than six (6) of those semester hours in history/ culture and demonstrate competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution. (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 Health may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Health 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) Human Anatomy-Physiology, three (3) semester hours; (B) Nutrition, three (3) semester hours; (C) Drug Education, three (3) semester hours; (D) Personal Health, three (3) semester hours; (E) Mental Health, three (3) semester hours; (F) Family Life/Sex Education, three (3) semester hours; (G) Safety and First Aid, three (3) semester hours; (H) Community Health, three (3) semester hours; (I) Instructional Techniques in Health K-12, three (3) semester hours; and (J) Electives in Health, nine (9) semester hours. (7) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) (A)-(C) of this rule, an applicant for a Missouri certificate of license for Library Media Specialist may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license for Library Media Specialist 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) Content Knowledge for Teaching— 1. Foundations of Librarianship, three (3) semester hours; 2. Library Media Administration, three (3) semester hours; 3. Developing and Managing Collections, three (3) semester hours; 4. Organizing Information, three (3) semester hours; 5. Reference Sources and Services, three (3) semester hours; 6. Action Research in School Libraries, three (3) semester hours; 7. Children’s, Adolescent, or Young Adult Literature, three (3) semester hours; 8. Library Systems and Information Technologies, three (3) semester hours; and 9. Curriculum and the Media Center, three (3) semester hours; (B) Field and Clinical Experiences (three (3) semester hours)— 1. Culminating Clinical Experiences. This librarian internship builds upon the classroom experiences and provides the intern an opportunity to lead and direct specific activities. The intern is an active participant in the daily operations of the library media center including working with students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders while under the supervision of an on-site supervisor. The clinical experience should include collaborating with other educators to support student learning. (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 Music may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Music subject to completion of at least forty-five (45) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) For applicants for a Missouri license to teach Vocal Music— 1. Music Theory, History, and Choral Arranging, fifteen (15) semester hours; 2. Piano (or proficiency) and Applied Voice, nine (9) semester hours; 3. Choral Conducting, Techniques, and Literature, twelve (12) semester hours; 4. Choral Ensemble, three (3) semester hours; and 5. Methods/Techniques of Teaching Pre-K/Elementary, and Middle School/Secondary Music, six (6) semester hours; (B) For applicants for a Missouri license to teach Instrumental Music— 1. Music Theory, History, and Instrumentation/Arranging, fifteen (15) semester hours; 2. Piano (or proficiency) and Applied Major Instrument, nine (9) semester hours; 3. Instrumental Conducting, Techniques, and Literature, twelve (12) semester hours; 4. Instrumental Ensemble, three (3) semester hours; and 5. Methods/Techniques of Teaching Pre-K/Elementary, and Middle School/Secondary Music, six (6) semester hours. (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 Physical Education may be granted an initial Missouri certificate of license to teach Physical Education subject to completion of at least fifty-one (51) semester hours in the following content knowledge areas and demonstration of competency to the satisfaction of the educator preparation institution: (A) History and Philosophy, three (3) semester hours; (B) Anatomy-Physiology, three (3) semester hours; (C) Kinesiology, three (3) semester hours; (D) Physiology of Exercise, three (3) semester hours; (E) Assessment in Physical Education, three (3) semester hours; (F) Health Related Fitness/Wellness, three (3) semester hours; (G) Lifetime Activities and Dance, three (3) semester hours; (H) Adapted Physical Education, three (3) semester hours; (I) Psychological/Sociological Aspects of Physical Education, three (3) semester hours; (J) Motor Development/Motor Learning, three (3) semester hours; (K) First Aid, CPR, and Care of Activity/Sport Injuries, six (6) semester hours; (L) Movement and Rhythms, three (3) semester hours; (M) Team/Individual Sports Instruction, three (3) semester hours; (N) Instructional Techniques in Physical Education K-12, six (6) semester hours; and (O) Nutrition, three (3) semester hours. AUTHORITY: sections 161.092, 168.011, 168.071, 168.081, 168.405, and 168.409, RSMo 2016, and sections 168.021 and 168.400, RSMo Supp. 2024.* Original rule filed Oct. 29, 2013, effective May 30, 2014. Amended: Filed Nov. 2, 2020, effective May 30, 2021. Amended: Filed Dec. 10, 2024, effective July 30, 2025. *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; 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.