Connecticut

The state of Connecticut has a three-tier continuum of certificates. To become a teacher in Connecticut a certification seeker is required to earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university, graduate from a state-approved educator preparation program, and successfully pass Connecticut certification assessments. The Initial Educator Certificate is the first level of Connecticut’s three tier continuum of certificates, followed by the Provisional Educator Certificate, and then the Professional Educator Certificate. To advance to the Provisional Educator Certificate, an applicant must fulfill all preparation and eligibility requirements for the Initial Educator Certificate, and have at least 10 school months of appropriate experience under the Initial Educator Certificate or the Interim Initial Educator Certificate. For most teaching endorsements, to advance from a Provisional to a Professional level educator certificate, one is required to obtain a master’s degree in one’s  teaching content or a closely related subject major, as well as complete 30 school months of successful teaching experience under a provisional certificate. In cases when specific course requirements are not met, the Interim Educator Certificate may also be issued at the initial or provisional level of certification.

Most World language educators teach under the endorsements for “Humanities and World Language, 7-12”, however, the state authorizes the holders of this endorsement to teach grades 4, 5, and 6 because world languages is a state-designated teacher shortage content area. For additional information about certification, please, consult the Connecticut Bureau of Certification.