State Meets Licensure Requirements License Title Board/Agency Contact Last Reviewed
Alabama
No

N/A

Professional Educator Certificate, English For Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (P-12) Alabama State Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Alaska No Initial Teacher Certificate, English as a Second Language, English as a Foreign Language (Varies) Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Aug 5, 2025
American Samoa N/A-No None found American Samoa Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Arizona No Standard Professional Certificate, English as a Second Language (P-12) Arizona Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Arkansas No Provisional (for up to 3 years if exams/courses not completed) or Standard License, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (K-12) Arkansas Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
California No Preliminary Credential, World Language: English Language Development (P-12) or Bilingual Authorization California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Aug 5, 2025
Colorado No Initial License, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12) Colorado Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Connecticut No Initial Educator Certificate, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (P-12) Connecticut State Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Delaware No Initial License, Teacher of English Learners or Bilingual Teacher Standard Certificate (K-12) Delaware Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
District of Columbia No Standard Teacher Credential, English as a Second Language (P-12) District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education Aug 5, 2025
Federated States of Micronesia N/A-No No subject-specific certifications found. See Notes for general certification requirements. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Teacher Certification Program Aug 5, 2025
Florida Yes Temporary Certificate (for 5 years to complete required FL exams) or Professional Certificate, Certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages--Academic Class (K-12) Florida Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Georgia No 5-Year Induction Certificate, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (P-12) Georgia Professional Standards Commission Aug 5, 2025
Guam
No

If not licensed, program must be NCATE/CAEP accredited

Initial Educator Certification, ESL Guam Commission for Educator Certification Aug 5, 2025
Hawaii No Provisional License, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (P-12) Hawaii Teachers Standards Board Aug 5, 2025
Idaho
No

If no license then program must be NCATE/TEAC/CAEP accredited

Standard Instructional Certificate or Interim Certificate (if ID coursework or exams needs to be completed), English as a Second Language (K-12) Idaho State Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Illinois
Yes

Holding license waives IL coursework requirements

Professional Educator License, English as a Second Language (P-12) or Bilingual (P-12) Illinois State Board of Education Aug 5, 2025
Indiana No Initial Practitioner License, English as a New Language (PreK-12) Indiana Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Iowa No Initial Teaching License, English as a Second Language (K-12) Iowa Board of Education Examiners Aug 5, 2025
Kansas No Initial Teacher License, English to Speakers of Other Languages (K-6, 5-8, 6-12, or PreK-12) Kansas State Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Kentucky No Provisional Certificate or Statement of Eligibility (if not employed), English as a Second Language (Primary-12) Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board Aug 5, 2025
Louisiana No Out-of-state Certificate, English as a Second Language (Add-On Certification, see Notes) Louisiana Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Maine No Professional Teacher Certificate, English for Speakers of Other Languages (PK-12) Maine Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Maryland No Initial Professional License (IPL), English as a Second Language (PreK-12) Maryland State Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Massachusetts No Initial Teaching License (if SEI and MTLE exams completed) or Provisional Teaching License (if SEI not completed), English as a Second Language (PreK-6 or 5-12) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Aug 5, 2025
Michigan No Standard Certificate, English as a Second Language (K-12) Michigan Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Minnesota Yes Teacher License, English as a Second Language (K-12) Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board Aug 5, 2025
Mississippi No Five Year Educator License, English as a Second Language (K-12) Mississippi Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Missouri No Initital Teacher Certificate, English Language Learners (K-12) Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education Aug 5, 2025
Montana No Standard Teacher License, English as a Second Language (K-12) Montana Office of Public Instruction Aug 5, 2025
Nebraska No Initial Teaching Certificate, English as a Second Language (PK-12, PK-6, or 7-12) Nebraska Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Nevada No Standard Teacher License or Non-Renewable/Provisional (if testing or coursework deficencies), English Language Acquisition and Development (ELAD) (K-12) State of Nevada Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
New Hampshire No Initial Certification, English to Speakers of Other Languages (K-12) New Hampshire Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
New Jersey No Instructional Certificate of Eligiblity, English as a Second Language (K-12) or Bilingual/Bicultural Education (K-12) State of New Jersey Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
New Mexico No Specialty, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (K-12) New Mexico Public Education Department Aug 5, 2025
New York No Conditional Initial (1 year) (if hold out-of-state license, edTPA not required) or Initial, English to Speakers of Other Languages (K-12) or Bilingual Education Extension (K-12) New York Office of Teaching Intiatives Aug 5, 2025
North Carolina No Initial Professional Educator License, English as a Second Language (K-12) North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Aug 5, 2025
North Dakota No Out-of-State Reciprocal or Other State Educator, English Language Learner (K-12) North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board Aug 5, 2025
Northern Mariana Islands No Initial Educator, Basic I Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands State Board of Education Aug 5, 2025
Ohio No Two Year Resident Educator, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (P-12) Ohio Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Oklahoma N/A-No None found Oklahoma State Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Oregon No Preliminary Teaching or Reciprocal Teaching (if OR exam requirements are not fulfilled), English to Speakers of Other Languages (PreK-12) Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission Aug 5, 2025
Pennsylvania No Instructional Certificate, Program Specialist – English as a Second Language (PreK-12) Pennsylvania Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Puerto Rico N/A-No None found Puerto Rico Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Republic of Palau N/A-No None found Republic of Palau Ministry of Education Division of Instructional Implementation and Teacher Training Aug 5, 2025
Republic of the Marshall Islands N/A-No None found Marshall Islands Public School System Aug 5, 2025
Rhode Island No Initial Certificate, English to Speakers of Other Languages (PreK-12) Rhode Island Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
South Carolina No Initial Educator Certificate, English for Speakers of Other Languages (PreK-12) South Carolina Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
South Dakota Yes Initial Certificate, Elementary English as a New Language (K-8) or Secondary English as a New Language (5-12) South Dakota Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Tennessee No Practitioner License, English as a Second Language (PreK-12) Tennessee Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Texas No Out-of-State One Year Certificate (to complete exams) or Standard Certificate (if exams satisfied), English as a Second Language or Bilingual (Early Childhood-Grade 4 or Early Childhood-Grade 6) Texas Education Agency Aug 5, 2025
U.S. Virgin Islands No Standard Certificate U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Utah No Professional License, English as a Second Language (K-12) Utah State Board of Education Aug 5, 2025
Vermont
No

Curriculum review needed unless graduate has out-of-state license

Professional Educator License, English Language Learner (PK-6, 7-12, or PK-12) State of Vermont Agency of Education Aug 5, 2025
Virginia No Initial Teacher License, English as a Second Language (PreK-Grade 12) Virginia Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Washington No Residency Teacher, English Language Learner or Bilingual Education (Preschool-Grade 12) Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Aug 5, 2025
West Virginia No Professional Teaching Certificate, English as a Second Language (PreK-Adult) West Virginia Department of Education Aug 5, 2025
Wisconsin Yes Provisional Educator License, English as a Second Language or Bilingual (K-12) Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Aug 5, 2025
Wyoming No Standard Educator License, English as a Second Language (K-6, 5-8, 6-12, or K-12) Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board Aug 5, 2025