Washington University's teacher preparation programs provide the pedagogy, professional, and subject area education that qualifies a student for certification to teach in Missouri public schools. On the recommendation of the Department of Education, the Missouri State Department of Education issues a teaching certificate to an individual who successfully completes a Washington University teacher preparation program. Teacher certification in Missouri has reciprocity with many states, but a few states may require additional testing or study to qualify for certification.

Subject competency requirements for each certification area are mandated by the State of Missouri and can be found on the state Missouri Department of Education web site.

Regarding subject area education, teacher education majors must select specific courses within their subject area major to meet Missouri certification requirements. Given the variety of courses and semesters when they are offered, please consult an education advisor about these requirements as soon as possible, preferably by the end of your second year.

We offer the following certification options for students whose goal is to become classroom teachers:

A Master’s of Science degree in Deaf Education is offered in the PACS Program in the School of Medicine for students interested in pursuing special education certification to teach children with hearing impairments.

Certification Program Courses

Title II Report (pdf)

Washington University offers a number of undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate academic programs leading to professional educator certification in the state of Missouri. Each of our certification programs has met rigorous standards and is approved by the Missouri State Board of Education. States all have their own unique requirements for teacher certification, but many have reciprocity agreements to allow currently certified teachers to transfer their teaching credentials to a new state. Teachers may have to meet some additional state requirements to move their teaching certificate to another state, but for most states transferring teacher certification is fairly straightforward. Prospective students interested in practicing outside of Missouri are encouraged to email our CERTIFICATION OFFICER to determine eligibility for teacher certification in their state. Students should be aware that certification laws and requirements vary by state, even the terminology used to refer to credentialing, as some states refer to licensure and others to certification. Please see the following spreadsheet for information on whether our program meets the licensing or certification requirements with respect to states and territories other than Missouri. In addition to the information in the spreadsheet, we recommend that you visit the licensing board website of each state under consideration for professional practice. Our CERTIFICATION OFFICER will be happy to help you determine what those additional requirements might entail. Click here to view licensure information for all states and territories.