Out-of-State Applicants / Applying for Educator Certification / Certification / Certification & Professional Standards / Idaho Department of Education

This application is for individuals who are from out-of-state who:

Hold a current, valid certificate based on full completion of an approved certification program recognized by the NASDTEC interstate agreement; OR
Have completed an educator preparation program approved by NCATE/TEAC/CAEP/AAQEP within the last two years.
Audiologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, school counselor, school nurse, school psychologist, school social worker, or speech-language pathologist: Please refer to the Pupil Service Staff Certificate page for the application process.

Important: All required documents must be included in one packet for an application to be considered complete.

Checks and money orders are to be made payable to the Idaho Department of Education
Credit cards are not accepted at this time
Payment is non-refundable
Cash in the exact amount will be accepted for walk-ins

The certificate must have a visible, valid time period
A copy of a current, valid out-of-state certificate is required if you did not complete an NCATE, TEAC, OR CAEP-approved certification program in the last 2 years. If you completed an NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP-approved certification program in the last 2 years, an Institutional Recommendation will be accepted in place of the out-of-state certificate
If your state does not issue hard copy certificates, include a copy printed from its website verifying your certification. This copy does not need to be notarized

Official transcripts must verify at least a baccalaureate degree and certification and endorsement areas
Official transcripts may be opened by the applicant as long as they are printed on the institution’s original security paper
Please include transcripts with your packet in order to expedite your application
If transcripts are not included with your packet, please note in your application whether you are sending them electronically or by mail
Transcripts will not be accepted until two weeks after the application is received as we cannot link them to your application until it is received
Official transcripts sent electronically/faxed directly from the university/college are acceptable

The university/college may send electronic transcripts directly to transcripts@sde.idaho.gov

If including Institutional Recommendation in lieu of out-of-state certificate, include documentation of any content testing required by institution.

For applicants applying for an Administrator Certificate:

Professional experience gained while holding a certificate is the only experience accepted. Experience gained while student teaching and/or substitute teaching is not accepted
Applicants for an Administrator Certificate are required to verify a minimum of four (4) years of full time certificated experience working with Pre-K-12 students while under contract in an accredited school setting

Mail completed application materials to:
Idaho Department of Education
Teacher Certification
PO Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0027

The Idaho teacher certification office cannot accept applications from educators whose out-of-state certification has expired. If your out-of-state certificate has expired and you wish to apply for Idaho certification, the best option is to do whatever is required to renew your out-of-state certificate and then apply for an Idaho Interim Certificate.

If you cannot renew your out-of-state certificate, you can obtain an Idaho Interim Certificate by passing the ABCTE tests in a teaching area. You would then need to teach successfully for two (2) years under a mentor teacher in Idaho and complete all requirements of the ABCTE process before a 5-year, renewable certification could be issued.

The only other option to is to work with the College of Education of an Idaho university or an out-of-state university with a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)- or Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)-approved certification program to obtain a full Institutional Recommendation from the College of Education of that university.

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Idaho Department of Education