- teacher preparation program requirements:
- coursework and
- clinical experiences.
- traditional or
- alternative licensure.
Traditional Pathway
Iowa has 29 colleges and universities with traditional educator preparation programs. Most programs have options for face-to-face and online courses.
On this path you will:
- attend classes,
- content knowledge and
- teaching methods,
Alternative License Pathway
There are two alternative license programs. These are for high school teachers only.
Alternative programs are for adults with a degree in a teaching field. You take 12-18 credits of coursework in how to teach. Then you work in a high school with an intern license. This allows you to:
- be a classroom teacher of record,
- be paid as a full-time teacher, and
- have significant support from the program faculty and high school.
After the full-year internship, you take a few more credits then become a licensed teacher.
Teacher Preparation Programs
Traditional Teacher Programs
Institution Program Levels Briar Cliff University, Sioux City Elementary, Secondary Buena Vista University, Storm Lake Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary Central College, Pella Elementary, Secondary Clarke University, Dubuque Elementary, Secondary Coe College, Cedar Rapids Elementary, Secondary Cornell College, Mount Vernon Elementary, Secondary Dordt University, Sioux City Elementary, Secondary Drake University, Des Moines Elementary, Secondary Emmaus Bible College, Dubuque Elementary, Secondary Faith Baptist Bible College, Ankeny Elementary, Secondary Graceland University, Lamoni Elementary, Secondary Grand View University, Des Moines Elementary, Secondary Grinnell College, Grinnell Secondary Iowa State University, Ames Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary Loras College, Dubuque Elementary, Secondary Luther College, Decorah Elementary, Secondary Morningside College, Sioux City Elementary, Secondary Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary Northwestern College, Orange City Elementary, Secondary Saint Ambrose University, Davenport Elementary, Secondary Simpson College, Indianola Elementary, Secondary University of Dubuque, Dubuque Elementary, Secondary University of Iowa, Iowa City Elementary, Secondary University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary Upper Iowa University, Fayette Elementary, Secondary Waldorf University, Forest City Elementary, Secondary Wartburg College, Waverly Elementary, Secondary William Penn University, Oskaloosa Elementary, Secondary Alternate License Programs
Institution Program Grade Levels Morningside College, Sioux City Secondary Regents Alternative Pathway to Iowa Licensure (RAPIL), Three Regent Universities Consortium Secondary Administrator Preparation
There are two types of certified administrators:
- principals
- superintendents
Principals shape a school's success.
- support learning,
- build leaders,
- improves teaching,
- manage people and
- track data and processes.
Superintendents are the top mangers of the school district.
They decide about:
- facilities
- messaging
- programs
- spending
- staffing and
- follow the direction of the school board.
Administrator Requirements
- Master's degree for principal
- Specialist for superintendent
- Three years' experience as a classroom teacher
Administrator Preparation Programs
Institution Program Levels Buena Vista University, Storm Lake Principal Dordt University, Sioux Center Principal Drake University, Des Moines Principal, Superintendent Iowa Principal Leadership Academy, Prairie Lakes AEA Principal Iowa State University, Ames Principal, Superintendent Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids Principal Northwestern College, Orange City Principal Viterbo University, West Des Moines Principal University of Iowa, Iowa City Principal, Superintendent University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls Principal, Superintendent Paraeducator
A paraeducator works under the supervision of a teacher. They have the responsibility to design and provide education and related programs. Other titles for an educational aide include:
- paraprofessional
- educational aide
- associate aide or
- instructional aide.
Paraeducator Requirements
- A high school diploma or GED.
- A 90-hour preparation program, including clinical experiences.
- A certification in specific concentration areas.
- 45 hours of preparation in each concentration area.
Paraeducator Certification Programs
Institution Program Levels Buena Vista University, Storm Lake Generalist Central Rivers AEA Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs Des Moines Area Community College Generalist Dordt University, Sioux Center Generalist Grand View University, Des Moines Generalist Grant Wood AEA Generalist Great Prairie AEA Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs, English as a Second Language Green Hills AEA Generalist Hawkeye Community College Generalist, Early Childhood Heartland AEA Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs, Library Media Tech, English as a Second Language Indian Hills Community College Generalist Iowa Central Community College Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs Iowa Valley Community College District Generalist Iowa Western Community College Generalist, Early Childhood Keystone AEA Generalist, Early Childhood Kirkwood Community College Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs, English as a Second Language, Career and Transition, Vision Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Advanced Generalist Mississippi Bend AEA Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs, Autism Spectrum Disorders, School Library Media Mount Mercy University Generalist North Iowa Area Community College Generalist Northwest AEA Generalist, Early Childhood, Autism, School Library Media Northwest Iowa Community College Generalist Prairie Lakes AEA Generalist, Early Childhood, Special Needs University of Dubuque, Dubuque Generalist University of Iowa, Iowa City Generalist Upper Iowa University, Fayette Generalist Other Education Professionals
Other professional educators include:
- counselors,
- speech-language pathologists,
- social workers,
- psychologists and others.
These professionals may work in schools or in Area Educational Association settings.
There are two ways to be licensed for these positions. Both are provided by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE)
- A Statement of Professional Recognition from the BOEE. This is based on licensure through the Iowa Department of Public Health.
- A Professional Service License from the BOEE. This follows completion of a program through an Iowa Institution of Higher Education.
Other Professional Program Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- Master's degree for some programs.
- Complete all program requirements.
- Coursework and clinical experiences.
Other Professional Program Preparation Programs
Institution Program Levels Buena Vista University, Storm Lake Professional School Counselor Drake University, Des Moines Professional School Counselor Grand View University, Des Moines Professional School Counselor, School Social Worker Loras College, Dubuque Professional School Counselor Northwestern College, Orange City Professional School Counselor Saint Ambrose University, Davenport Speech-Language Pathologist, School Social Worker Upper Iowa University, Fayette Professional School Counselor University of Iowa, Iowa City Audiologist, Librarian, Professional School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Speech-Language Pathologist University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls Librarian, Professional School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Speech-Language Pathologist Teacher & Educational Aide Registered Apprenticeship Program
A pilot program for public school districts partnering with:
- a community college
- a four-year
- a university
This partnership provides:
- High School and Adult-to-Educational Aide Registered Apprenticeship
- This program helps high school students and working adults.
- You can begin working as an educational aide while earning credit toward an associate degree.
- You can work while earning credit toward a bachelor's degree and teaching license.
Program Details
Visit the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program webpage for more detailed information about the pilot program.
Contacts
- For Registered Apprenticeship - Iowa Workforce Development - Jennifer Gray at jennifer.gray@iwd.iowa.gov
- For Educator and Educational Aide Preparation - Maryam Rod Szabo at maryamrodszabo@iowa.gov
- For Licensure and Certification - Joanne Tubbs at joanne.tubbs@iowa.gov
Note: Include one of these subject lines of the email: Funding, Program Registration, Technical Assistance or Reporting.
