How to Become a High School Teacher in Connecticut

High school teachers are in high demand in Connecticut, especially in history, world languages, math, and science. The U.S. Dept. of Labor is projecting nearly 7% growth in jobs for high school teachers in Connecticut by 2032, compared to 2022. That’s an average of more than 1,000 openings every year.

If your goal is to teach high school, there are multiple pathways to earning your teaching certification. Keep reading to learn more about the requirements and the steps you could take to become a high school teacher in the Constitution State.  

Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Teacher in Connecticut 

The process of becoming a high school teacher in Connecticut is similar to the process of earning a teaching certification at any other level. You’ll earn a bachelor’s degree, complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), and pass a series of certification exams. High school teachers typically focus on one subject area, so your certification exams would center around that subject.

For an overview of the steps to earning a teaching certification in Connecticut, check out our How to Become a Teacher in Connecticut guide. There are multiple pathways to certification, and this guide explains requirements and offers tips and advice for an easy transition into teaching.

What Do You Need to Be a High School Teacher in Connecticut?  

Connecticut teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree, complete an EPP, clear fingerprint and background checks, and pass a series of certification exams. Your specific exams will vary depending on what subject you want to teach. For example, there’s a chemistry certification test to teach grades 4-12, a history test for the same grades, and multiple others.

If you have a high school degree (but no bachelor’s), you’re probably about four years away from becoming a certified teacher in Connecticut. The most common pathway is to earn a bachelor’s degree in education.  

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, you don’t have to start over. And you could actually earn your teaching certification much faster through a graduate-level EPP. For example, Moreland University’s online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can be completed in as little as 9 months, including student teaching.

Note: TEACH-NOW is an out-of-state EPP in Connecticut (more on that below), so you would earn your teaching license in another state and use Connecticut’s streamlined reciprocity process to transfer the credential.

Steps to Becoming a High School Teacher in Connecticut

Reciprocity Pathway 

Connecticut offers multiple pathways to certification to support teachers in different situations and at different stages of their careers. Teachers can complete traditional 4-year bachelor’s degrees in education, graduate-level EPPs, accelerated programs, and more. 

Teachers can also choose to complete an out-of-state EPP. For those teachers, they would earn their certification in another state or the District of Columbia and use Connecticut’s reciprocity process to transfer the credential. Here’s an example of that process via D.C.:

1. Earn your bachelor’s degree. It does not necessarily have to be in education.
2. Complete an EPP, like Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW program. This can be done in as little as 9 months, including student teaching.
3. Pass the required certification exams for D.C. Again, these will vary depending on the subject you want to teach, but let’s say your goal is to be a high school English teacher. You might take the English content knowledge test along with the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test for grades 7-12.
4. Submit your fingerprints for a background check and apply for your D.C. teaching license.  
5. Apply to transfer your D.C. credential to Connecticut. Connecticut has streamlined the reciprocity process to make it easier for educators from more than 20 states and territories.
6. Complete any additional requirements. For example, if you’re missing any certification exams or coursework required in Connecticut, you would complete those at this time. 

This is just one example of a pathway to certification via an out-of-state EPP in Connecticut. For more detailed information, visit the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Bureau of Certification website.

In-State Pathway 

If you choose an in-state EPP in Connecticut, you would take similar steps to earn your certification: 

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree.
2. Complete an EPP. The Connecticut Department of Education has a list of in-state programs as well as information about the state’s Alternate Route to Certification (ARC).
3. Pass the required exams. For example, if you want to teach biology, there’s a biology content knowledge exam for teachers in grades 4-12.
4. Complete a background check.  
5. Submit your Connecticut application. 

Again, this is just one example of a potential path for a high school teacher in Connecticut. For more information, visit the state DOE website.  

Why Reciprocity Might Make Sense for You 

Every teacher is different, so before you choose your path and your EPP, it might help to sit down and make a list of what matters most to you. Are you prioritizing speed? Flexibility? Do you prefer an in-person program or online?  

For some teachers, Connecticut’s in-state EPPs work great, and there’s no reason to look elsewhere. For others, they want a broader list of options. 

Since it’s 100% online and accelerated (9 months total) Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW program tends to be a strong contender for career changers and aspiring teachers who are already working full-time and/or who need to balance their studies with family and other responsibilities. No matter what path you choose, you’ll end up with the same credential, so it’s a matter of finding the program that best aligns with your goals and needs and going from there. 

Can You Become a High School Teacher in Connecticut Without a Teaching Degree?  

Yes! Especially at the high-school level, career changers with degrees and experience in other fields bring a fresh and helpful perspective. High school students are getting ready to launch their own careers; the more they can learn from their teachers about how to navigate jobs and life after grade school, the better.

As a state, Connecticut welcomes career changers and has put programs and processes in place — like the Alternate Route to Certification and the enhanced reciprocity process — to make the path to certification easier. 

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Ready to take the next step? Earn your teaching certification in as little as 9 months with Moreland University. Our TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is fully accredited and 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates.  

Once you complete the TEACH-NOW program, you have the option to add on a master’s degree in just 3 additional months. Apply for free (the application only takes about 15 minutes), and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.