How to Become a High School Teacher in New Jersey

High school teachers play a crucial role in their students’ lives, encouraging them to follow their dreams while giving them tools to succeed in whatever path they choose.

Teaching high schoolers can be a deeply rewarding career — and a much-needed one in New Jersey, where the U.S. Dept. of Labor projects a 5% increase in jobs for secondary school teachers by 2032, compared to 2022. That’s an average of 2,410 open jobs every year.

Read on to learn more about teaching in New Jersey and how you could earn your certification and become a high school teacher in the Garden State.

Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Teacher in New Jersey

High school teachers typically specialize in a particular subject (biology, calculus, English, or another area of expertise). Depending on your specialization, you’ll need to pass the related certification exams to demonstrate your subject-matter competency.

For the most part, though, aside from specific certification exams, high school teachers in New Jersey follow the same steps to certification as teachers at the elementary or middle school level. You can learn more about the process in our How to Become a Teacher in New Jersey guide, which explains New Jersey’s different certificate types, testing requirements, and the various routes available to become a teacher in the state.

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

Aspiring high school teachers in New Jersey need to complete their bachelor’s degree, which typically takes about 4 years. They also need to complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), pass the required certification exams, and complete fingerprint and background checks.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, even if it’s not in education, you don’t have to start over. You can earn your New Jersey teaching certification through an alternative or graduate-level EPP. Moreland University’s online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program, for example, can be completed in just 9 months.

An important note: TEACH-NOW is an out-of-state EPP in New Jersey, so you would need to earn your teaching license in another state and use New Jersey’s reciprocity process to transfer the credential. Educators using this process may need to meet further requirements, such as passing additional exams and/or providing proof of prior teaching experience.

For more details, visit the New Jersey Department of Education’s page on reciprocity.

Steps to Becoming a High School Teacher in New Jersey

Reciprocity

There are multiple pathways to earning a teaching certificate in New Jersey, as the state welcomes career changers and aspiring high school educators with various backgrounds.

One of your options is to complete an out-of-state EPP. Through this route, you would earn your certification in another state or the District of Columbia and use New Jersey’s reciprocity process to transfer the credential. Here’s how that path could look, using D.C. as an example:

1. Earn your bachelor’s degree. If you already have a degree (any subject — it doesn’t have to be in education), you can move on to step 2. 
2. Complete an EPP. Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW program can be completed in as little as 9 months. 
3. Pass the required certification exams for D.C. These will vary based on the subject you wish to teach. For example, if you want to teach English to high schoolers, you could 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. teacher credential.  
5. Use reciprocity to apply for your New Jersey certification. The state outlines the process on its website. 
6. Complete any additional requirements. This could include taking additional exams and/or providing proof of two years of teaching experience (within a three-year period). 

This is just one example of how to become a high school teacher in New Jersey. For more detailed information, visit the New Jersey Department of Education’s page on reciprocity.

In-State Certification Process

If you choose an in-state EPP in New Jersey, you’ll follow similar steps:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree. 
2. Complete an EPP. The New Jersey Department of Education has a list of approved programs. 
3. Pass the required exams. For example, if you want to teach French, there’s a World Language: French exam. 
4. Complete a background check.  
5. Submit your New Jersey application through the state’s certification portal. 

Again, this is just one example of a route to becoming a high school teacher in New Jersey. For more information, visit the state website.

Why Reciprocity Might Make Sense for You

Choosing your pathway to certification in New Jersey depends on your personal preferences and goals. What’s most important to you? Flexibility? Online instruction? Getting into the classroom as soon as possible?

Some aspiring teachers find the in-state route is best. Others might want more choice in their EPP than the in-state list provides.

Since it’s 100% online and accelerated (just 9 months), Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW program tends to be a strong contender for career changers, working adults, and others trying to speed up their path to certification.

If you need help deciding, download The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Right-Fit Educator Preparation Program. You’ll learn 10 factors to help you evaluate teacher preparation programs and find the right one for you.

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

Yes! New Jersey offers multiple pathways to certification to support teachers with different backgrounds and at different career stages. By bringing your expertise outside of education into the classroom, you can inspire high school students to think outside the box and pursue their own real-world experiences.

If you want to learn more, check out our New Jersey teacher certification page. You’ll find more details on the certification process along with tips for making a smooth transition into teaching.

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Take the next step in your career with Moreland University. Earn your teaching certification in as little as 9 months or your cert plus an M.Ed. in as little as 12 months. Our programs are accredited and 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates.

Apply for free (the application only takes about 15 minutes), and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.