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Oklahoma Teacher Certification and Career Guide

All K-12 public school teachers must obtain Oklahoma teacher certification before working in the state. The Office of Teacher Certification of the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDOE) oversees the certification process, which is outlined in detail below to help you learn how to become a teacher in Oklahoma. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Oklahoma are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in Oklahoma.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Oklahoma

This section covers the traditional steps to teacher certification in Oklahoma. Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree but did not graduate from a teacher preparation program may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Oklahoma.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

Prospective Oklahoma teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree and complete an educator preparation program (EPP) approved by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA). The bachelor’s program you pursue should correspond to the grade level and subject you wish to teach.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Oklahoma schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your program, you will also complete a student teaching placement, sometimes called an internship. This is typically a full-time, semester-long placement during which you will have opportunities to lead a classroom while paired with an experienced teacher. To meet the requirements for state certification, the student teaching placement should be at the grade level and in the subject you wish to teach. Some programs may offer longer student teaching placements or the opportunity to pursue more than one placement.

3. Pass the required Oklahoma teacher exams.

Oklahoma State SealCandidates for Oklahoma teacher certification must take and pass two assessments: a subject-area assessment, which can be fulfilled through the Oklahoma Subject Area Tests (OSAT) or the Praxis Subject Tests from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), and a performance assessment, which can be fulfilled by the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). These tests assess higher-order thinking skills, basic knowledge in core content areas such as the sciences and liberal arts, expert subject-area knowledge, and competency in effective teaching and learning principles.

4. Apply for Oklahoma teacher certification.

Once the steps towards teacher certification in Oklahoma have been completed, teacher candidates must apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate. Supporting documentation for the application should include:

  • Background clearance from fingerprinting process
  • Official transcripts
  • Verification of approved EPP
  • Passing test scores
  • Payment of non-refundable certification processing fee

Applications should be submitted through the online Single Sign-On (SSO) System or by mail. Visit the OSDOE for further details on Oklahoma teacher certification.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Oklahoma Teacher Certification Renewal

Oklahoma teachers must renew their certificates every five years. To renew a Standard Teaching Certificate, employed teachers must have completed three years of school experience in an accredited school over the past five years, while unemployed teachers must complete 75 points in a professional development program, conference, or seminar approved by a public school district. All required documentation and the renewal application must be submitted through the Single Sign-On (SSO) System. Read more about renewal on the OSDOE Renew Your Teacher Certification page.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. In Oklahoma, candidates who hold a valid classroom teaching certificate can enhance their credentials by passing the appropriate subject area exams.

Oklahoma Teaching License Reciprocity

Teachers who hold a full teaching credential in another state can apply for certification by reciprocity in most of Oklahoma’s equivalent subject areas. To apply, you will need to submit:

  • Official transcripts
  • Proof of Teaching form and copy of teaching certificate valid during dates of experience listed, if applicable.
  • Copy of all teaching certificates
  • Non-refundable processing fee
  • Recent certification or dual fingerprinting
  • Verification of State-Approved Teacher Education Program from Non-Oklahoma College/University form
  • OEQA test comparability review request

You can apply using the online Single Sign-On (SSO) System.

In addition to standard classroom teaching certificates, Oklahoma issues credentials in a variety of support and administrative areas. These include:

  • Principal Certificate: Requires a master’s degree, completion of an approved building-level leadership skills program, a passing score on the related OSAT, and two years of teaching experience.
  • School Counselor Certificate: Requires a master’s degree in school counseling with the recommendation of the university and a passing score on the related OSAT.
  • Superintendent Certificate: Requires principal certification or a master’s degree with the completion of an approved building-level leadership skills program in education administration, a passing score on the OSAT, two years of administrative experience in an accredited Oklahoma school, and either the completion of a district-level leadership skills program in education administration.

Other administrative credentials are available. For more information, visit the OSDOE website.

Oklahoma Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

5.7%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in OK through 20322*

There were an estimated 695,092 K-12 students attending Oklahoma’s 1,800 public schools during the 2017-2018 school year.3 With 41,596 public school teachers, this gave Oklahoma a student-to-teacher ratio of about 17:1.3

Job prospects for Oklahoma teachers through 2032 are stronger than the projected national averages, with job growth for Oklahoma elementary teachers projected at 5.5% compared to 0.7% nationally; for Oklahoma middle school teachers, 5.6% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for Oklahoma high school teachers, 5.8% compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Oklahoma teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in OK4Average Annual Openings in OK2OK Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in OK425th Percentile Wages in OK575th Percentile Wages in OK5
Preschool Teachers4,5606906.5%$35,700$23,660$46,320
Preschool Teachers, Special Education7000%$45,930$38,100$52,540
Kindergarten Teachers1,5201706%$49,290$40,940$55,370
Elementary School Teachers15,7601,1305.5%$50,290$44,760$56,110
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education1,5601104.6%$52,280$43,680$61,680
Middle School Teachers6,9505005.6%$51,260$45,720$58,180
Middle School Teachers, Special Education510——$55,440$46,100$62,990
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education40——$55,380$40,790$67,620
Secondary School Teachers19,4501,3105.8%$54,810$46,670$62,150
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education1,810——$59,480$47,500$75,810
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education800503.8%$53,780$46,370$60,040

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in Oklahoma

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2022-2023, Oklahoma broadly has the following shortages:

In addition to these shortages, Oklahoma had 1,019 unfilled positions during the 2022-2023 school year.7 Furthermore, 2,669 teachers in Oklahoma were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the requirements to become a high school teacher in Oklahoma?

Answer: To become a high school teacher in Oklahoma candidates must earn a teaching certificate. This requires a bachelor’s degree and completion of a teacher preparation program. You must also have at least two secondary student teaching experiences and pass a background check as well as the state’s exams for educators.

Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in Oklahoma?

Answer: Oklahoma does not have any statewide requirements for substitute teachers, so you should check with your local school district for more information on their requirements for subs. The state does offer certification for substitute teachers; you must apply through your local school district if you are interested.

Question: How many private schools and private school teachers are there in Oklahoma?

Answer: According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 177 private schools in Oklahoma, with 3,421 full-time teachers and 32,650 students.8 Private schools that are state-accredited are required to hire teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree and meet the Oklahoma standards of certification. Check with private schools in your area to confirm requirements.

References:
1. Oklahoma State Department of Education: https://sde.ok.gov/teacher-certification/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Oklahoma: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ok.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp