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Oregon Teacher Certification and Career Guide

The Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) oversees the K-12 public teacher certification process in the state, which is outlined in detail below. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Oregon 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.
  5. Upgrade your license, if desired.

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

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Oregon

This section covers the traditional steps to teacher certification in Oregon. The state of Oregon offers two main licenses for teachers:

  • Preliminary Teaching License (3-year): For new teachers who have completed an approved teacher preparation program.
  • Professional Teaching License (5-year): For experienced teachers who have demonstrated an advanced level of knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

Those who earned a bachelor’s degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program may be eligible for certification through an alternative route to teaching in Oregon.

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

Candidates pursuing teaching certification in Oregon must complete a bachelor’s degree and a state-approved educator preparation program (EPP) from an accredited school. The TSPC maintains a list of approved teacher education programs on its website. The bachelor’s program you pursue will depend on the grade level and subject you wish to teach.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Oregon 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 EPP, you will also complete a 600-hour 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 Oregon teacher exams.

Oregon State SealThe next step for prospective teachers is to take the exams required for their subject or endorsement area. Some endorsement areas, such as art, biology, and elementary education, require students to take the Oregon Educator Licensure Assessment (ORELA), and others, such as reading intervention, speech, and Latin, require students to take the Praxis Subject Test, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Review the TSPC website and test guide for further details.

4. Apply for Oregon teacher certification.

Once the above steps towards Oregon teacher certification are completed, applicants must send all required information to the TSPC. Required supporting documentation for an application for an Oregon teaching license includes:

  • Verification of background clearance
  • Official transcripts from all schools attended
  • Program completion report (PCR) from your EPP
  • Payment of certification processing fee
  • Verification of passing scores on the required examinations
  • Application character questions
  • Public records request form

Candidates should apply through the TSPC eLicense portal. Visit the TSPC website for further details on teacher certification in Oregon.

5. Upgrade your license, if desired.

To upgrade from a Preliminary to a Professional Teaching License, you will need to complete at least four full years of teaching experience under a Preliminary License that is verified on a PEER form. You must also complete an advanced program of study after the date of issuance of your Preliminary License, including an advanced professional development program with your school district, an advanced degree program, or other options. For more information, refer to the TSPC website or the Upgrading to the Professional Teaching License page.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Oregon Teacher Certification Renewal

Oregon Preliminary Licenses expire every three years and Professional Licenses expire every five years. To renew a Preliminary License, teachers must complete 75 professional development units (PDUs) before their license expires and to renew a Professional License, teachers must complete 125 PDUs before their license expires. Renewals can be completed on the TSPC eLicense portal. For license renewal on or before June 30, 2025, professional development unit (PDU) reporting has been suspended. More information can be found on the TSPC Renewal Information and Instructions 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. To add an endorsement to a Preliminary License, you must take the associated content test and a pedagogy course in the subject area with a supervised practicum. To add an endorsement to a Professional License, you must pass the required content test only. Some endorsements require the completion of a preparation program, regardless of the teacher’s license type. These include elementary education, special education, and reading intervention. You can read more about adding endorsements on the Endorsements/Specializations page.

Oregon Teaching License Reciprocity

For experienced teachers with out-of-state certifications, Oregon offers a Reciprocal Teaching License. The Reciprocal Teaching License is issued for one year and designed for out-of-state teachers to transition into the Oregon licensure system while they work on any missing requirements. Teachers must meet the requirements of the Oregon Preliminary Teaching License at the end of the reciprocal term. Out-of-state teachers who already meet the Oregon Preliminary or Professional Teaching License requirements can apply directly for one of those. Applicants must submit:

  • Fingerprints/background clearance
  • Copy of your current unrestricted license
  • Official transcripts
  • Official exam score reports
  • Written request to review your experience and coursework, if applicable
  • PEER forms from previous employers, if applicable
  • Non-refundable application fee

For more detailed information on reciprocity or information on the Oregon teacher certification renewal process, please contact the TSPC.

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

  • Professional Administrator License: For principals or vice principals requiring three years of full-time experience as a licensed school administrator, a master’s degree, and an approved preparation program for professional administrators.
  • School Counselor License: Requires a master’s degree in counseling, education, or related behavioral science and completion of a school counselor preparation program.
  • School Psychologist License: Requires a master’s degree in behavioral science and completion of a school psychologist preparation program.

A personnel services license is available for school social workers with similar requirements. For more information, visit the TSPC website.

Oregon Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

2.8%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in OR through 20322*

According to the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the state of Oregon has a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1.3 During the 2017-2018 school year, there were 1,249 public K-12 schools in Oregon, which enrolled a student population of 608,014 with about 29,909 teachers.3

Job prospects for teachers through 2032 are stronger in Oregon than the expected national averages, with job growth for Oregon elementary teachers projected at 2.5% compared to 0.7% nationally; for Oregon middle school teachers, 2.7% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for Oregon secondary school teachers, 2.9% compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Oregon teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in OR4Average Annual Openings in OR2OR Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in OR425th Percentile Wages in OR575th Percentile Wages in OR5
Preschool Teachers6,64077023.1%$42,010$34,630$47,070
Preschool Teachers, Special Education—308.3%$55,810$50,720$61,980
Kindergarten Teachers1,3901103%$84,150$64,250$105,400
Elementary School Teachers14,8309902.5%$82,260$61,380$101,840
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education1,7301002%$90,600$68,770$106,890
Middle School Teachers6,2303902.7%$81,360$63,440$95,780
Middle School Teachers, Special Education420——$83,750$73,500$92,620
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education—00%———
Secondary School Teachers11,4105002.9%$86,280$63,970$104,220
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education900——$84,740$62,160$105,350
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education190100%$76,530$59,240$89,140

*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 Oregon

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

In addition to these shortages, 1,414 teachers in Oregon were considered underqualified for their assignment during the 2021-2022 school year, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

  • Oregon Education Association (OEA): Membership union organization for licensed teachers and specialists, classified education support professionals (ESPs), college faculty, retired educators, and students.
  • TSOC Licensing: Licensure homepage with detailed information on requirements, an eLicensing tutorial, FAQs, and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Answer: To become a high school teacher in Oregon, you must get a teaching certificate through the state with endorsements for the subject area(s) and grade level(s) you wish to teach. The basic requirements for certification are completion of a baccalaureate program and a teacher preparation program. These must include student teaching experience.

Question: How do I become a preschool teacher in Oregon?

Answer: To become a public preschool teacher in Oregon, you will likely need a degree in early childhood education that is part of a teacher preparation program. Then you will need to pass the state exams required before applying for certification and becoming a preschool teacher.

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

Answer: According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 375 private schools in Oregon, with 4,415 full-time teachers and 45,487 students.8 Oregon law does not require private school teachers to be certified, though some schools may prefer to hire teachers with state credentials. Check with private schools in your area to confirm requirements.

References:
1. Oregon State Teacher Standards and Practices Commission: https://www.oregon.gov/tspc/Pages/index.aspx
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, Oregon: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_or.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