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Wyoming Teacher Certification and Career Guide

In order to work in the Wyoming public education system, aspiring teachers must earn certification from the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) within the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE).

The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Wyoming 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 pathway to teaching in Wyoming.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Wyoming

This section details the teacher certification process for applicants seeking a teaching license in Wyoming through the traditional route. If you are a bachelor’s degree holder who has yet to complete a teacher preparation program, check out our guide to alternative teacher certification in Wyoming.

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

Candidates for Wyoming teacher certification must earn a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the PTSB. The bachelor’s degree major will depend on the grade level and subject to be taught. All prospective teachers will also complete an approved teacher preparation program as part of the bachelor’s degree. A list of PTSB-approved university programs leading to an institutional recommendation (IR) can be found on the PTSB website.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Wyoming 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.

All candidates for a Wyoming Educator License must complete a student teaching placement, or residency. The residency should consist of a minimum of eight consecutive weeks of student teaching in a school setting. 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. Select programs may offer longer student teaching placements or opportunities to pursue more than one placement.

3. Pass the required Wyoming teacher exams.

Wyoming State SealAll teaching candidates must either provide evidence of appropriate coursework in the US and Wyoming Constitutions or pass the PTSB exam for these subjects. Unlike most other states, Wyoming only requires the Praxis Subject Tests (administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) for certain subject areas. The following teaching endorsements require candidates to take one or more exams:

  • Candidates adding an endorsement through a Demonstration of Competency (Praxis)
  • Early childhood education (Praxis)
  • Elementary education (Praxis)
  • Middle school teachers adding an endorsement in math, English, science, or social studies (Praxis)
  • Social studies composite (Praxis)
  • Special education (Praxis)
  • World language endorsement (Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) exam administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL))

For additional information on these requirements, consult the PTSB.

4. Apply for Wyoming teacher certification.

Once the steps above have been completed, applicants can email their application for a teaching license to the PTSB. The required documents include:

  • Transcripts verifying a bachelor’s degree (mailed or emailed to PTSB)
  • Verification of completion of approved teacher preparation program including student teaching and institutional recommendation
  • Completed background check fingerprint cards (must be mailed to the PTSB office)
  • Passing scores on the required exams for the endorsement(s) sought
  • Payment of the non-refundable processing fee (PTSB will email an invoice after they receive your application)

Visit the PTSB website for further details on Wyoming teacher certification.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Wyoming Teacher Certification Renewal

Educators in Wyoming must renew their licenses every five years. To renew a standard teaching license in Wyoming, educators must complete five professional development or renewal credits. These credits can be completed through PTSB-approved workshops or credits earned while pursuing National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The PDF application must be emailed to the PTSB, and they will email an invoice once your application has been received.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your license, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your license, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. They can only be added in two ways:

  • By completing an approved educator preparation program and receiving institutional recommendation (IR) for licensure
  • Through a Demonstration of Competency, which allows teachers to use previous coursework towards a new endorsement

Any current Wyoming teacher may apply to add a coaching endorsement to their license.

Wyoming Teaching License Reciprocity

Wyoming offers out-of-state reciprocity, so long as the requirements of the out-of-state license are equal to Wyoming’s teaching license requirements. Equal requirements include completion of an accredited teacher education program, completion of supervised student teaching, and passing of required state tests. Should the out-of-state license meet these requirements, educators must complete and submit the following documents:

  • Institutional recommendation (IR) from the school housing the teacher preparation program
  • Official transcripts
  • Test scores (if applicable)
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the US and Wyoming Constitutions (either by transcript or PTSB test)
  • Background check with fingerprinting
  • Wyoming PTSB license application and fees

Once this paperwork is submitted and the fees are paid, educators will receive their Wyoming educator license and be fully authorized to teach in Wyoming. You can learn more about transferring a teaching certificate or license between states on our guide to certification reciprocity.

In addition to standard educator licenses, Wyoming offers a variety of endorsements (certificates) in support and administrative areas through the PTSB. These include:

  • School Counselor Endorsement: To be a K-12 school counselor, applicants must hold a master’s degree in school counseling with an IR.
  • School Librarian Endorsement: School librarians must have a bachelor’s degree in school library science K-12.
  • School Principal Endorsement: Prospective school principals must receive a school administrator endorsement, hold a Wyoming teaching license, and complete an educational leadership program with an IR.

Additional endorsements such as school psychologist, school social worker, and speech pathologist are available in Wyoming. In most cases, advanced endorsements require a master’s degree with IR and passing the corresponding exam. A valid Wyoming teaching license is also commonly required. More information about additional school personnel endorsements can be found on the PTSB website.

Wyoming Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

10.4%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in WY through 20322*

During the 2017-2018 school year, there were 369 K-12 public schools in Wyoming, with an estimated 94,258 students.3 With approximately 7,335 teachers, this gave Wyoming a student-to-teacher ratio of nearly 13:1.3

Overall, job growth prospects for educators in Wyoming are anticipated to exceed the national average. Job growth for Wyoming elementary teachers is projected at 10.3% compared to 0.7% nationally; for Wyoming middle school teachers, 9.6% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for Wyoming secondary school teachers, 10.6% compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Wyoming teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in WY4Average Annual Openings in WY2WY Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in WY425th Percentile Wages in WY575th Percentile Wages in WY5
Preschool Teachers9301107.4%$31,540$22,290$38,460
Preschool Teachers, Special Education110100%$51,790$38,180$65,530
Kindergarten Teachers4705011.1%$59,860$50,860$62,380
Elementary School Teachers2,71021010.3%$60,580$51,530$62,410
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education550409.4%$61,780$55,570$66,350
Middle School Teachers1,070809.6%$62,190$52,270$71,640
Middle School Teachers, Special Education280——$63,620$58,360$72,060
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education60209.1%$63,760$58,840$74,260
Secondary School Teachers1,85014010.6%$63,730$59,400$74,530
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education360——$63,550$59,110$72,790
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education230209.1%$64,280$59,030$73,620

*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 Wyoming

Like most states in the US, Wyoming has shortages in several teaching areas. According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, Wyoming has the following shortages:

Recent research indicates that there were over 1,000 unfilled teaching positions in Wyoming during the 2022-2023 academic year.7 Nearly 200 teachers in Wyoming were considered underqualified for their position, 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: How do I become a high school teacher in Wyoming?

Answer: You must earn an educator license through Wyoming to become a Wyoming high school teacher. To qualify for the license, you must first have a bachelor’s degree in the subject you will be teaching. You must also complete a teacher preparation program with a student teaching component in a high school setting and pass a background check.

Question: How much do teachers in Wyoming make?

Answer: Teachers in Wyoming from elementary through high school earn average salaries of over $60,000 per year.4

Question: How many private schools and private school teachers are working in Wyoming?

Answer: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that there are 40 private schools in Wyoming as of the 2019 to 2020 school year.8 Those schools employ 301 full-time teachers and serve 2,120 students.8 Wyoming requires teachers in non-religious private elementary and secondary schools to have a certificate with the necessary endorsements. Religious schools are not required to employ certified teachers. Check with private schools you are interested in to confirm teacher requirements.

References:
1. Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board: https://wyomingptsb.com/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, Wyoming Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Wyoming: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wy.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 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