Applying For Certification
Whether you're applying for your first certificate, a renewal, or the next level of certification, CEA can help make the process easy. Click on the appropriate links listed below for further information.
Connecticut Residents
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Cross-Endorsement for Your Certificate
If you're having difficulty finding a teaching position, or simply want to move into teaching another subject area, you can, in most cases, add an endorsement to your teaching certificate.
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Initial Educator Certificate
Upon completing your teacher preparation program and graduating from the university, you'll be ready to apply for your initial teaching certificate.
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Initial Educator Certiticate Renewal
An initial educator certificate is valid for 3 years, during which time you are expected to complete the TEAM program requirements that apply to your certification area. Most teachers do this within the first 2 years of their teaching career.
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Professional Educator Certificate
A professional educator certificate is valid for 5 years, and is earned upon completing either 30 credits beyond your bachelor's degree, or your master's degree, AND teaching under your provisional certificate for a minimum of 30 months.
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Professional Educator Renewal
A professional educator certificate is valid for 5 years, and is earned upon completing either 30 credits beyond your bachelor's degree, or your master's degree, AND teaching under your provisional certificate for a minimum of 30 months.
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Provisional Educator Certificate
A provisional educator certificate is valid for 8 years, and is earned upon completing the TEAM program requirements that apply to your certification area, AND teaching under your initial certificate for a minimum of 10 months.
Residents Outside Connecticut
Applying for CT certification is easy for most teachers from outside the state, but there are times when a teacher's background doesn't easily 'match' requirements in CT. Read the descriptions below, decide which applies to you, and click on the appropriate link for further information.
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Completed a teacher preparation program at an approved university or college, hold a valid out-of-state certificate, but have not taught for 3 or more years in another state.
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Completed a teacher preparation program at an approved university or college, and have taught for 3 or more years under a valid certificate in another state
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Not completed a teacher preparation program at an approved university or college, but hold a bachelor's degree, and have taught in the same approved, non-public school for at least 20 months.
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Not completed a teacher preparation program at an approved university/college, and never taught in an approved non-public school, or a public school, but have a bachelor's degree
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Attended a college or university outside of the United States
Additional Information
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Approved CT Educator Prep Programs
A brochure provided by the State Department of Education with information on approved educator preparation programs that Connecticut institutions offer at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
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Certification Fees
The Connecticut General Assembly increased fees pursuant to Public Act PA 09-03.
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Certification Forms at a Glance
For those who need to renew a certificate or move to the next level.
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Can You Teach Outside Your Certification Area?
Find out how you can properly teach outside your certification area; the consequences for teaching, without proper authorization, outside of your certification area; and how to handle the situation if you are asked to do so.
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Praxis Information
Praxis I Information: How Do I Begin to Prepare?
Praxis II Information: How Do I Begin to Prepare?
Free Online Practice for Praxis I
Capitol Place, Suite 500 
Phone: 860-525-5641 
