Certification Requirements and Applications
This page contains certification requirements and applications for anyone seeking an Initial certificate through RI approved programs, reciprocity, or credential review. For information on Preliminary certificates, see Paths to Certification.
**UPDATED** On February 9, 2021, the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education granted approval to the Commissioner to make temporary changes to some of the requirements of educator certification regulations due to extenuating circumstances related to the pandemic. Some examples of extenuating circumstances are the educator’s health or the health of a family member. These circumstances will be handled on a case-by-case basis and will require formal documentation. Please reach out to eqac@ride.ri.gov if you have experienced an extenuating circumstance that may qualify you for a temporary flexibility.
APPLY ONLINE!! You may apply for any of the following certificates only on Portal(NEW)!!
Early Childhood Grades | Elementary Grades | Middle Grades | Secondary Grades | All Grades | Administrators | Support Professionals | Endorsements
| Grade Span |
Certification Areas |
Resources |
Early Childhood
(Grades PK-2) |
- Early Childhood
- Special Education
- Bilingual Dual Language
- English to Speakers of Other Languages (Effective Sep 2020, this is now offered as an All Grades English to Speakers of Other Languages. See All Grades section below)
|
|
Elementary
(Grades 1-6) |
- Elementary
- Special Education
- Bilingual Dual Language
- English to Speakers of Other Languages (Effective Sep 2020, this is now offered as an All Grades English to Speakers of Other Languages. See All Grades section below)
|
|
Middle Grades
(Grades 5-8) |
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Special Education
- Bilingual Dual Language
- English to Speakers of Other Languages (Effective Sep 2020, this is now offered as an All Grades English to Speakers of Other Languages. See All Grades section below)
|
|
Secondary Grades
(Grades 7-12) |
- Agriculture
- Biology
- Business Education
- Career and Technical Education
- Chemistry
- English
- General Science
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Special Education
- Bilingual Dual Language
- English to Speakers of Other Languages (Effective Sep 2020, this is now offered as an All Grades English to Speakers of Other Languages. See All Grades section below)
|
|
All Grades
(Grades PK-12)
|
- Art
- Dance
- Family and Consumer Science
- Health
- Library Media Studies
- Music
- Physical Education
- School Nurse Teacher
- Technology Education
- Theater
- World Languages
- Special Education-Deaf and Hard of Hearing-American Sign Language
- Special Education-Deaf and Hard of Hearing-Oral/Aural Communication
- Special Education-Visually Impaired
- Special Education-Severe Intellectual Disability
- Special Education
- Bilingual Dual Language
- English to Speakers of Other Languages
|
|
| Administrator Certificates |
- Building Level Administrator
- District Level Administrator - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
- District Level Administrator - Special Education
- School Business Administrator
- Superintendent of Schools
|
|
| Support Professional Certificates
|
- School Counselor
- School Psychologist
- School Social Worker
- Speech and Language Pathologist
- Reading Specialist/Consultant
- Mathematics Specialist/Consultant
- English to Speakers of Other Languages Specialist/Consultant
- Instructional Leader
- Registered School Nurse
|
|
| Endorsements
|
- Literacy/Dyslexia
- Multilingual Learners
- Computer Science
|
|
Charter School Certification Guidance