How ABCTE Works in Missouri

To use the ABCTE program to obtain a teaching certificate in Missouri, you will:

1. Complete the ABCTE program

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Requirements for using the ABCTE certificate: Candidates are required to have a minimum 2.5 GPA
http://www.dese.mo.gov/ Phone: (573) 751-0051 or (573) 751-3847

2. Spend 60 hours in a school working with children (grades K-12). Hours must be validated by the school principal. These may be fulfilled using a combination of the following:

* Teaching in a public school classroom. You must be the lead instructor for at least 45 of these hours

* Substitute teaching, with at least 30 consecutive hours in the same classroom

* Teaching in a private school

* Teaching as a paraprofessional

3. Apply to DESE for Missouri Initial Professional Certificate (IPC) of License to Teach. This is valid for 4 years.

4. Obtain a teaching position

5. Complete two years of mentoring in a program approved by the Missouri State Board of Education. Mentoring programs are offered by most school districts at no cost or are available through ABCTE for a fee. Learn more about the ABCTE Mentoring program

a. All candidates for Missouri State certification must complete a minimum of 30 hours of professional development

b. Complete a Beginning Teacher Assistance program

c. Obtain a successful performance based teacher evaluation

6. Apply for the Missouri Career Continuous Professional Certificate