Having open positions means schools are left short-staffed, and students often lack the proper guidance they need to thrive. However, if an uncertified teacher fills a role, that teacher’s students may still be left without what they need to succeed, as their teacher doesn’t have the proper training, skills or knowledge for the specific position. 

Completing an education degree program and earning a teaching certification helps individuals prepare to step into a specific type of teaching role and provide today’s students with the best opportunity to learn. The influence of certified teachers can go beyond the classroom as well, as many of these teachers become leaders in their schools and districts and positively impact the quality of the U.S. education system. 

What Is a Teaching Certification

A teaching certificate, also known as a teaching license, authorizes an individual to teach at public schools in their state. Many private schools also prefer to hire certified teachers.  

To gain teacher certification or licensure, individuals must complete certain requirements laid out by the state where they want to teach. Requirements vary by state, but the standard licensure process typically includes completing a teaching degree program, completing a student teaching experience and passing a certification exam. Some states also have alternative or emergency pathways to certification to help address teacher shortages. 

Teachers typically gain certification in a specific area, such as one the following: 

• Early childhood education 

• Elementary school education 

• Middle school education 

• Secondary school (high school) education 

• K-12 education 

• Special education 

• English-language-learners education 

• Gifted-learners education 

• Physical education 

• Literacy education 

Teachers’ certifications may also be in a specialized subject area such as language arts, social studies, math or science. 

Why Earn a Teaching Certification 

Teachers have the power to change lives, helping students overcome their challenges and prepare for their futures. Earning a teaching certification signifies that a teacher is ready to enter the classroom and become an impactful educator.  

Earning a specialized certification, such as in special education, means that teachers have the skills and knowledge to help students with specific needs. They become experts in their field of study. 

Missouri Teaching Certifications 

Missouri offers teaching certifications in a range of specific learning areas: 

• Early childhood (birth-grade 3): early childhood education 

• Elementary school (grades 1-6): elementary education, mathematics specialist 

• Middle school (grades 5-9): agriculture, business, language arts, mathematics, science, social science, speech and theater, technology and engineering 

• Secondary school (grades 9-12): agriculture, biology, business, chemistry, driver education, earth science, English, journalism, marketing, mathematics, physics, social science, speech and theater, technology and engineering 

• K-12 (grades K-12): art, dance, English language learners, family and consumer sciences, gifted education, health, instrumental music, library media specialist, physical education, special reading, vocal music, world languages 

• Special education: blind and low vision (birth-grade 12), deaf and hard of hearing (birth-grade 12), early childhood special education (birth-grade 3), mild/moderate cross-categorical disabilities (grades K-12), severe developmental disabilities (grades K-12) 

All prospective teachers start out by earning Missouri’s initial teaching certificate and have the opportunity to apply for a career certificate after four years of teaching. An initial Missouri teaching certification can be earned in any of a variety of ways, though there are some steps that all aspiring teachers must follow.  

How to Obtain Initial Teaching Certification in Missouri 

Each of the following paths allows prospective Missouri teachers to obtain what’s called the initial teaching certificate, which is a four-year license to teach.  

Traditional Route 

To take the traditional route, an aspiring teacher needs to: 

• Complete a four-year course of study related to the field of teaching. They may start at a two-year community college before completing the remaining two years in a four-year institution or do all four years in the institution.  

• Gain experience through student teaching 

• Pass the designated Praxis test for the state of Missouri in their chosen field, such as the early childhood, elementary education or special education test 

If a teacher is unable to pass the Praxis test, they may still be able to obtain their initial teaching certification with a superintendent’s recommendation. 

Temporary Authorization Route 

To take the temporary authorization route, an aspiring teacher must:  

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in a specific content area, such as math or English 

• Complete a minimum of 24 college credits through self-directed courses in their field of teaching 
• Be mentored by a school district 

• Teach for two years while under a one-year, renewable teaching certification 

In order to renew the one-year certificate, the teacher must maintain at least nine semester hours of college credit every year. Upon completion of all the requirements, the teacher then receives an initial teaching certification for the state of Missouri. 

Out-of-State Certified Route 

To take the out-of-state certified route, a teacher must: 

• Hold a valid and up-to-date certificate from a state other than Missouri 

• Verify their certification from the other state 

Depending on the number of years of teaching experience the individual has, they may be eligible for a career certificate or an initial certificate. 

American Board of Certification for Teacher Excellence Route 

To take the American Board of Certification for Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) route, a teacher must: 

• Hold a bachelor’s degree 

• Pass the ABCTE certification test related to their area of study 

• Obtain an ABCTE certification in middle- or high-school math, U.S. or world history, English, biology, chemistry, general science, or physics, or in elementary education 

Doctoral Route 

To take the doctoral route, a teacher must: 

• Hold a PhD in a specialized content area, such as math or biology 

• Pass the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): Grades 7-12 (5624) test 

Those taking the doctoral route can only earn an initial certificate. They are not eligible for a career teaching certification, but they can renew the initial certificate every four years. 

How to Obtain an Alternative Teacher Certification in Missouri 

In Missouri, individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than teaching have the option to enroll in a college of education and take courses in teaching while gaining classroom experience. The teacher starts with a two-year provisional certification, with the typical requirement that they complete about 30 semester hours of courses while at this certificate level.  

After the completion of the college program, the teacher must pass the necessary assessments to become a teacher in Missouri. The college then makes a recommendation on whether the teacher is ready to proceed. If they’re given the clearance, they’ll receive their initial teaching certification. 

How to Obtain a Career Continuous Teacher Certification in Missouri 

After earning their initial teaching certificate and gaining the required four years of teaching experience, teachers, along with the help of their school district, can apply for a career continuous certificate. Teachers must apply within 30 days of the completion of their initial certificate period. 

A career continuous certificate is a 99-year teaching license. To keep this license, teachers must: 

• Develop and keep a professional-growth plan 

• Receive positive performance evaluations 

• Complete professional development annually 

To be exempt from needing to follow a professional-growth plan, teachers can complete two of the following: 

• Earn a master’s degree 

• Teach for 10 years 

• Earn a national certification from an agency recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) 

Degree Paths for Teaching Certifications 

Just as there isn’t only one way to teach, there isn’t only one way to become a teacher. Aspiring teachers or current teachers looking to advance in their careers have many degree options to choose from. As children have different needs depending upon their stage of development, teachers need to learn different skills depending on the age group or specialty group they want to teach. 

Bachelor of Science in Education 

Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) degree programs prepare individuals for teaching roles at the elementary, middle or high school level. Some BSED programs focus on a subject area such as math, science or language arts. 

These degree programs provide classroom instruction and hands-on learning opportunities through field experiences and student teaching opportunities, enabling individuals to gain the knowledge and skills needed to become effective educators. Coursework topics range from education law and classroom management to literacy instruction and student assessments. 

Master of Arts in Teaching 

For individuals who have earned their bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching area, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program provides a pathway to becoming an influential educator at a certain grade level range or in a teaching specialization. For example, SEMO Online offers an MAT with Middle or Secondary Teaching Certification emphasis to prepare individuals for earning their middle or secondary school teaching credentials. 

Upon completion of this degree program, graduates come away with the skills needed to manage classrooms, develop effective curricula and build productive relationships with students and families, as well as with educational partners and administrators. They are equipped to teach in today’s classrooms, with an understanding of how to integrate new technology into the classroom for more efficient learning.  

Aspiring educators looking to take this route to earn their teaching certification will learn both in lecture settings and in the classroom, as they need field experience to obtain their licensure.  

SEMO Online’s MAT program paves the way for individuals to become middle school teachers or high school teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), middle school teachers have a median annual salary of $62,970 as of 2024, while for high school teachers it is $64,580.  

This degree program also can open the door to important educational leadership roles, such as a position as an instructional coordinator overseeing school curricula and teaching expectations. These professionals have a median annual salary of $74,720 as of 2024, according to the BLS. 

Master of Arts in Elementary Education 

Master’s degree programs in education typically are designed for current educators looking to advance in their careers. For example, a Master of Arts (MA) in Elementary Education program provides a way for existing teachers to take on more responsibility in elementary schools and gain additional credentials.  

SEMO Online’s MA in Elementary Education degree program enables educators to gain an additional teaching certification, such as a reading specialist or math specialist certification, and further specialize in a certain field. 

Building upon teachers’ existing classroom knowledge, this degree program focuses on the expectations for elementary school teachers in today’s world. Graduates of the program have gained in-depth knowledge about the trends and challenges shaping elementary education, and have honed the necessary skills to address children’s needs and help them thrive. 

Other master’s in education programs that help educators rise into specialized teaching, instructional planning, education technology or administrative roles include an MA in Secondary Education and an MA in Teacher Leadership. 

According to the BLS, elementary school teachers have a median annual salary of $62,310 as of 2024. Curriculum specialists have a median annual salary of about $68,400, according to Payscale’s 2025 data. 

Degree Paths for Special Education Certifications 

Special education degree programs focus on learning how to teach children with unique and particular needs. These programs are geared for teachers interested in obtaining a special education certification.  

Master of Arts in Exceptional Child Education 

An MA in Exceptional Child Education program is for teachers who want to hone the skills needed to work with children who have functional needs. This degree program teaches educators how to better understand and support students with conditions such as autism. Teachers learn how to assess children with functional needs as well as implement intervention strategies designed to help them thrive. 

This degree program can lead to teaching certifications that can help future special education teachers demonstrate their knowledge. For instance, SEMO’s program prepares teachers to earn an autism spectrum disorder certification or an early childhood special education certification. 

Earning an MA in Exceptional Child Education enables educators to become special education teachers. According to the BLS, special education teachers have a median annual salary of $64,270 as of 2024. This degree program also can be a steppingstone toward administrative roles, such as a position as a director of special programs overseeing the special education programs for a school or district. According to Payscale, the median annual salary for these professionals as of 2025 is about $120,000. 

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 

More than 5 million students in the United States are English learners, making up just over 10 percent of the public school student population, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. An MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program enables teachers to gain the skills needed to help these students learn and understand the English language.

Educators in this degree program study linguistics and language acquisition to understand how children and adults learn languages. They focus on the English language, learning the challenges specific to gaining proficiency in this language, and how learning or not learning English impacts students’ success in the U.S. Upon completion of the program, graduates come away with their own program for language instruction, ready to be implemented and adapted in a classroom setting.  

The TESOL master’s degree program is unique in that it is not specifically designed to train teachers to work with children. Degree earners may go on to use their knowledge to help adult English learners instead. They may work in colleges or universities, other types of continuing education programs or adult education programs tailored to help refugees and immigrants. According to the BLS, English as a second language (ESL) teachers have a median annual salary of $59,950 as of 2024. 

Prepare for Your Teaching Certification with SEMO 

Many schools across the U.S. are experiencing a severe shortage of teachers with the qualifications required to give students the education they need. Earning a teaching certification allows teachers to go from generalists to specialists in their fields, refining the skills they need to teach students with diverse needs. 

Through SEMO Online’s education degree programs, teachers prepare for their teaching certifications with a school that’s been preparing educators since 1873. SEMO is fully accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, so teachers can rest assured that the instruction they receive from SEMO Online will ready them for the next steps in their career.  

In these education graduate degree programs, current and aspiring educators gain the practical skills that translate to the classroom, learned through both in-class lessons and hands-on field experience. Graduates are ready to be impactful educators, mentors and leaders in their schools and districts. 

Take the next step in your teaching career with SEMO Online. 

Recommended Readings 
Benefits of Trauma-Informed Teaching 
7 Essential Teacher Skills 
How to Become a Teacher in Missouri 
 
Sources: 
Learning Policy Institute, “Addressing Teacher Shortages: Insights from Four States” 
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Becoming an Educator  
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Routes to Certification 
Missouri Secretary of State, Rules of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 
Missouri State Teachers Association, Certification Facts 
National Center for Education Statistics, English Learners in Public Schools 
O-Net OnLine, Educational Administrators, Kindergarten Through Secondary 
Payscale, Average Curriculum Specialist Salary 
Payscale, Average Director of Special Programs Salary 
Praxis, Tests Required by Missouri 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, High School Teachers 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Instructional Coordinators 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Middle School Teachers 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Special Education Teachers