New Hampshire Alternative Teacher Certification

Reciprocity

If a teacher has received his certification from another state within the past three years, he can apply for teaching certification in the state by submitting his out-of-state teaching certificate and official transcript to the New Hampshire Department of Education. Teachers who graduated from out-of-state teaching programs more than three years ago may need to prove continuing education requirements. According to the University of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Interstate Certification Compact allows for reciprocity with 35 other states and the District of Columbia.

College students who earn bachelor's degree can become teachers without completing certification programs. The New Hampshire Department of Education requires applicants to submit their official college transcripts, mail letters of intent to seek certification and teach full time for at least three months. Some specialty positions, such as that of a principal, require additional experience and references. After mailing applications to the NH Department of Education, applicants pursuing this alternative must receive approval through oral reviews with the Board of Examiners and two teachers.

If a school district lacks teachers in critical teaching subjects or administrators, the district's superintendent can hire an individual without a New Hampshire teacher's certificate or formal education. This teacher must pass a number of Praxis developed tests to demonstrate competency in the subject area. The superintendent must design an Individualized professional development plan to help the new teacher become legally certified, which can include taking college courses.

The last alternative allows teachers to obtain their professional certifications and continue their educations while they teach. To teach a middle or high school subject, aspiring teachers must have at least 30 college credit hours of education in the subject they will teach with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5. Elementary school teachers need only have a limited amount of experience in their subject area with a high school or college GPA of 2.5.