STATE	CREDENTIAL REQUIRED     (if any)	LEVEL OF EDUCATION	REQUIREMENTS	TRAINING	RENEWAL	ESL Credential	ESL Requirements	Notes
Alabama	Secondary teaching certificate in a teaching field	1)  Master's degree (for Class A certificate) 2)  Bachelor's degree (for Class B certificate)	Alabama currently does not require adult education or ESOL instructors to have any mandatory coursework in ABE/GED/ASE nor ESOL. It is highly recommended that teachers with an endorsement (12-15 hrs. of college coursework) in adult education be considered in the employment criteria. If a written exam is used for hiring an ABE/ASE/ESL instructor, it is at the discretion of the employing agency.	Completion of fifth-year master's degree program	Lifetime certificate; no renewal requirements	ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE. (No adult ESL credential required.)	English language fluency required, determined through interviews and local monitoring.
Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education
401 Adams Ave.
Montgomery, AL  36104
contact: Dr. Robert Romine, Director of Adult Education Program
ph: (343) 242-2926
fax: (334) 242-0214
email: romine@acs.cc.al.us
Alaska	No credential required by the State of Alaska for ABE, GED, or ESL teachers teaching in Regional ABE Programs.	No state requirement				ELLs are taught by ABE instructors.
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 115509
Juneau, AK 99811-5509
contact: Amy Iutzi, State Director, ABE and GED
ph: (907) 465-8714
fax: (907) 465-4186
email: amy.iutzi@alaska.gov
Web: www.labor.state.ak.us
Arizona	Certification (Provisional and Standard Levels): an Adult Education Certificate may be used to teach in the areas of adult basic education, general educational development, English as a second language, or citizenship.	Bachelor's degree or 3 years' experience as adult education teacher, tutor, or teacher's aide	For Provisional ABE Certification: Bachelor's degree requirement, fingerprint clearance, and/or 3 years of experience (may waive up to 2 years' experience by postsecondary academic credit, with 30 semester hours equal to 1 year of experience). Standard ABE Certification: must complete requirements for Provisional Certificate plus 1 year verified part-time or full-time teaching under a Provisional Certificate and 10 clock hours of professional development.	Provisional: Nonrenewable 10 clock hours verified by Adult Education program administrator (include coursework, in-service training, professional conferences and workshops, internships, research, leadership in a professional organization ,and alignment with National Staff Development Council (NSDC) standards Standard: Renewable Valid 6 years. 60 clock hours. verified by Adult Education program administrator (may include coursework, in-service training, professional conferences and workshops, internships, research, leadership in a professional organization, and align with NSDC standards.	Provisional: Nonrenewable Valid 3 years Standard: Renewable Valid 6 years 60 clock hours of professional development	An ESL Certificate is not required; on the Adult Education Certificate teachers can be "ESOL/ELLA certified." An ESL endorsement for K-12 is available. Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement (45 hrs.) is required for K-12. A master's degree for ESOL students is available in Pro Literacy training and is suggested in order to get the standard certificate.	A master's degree is required for staff teaching credit classes at community colleges.	Anticipating  required ESL coursework for AE/ESL certification as well as coursework for other areas in adult education
Arizona Department of Education Teacher Certification
1535 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ  85007
Contact: Miriam Kroeger, Education Program Specialist
ph: (602) 364-2703
fax: (907) 465-4186
email: miriam.kroeger@azed.gov
Web: www.ade.az.gov/adult-ed
Arkansas	Arkansas teaching license required. Full-time adult education teachers are required to get an adult education endorsement in addition within 4 years of beginning to teach full-time.	Bachelor's degree	Full-time teachers: 60 hours of professional development each year. Part-time teachers: 30 hours of professional development each year. Adult Education requires the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching (standardized test required as part of licensure) at the 7-12 level.	Adult education endorsement and license are required for teachers within 4 years of hire. 12 to 15 graduate hours of college courses are required (more may be required depending on individual university requirements).	Must renew every 5 years.	ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE. An Arkansas teaching license is required. ESL endorsement. Teachers who need the ESL endorsement require: 12 hrs. graduate-level coursework and the Praxis II – Principles of Learning and Teaching (standardized test required as part of licensure) at the P-4, 5-9, or 7-12 level.	ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE. Bachelor's degree	Teachers holding a K-12 credential have to get an adult ed endorsement within 4 years.
Arkansas Department of Education
Professional Licensure
#4 Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201
Contact: Mr. Tosen: ph: (501) 682-4342; or George French: (501) 682-1970 email: george.french@arkansas.gov / philip.less@arkansas.gov
Web: www.arkansed.org
http://dwe.arkansas.gov
California	Credential (preliminary, clear, or  professional full-time)	Bachelor's degree (Preliminary credential requires a bachelor's degree.) Master's degree (Professional requires a subject matter credential.)	Preliminary:  Requirements for the Full-time Adult Credential For the 5-year preliminary credential: Verify 5 years of experience and/or education related to each subject to be named on the credential. One of the following requirements must be satisfied: possess a high school diploma possess a diploma based on passage of the GED test possess the foreign equivalent of a high school diploma Pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).	Preliminary: 2 semester units. Professional: Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:	Preliminary: Valid 1-2 years Professional: Valid 2-5 years	Adult Education Credential as well as a subject area focus/emphasis TESOL Certificate Available. Career Technical ESL is also available.	A bachelor's or higher degree completed at a regionally accredited college or university and completion of 20 semester units or 10 upper division semester units in one or any combination of the following: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) English Language other than English Linguistics Bilingual/bicultural studies Teaching reading Speech A Teaching Credential is also needed.	California does not have an adult ESL credential, but rather an adult education credential with an academic subject focus (e.g., ESL).
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Box 944570 (1900 Capitol Avenue)
Sacramento, CA  94270				Posses a valid preliminary full-time adult education teaching credential. Obtain verification from the Education Service District (ESD)  of the successful teaching of a minimum of one course for adults in each of four terms within the 5-year period of validity of the Preliminary Adult Education Teaching Credential (two of these terms must be with one ESD). The teaching must be in the subject(s) authorized by the preliminary adult education teaching credential. Obtain verification from a local education agency (LEA) that the applicant has completed all Level I and Level II requirements of a Commission-accredited program of personalized preparation, including the use of computers in an instructional setting. Complete a unit requirement in health education, including, but not limited to, nutrition; the physiological and sociological effects of alcohol, narcotic, and drug abuse; and the use of tobacco. This requirement must also include training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that covers infant, child, and adult CPR skills.
contact: Cliff Moss and/or Gloria Guzman
ph: (916) 327-6378 or (888) 921-2682
fax: (916) 657-3000
email: Gguzman@cde.ca.gov
Web: www.ctc.ca.gov
(916) 322-5050 ROTC and Workforce Development
Colorado	Literacy Instruction Authorization	Associate's degree	Literacy Instruction Authorization (LIA) is a credential that authorizes instructors to teach in Colorado's Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)-funded adult education programs.  It provides a system to ensure a well-qualified workforce and is a gateway into the profession of adult education. One of the requirements for this credential is the successful completion of four required courses. A fifth and optional course on family literacy is available for Even Start instructors. For those who enter the field with previous experience and training, there is a portfolio option that awards course equivalency for qualifying previous college-level courses and/or for sufficient experience and training to be able to demonstrate competency in the knowledge areas that correspond to the objectives of the required courses.	Colorado's training for both ABE and ESL teachers is a series of courses leading to the LIA. The series comprises five courses, four of which are required, and one optional family literacy course for Even Start instructors. The state's Adult Education and Family Literacy office also provides professional development for all ABE and ESL practitioners in AEFLA and Even Start funded programs through an integrated Professional Development system. This system includes a PD Self-Assesment for Adult Education Teachers, a Resource Bank of materials related to the Skill and Knowledge descriptors from the self-assessment, four regional PD resource centers, and the PD Point System, which is correlated to renewal of the LIA.	The LIA must be renewed every 5 years; renewal is contingent upon continuing education and professional development credits.	LIA	One of the four required courses is Teaching ESL to Adult Learners. Another course, Adult Basic Education and Adult Secondary Education, is required even for those who teach (or plan to teach) ESL.
Colorado Dept. of Education
Adult Education and Family Literacy
201 E. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO  80203
contact:  Debra Fawcett
ph: (303) 866-6914
fax: (303) 866-6947 email:  fawcett_d@cde.state.co.us
Contact person for the process of Literacy Instruction Authorization: Pamela M. Smith, State Director of Adult Education and Family Literacy Web: www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/LIAIndex.htm (CDE link)
Connecticut	Certificate (Initial, Provisional, and Professional levels)	Bachelor's degree	Initial:  Holds or is eligible endorsement for secondary academic Provisional: Successful completion of assessment training, or 3 years of ABE teaching Professional: 3 years of ABE teaching	Initial:  Completed course of study in special education Professional: 30 semester hours beyond bachelor's degree	Provisional: Provisional level for 8 years; if not. the certificate lapses. Professional: Receive a master's; renewal every 5 years.	ESL Certification required	Bachelor's degree (same as ABE) Professional: 30 semester hours beyond bachelor's degree
Connecticut Department of Education
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
contact: Maureen Wagner
ph: (860) 807-2102
fax: (860) 807-2062
email: maureen.wagner@ct.gov
Web: www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/Cert/facts/fact101_01.pdf
Delaware	Certificate 1)  Adult Administrator General Adult Education 2)  Adult Education Secondary	Bachelor's degree in adult, elementary, or secondary education	Adult education administrator must hold a masters degree and complete a minimum of 3 years' experience in an adult education setting  and be employed in  adult education as administrator, coordinator, or teacher. 18 semester hours or its equivalent within a master's degree	6 semester hours of college-level work or completion of six approved courses/clusters in adult education, or 3 approved adult education credits and 2 years of documented satisfactory internship/employment as a teacher, counselor, or administrator in adult education		ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE.	ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE. Bachelor's degree
Department of Public Instruction P.O. Box 1402, J.G. Townsend Building Dover DE 19903
Maureen Wheelan
email: ftracy-mumf@state.de.us
Web: www.doe.state.de.us/
District of Columbia	Certificate 1)  Adult Education Academic Subjects 2)  Adult Basic Education	Bachelor's degree	1)  Must hold a preK-12 certificate 2)  Successful completion of appropriate tests	Adult Education Academic Subjects: 1)  18 designated semester hours 2)  30 semester hours (10 clases approx) in a subject area 3)  Student teaching or 1 year of satisfactory experience of teaching adults	To renew license, must have 6 hours of professional development	License in ESL K-12 with an Endorsement in adult ESL	ESL teachers have to hold a valid teaching certificate in English as a Second Language. Adult ESL teachers need professional development in ESL and pedagogical material.
University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Ave. NW 20008
ph: (202) 274-6649
fax: (202) 274-6649
GED Number: 202-274-7174
Credentialing office
ph: (202) 442-5377
fax: (202) 274-7173
GED Testing Center:
Web: www.dcged.org
Florida	Certification in any field--no specific credentials are currently required for either ABE or adult ESOL	Bachelor's degree or higher	No state additional requirements	No training requirements		ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE/	ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE (all adult programs require a bachelor's degree).
Florida Department of Education
Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL  32399-0400
contact: Marsha Maxwell,
ph: (850) 245-0995
fax: (850) 487-1735
Marsha's email: marcia.maxwell@fldoe.org and also email: cordiln@mail.doe.state.fl.us Web: www.firn.edu/doe
Georgia	No credential is required.	Bachelor's degree	BA/BS (preferably in education, but not mandatory)	No training requirements		ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE.	ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE.
Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Ed.		(preferably in education,
Office of Adult Literacy		but not mandatory)
1800 Century Place, NE, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA  30345-4304
contact: Carla R. De Bose, Director of Instructional Services
ph: (404) 679-1635
fax: (404) 679-1635
email:  cdebose@dtae.org
Web: www.dtae.org
Hawai'i		Up to individual program site (graduated pay scale depending upon level of education and degree held; BA may be preferred, but sometimes waived depending on experience)	Up to individual program site	Up to individual program site		Same as ABE
Community Education and Accreditation
Hawai'i Department of Education
475 22nd Avenue, Room 124
Honolulu, HI 96816
contact: Annette Young-Ogata, Educational Specialist
ph: (808) 735-8371
fax: (808) 735-8375
email: Annette_Young-Ogata@notes.k12.hi.us
Web: www.k12.hi.us/~personnl/license.html
Idaho	No credential is required (A basic core of training recommended to new teachers and refresher courses for experienced teachers)	Bachelor's degree	No additional requirement			Same as ABE (No credential is required; however, most adult ESL teachers have an optional master's in TESOL.)	ESL teachers must have a bachelor's degree. ESL training is required.	Idaho is moving toward a layered tier of certification that will include a certificate of completion of core ABE training that translates into college credits toward the earning of ABE certification, as well as a BA or MA inaAdult education, depending on how far a person wants to go.
The Division of Professional and Technical Education
650 West State Street
Room 324
Boise, ID 83720-0095
contact:  Cheryl Engel, State Coordinator
ph: (208) 332-6931
fax: (202) 332-4664
email:  csengel@sde.idaho.gov
Web: www.sde.idaho.gov
Illinois	No credential required	Bachelor's degree	Local programs may add more stringent requirements.	6 hours professional development per fiscal year; a new teacher orientation completed within 6 months of hire.		Same as ABE		Illinois is implementing a new information management system this fiscal year. This will allow documentation of teacher professional development hours and educational background.
Illinois Community College Board
401 East Capitol Avenue
Springfield, IL 62701-1711
contact: David Baker, Assistant Director for Adult Education, Staff Development, Training, and Marketing
ph: (217) 558-2162
fax: (217) 558-6700
email: david.a.baker@illinois.gov
Web: www.iccb.state.il.us/
Indiana	A valid Indiana teacher's license in elementary or secondary is required.	Bachelor's degree	No state additional requirements	An extension PD system is available for all Indiana adult education teachers. A New Teacher Training System (NTTS) has been designed to inform, prepare, and support new adult educators. Features of the NTTS include an introduction to Indiana’s adult education system; welcome packet and handbook; online pre-service; workshops on ABE and ESL principles and practice; mentoring by an experienced adult educator; assistance with assessment; and ongoing professional development information.		ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE. A voluntary ESL workforce training (non-credit) certificate is available through Ball State University in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Adult Education.	Same as ABE (A bachelor's degree is required.) Current ESL teachers get training/continual professional development, but it is not mandatory. Workshops for new ESL teachers are offered.
Indiana Department of Education Rm #229 State House Indianapolis IN 46204
Gerry Hafner, Assistant Director
ph: (317) 232-0522 (for Gerry & Linda)
fax: 317-233-0859
email: haffner@doe.state.in.us
Web: http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us
Iowa	No credential required	No state requirement				Same as ABE
Iowa Department of Education	ABE and ESL are taught at the 15 community colleges. Each community college has its own set of requirements.
Grimes State Office Building
400 East 14th street
Des Moines, IA 50319
contact: Helene Grossman, Equity/ESL/Family Literacy Consultant
ph: (515) 281-3640
fax: (515) 281-4122
email: helene.grossman@iowa.gov
Web: www.state.iowa.gov/educate
Kansas	Kansas Adult Education (KAEA) Credential	Associate's degree or less, bachelor's degree, and master's degree or above--credentials have levels.	Must be currently working in the field of adult education.	50 hours of PD every 2 years.  Professional development should be aligned with program improvement plan.  Local programs must have approved program improvement objectives negotiated each year (each program has specific requirements).	KAEA renewed every 2 years (Cannot renew without 50 hours of PD.)	Same as ABE (ESL teachers have to have the Kansas Adult Education Credential.) Through the Department of Education, teachers can get an ESL endorsement to their elementary or secondary education credential.  ESL teachers have ESL endorsement.	Associate's degree or less, bachelor's degree, or master's degree and above--credentials have levels. Adult ESL teachers are encouraged to have ESL Endorsement from Kansas Department of Education.
Kansas Board of Regents Office
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520
Topeka, KS  66612-1368
contact:  Diane Glass
ph: (785) 296-7159
email:  dglass@ksbor.org
Kentucky	There is no adult education credential required (2002 started discussing a credential).	Bachelor's degree	No additional requirements			No ESL credential required	Bachelor's degree
Kentucky Adult Education
Council on Postsecondary Education
1024 Capital Center Dr. Suite 250
Frankfort, KY  40601
contact:  Dr. Joyce Bullock
ph: (502) 573-5114 ext. 118
email:  joyce.bullock@ky.gov
Louisiana	There is no adult education credential required, although a K-12 credential is available. (This may be required at the local level. Adult Education certification is highly recommended by the state but not required. Incentives are provided at state and local levels for having adult ed. certified teachers on staff.)	Bachelor's degree preferred. (A bachelor's degree may be required at the local level. Requirements for paraprofessionals are also determined at the local level.)	No additional requirements	State plan mandates 15 hours annually of professional development for full-time teachers and 10 hours of professional development for part-time teachers.		An Optional ESL Certificate to the K-12 credential is available but not required by the state.	Bachelor's degree preferred. (A bachelor's degree may be required at the local level. Requirements for paraprofessionals are also determined at the local level.)
Louisiana Department of Education
Division of Adult Education and Training
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA  70804
contact: Adrienne Fontenot and Elizabeth Moore
ph: (225) 342-0444
fax: (225) 219-4439
email: elizabeth.moore@la.gov
adrienne.fontenot@la.gov
Maine	No credential is required for ABE teachers.	Bachelor's degree	No additional requirements are required by the state.			Same as ABE (no credential is required).	Requirements are the same as ABE (bachelor's degree requirement).
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME  04333
contact:  Becky Dyer
ph:  (207) 624-6755
email:  becky.dyer@state.me.us
Maryland	No credential required	Bachelor's degree; master's preferred	Training and experience in adult education; knowledge of and cultural sensitivity toward target population.	Individual Professional Development plan required annually; participation in state and local trainings; pre-service, assessment, GED foundation training for new teachers.	Assessment training update required every 2 years.	Same as ABE.	ESL teachers are required to have knowledge of and to implement the Maryland Content Standards for Adult ESL/ESOL.
Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
contact: Patricia Bennett, State director, MSDE, EL/Civics
ph: (410) 767-0168
fax: (410) 333-2099
email: pbennett@msde.state.md.us
Massachusetts	License (voluntary)	Bachelor's degree or	All applicants:		Valid 5 years; provisional is non-renewable; professional is renewable every 5 years. Requirements are under development.	Same as ABE.	Same as ABE.	Smart System currently in place to track student information as well as teacher licensure information. In the future, this system will be used to look at the effect of professional development in relation to student outcomes.
Massachusetts Department of Education		master's degree (any subject)	1) Minimum education requirement				(ESL included in the ABE Subject Matter Test)
			2) Communication & Literacy Skills Test
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023			3) ABE Subject Matter Test
contact: Mary Jayne Fay, ABE Licensure Specialist			Applicants for professional licensure, depending route to licensure:
ph: (781) 338-6048
fax: (781) 338-6759
email: licenseABE@doe.mass.edu
Web: www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_liscense.html and www.doe.mass.edu/acls/certification.html			Demonstrates proficiency in Professional Standards
			Field experience
			Prepracticum and practicum
Michigan	Michigan teaching certificate	Bachelor's degree or	Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. Additional requirements are determined by local districts. Most require an elementary education degree, but some require a secondary education degree.	5 days of professional development	Provisional cert. valid 6 years;	Same as ABE. Additional requirements are determined locally. Some areas may also require an ESL endorsement.
Office of Adult Education, Labor, and Economic Growth		master's degree		annually - offered - free to maintain	Professional cert. valid 5 years
P.O. Box 30714
Lansing, MI 48909
contact: Linda Colagross, Education Consultant Manager
ph: (517) 373-6911
fax: (517) 335-3630
email: colagrossli@michigan.gov web:
Web: www.michigan.gov/adulteducation
Minnesota	License	Bachelor's degree	1)  Successful demonstration of identified standards 2)  Successful completion of an ABE teacher preparation program			ESL teachers are credentialed in the same way as ABE.	Requirements are the same as ABE (Bachelor's Degree Requirement)
Minnesota Board of Teaching
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN  55113-4266
contact: Dianne Garcia
ph: (651) 582-8833
fax:  (651) 582-8872
email:  board.teaching@state.mn.us
Web: http://cfl.state.mn.us/teachbrd
Mississippi	Certificate of ABE orientation completion	Bachelor's degree or higher	20 hours of state-approved PD annually. This is the minimum requirement for part-time instructors. Full-time instructors receive more. 60 hours of PD opportunities are offered by the state annually. This is also supplemented locally.	20 hours of orientation to behavioral and federal regulations, documentation requirements, etc. Includes some theory on adult education. Based on a manual. Must pass a test on manual contents to receive certificate of ABE orientation completion. 1 year of mentoring by a local trainer.		Same as ABE, plus must pass an 8-hour training on BEST Plus. Annual BEST Plus refresher meetings are also offered.
State Board for Community and Junior Colleges
Education Research Center
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
contact: Danny Seal, Program Specialist
ph: (601) 432-6440
fax: (601) 432-6363
email: seal@sbcjc.cc.ms.us
Web: http://sbcjc.cc.ms.us
Missouri	There is a 4-year Initial AEL certificate (issued by the Department of Education). After 4 years with an Initial certificate, teacher may apply for the Career Continuous certification. When the teacher has completed Initial Certification, MA degree, and 10 years of teaching, teacher may apply for High Quality Career Continuous certification. This is a lifetime certificate and, upon receiving this certificate, a teacher is exempt from professional development.	Bachelor's degree or higher	Must be hired/employed by a state-funded AEL program as an AEL teacher. Prior to initial certification, candidates must apply to go through 16 hours of pre-certification and a background check. Then candidates are qualified to apply for Initial AEL certification. Next, within 4 years, staff participate in 60 hours of approved professional development, including the Beginning Teachers' Assistance Program (BTAP).  Beginning teachers are also required to participate in a 2-year mentoring program. Those holding a Career Continuous certificate are required to attend 20 hours of approved professional development per year.	AEL I:  1)  Successful completion of the AEL Beginning, Intermediate, and Experienced Teacher Workshops; 2) One in-service per year and other training as may be required AEL II: 1)  12 credit hours of AEL; 3) Successful completion of seven annual workshops and one in-service per year, and other training as required. Expand professional development opportunities. Pre-certification workshop and beginning teacher assistance program. There is a statewide PD Center.	Rather than having a renewal process,	Certification is the same as ABE teachers.	Requirements are the same as ABE (a bachelor's degree is needed).
State of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Adult Education					Missouri teachers have the option of upgrading their certificates after 4 and 10 years of teaching.
402 Dix Road P.O. Box 480 Jefferson City, MO  65102
contact:  Gene Johnson, Supervisor of AEL
ph: (573) 522-6547
fax: (573) 526-5710
Teresa Noels: (573) 751-1248
Web: http://services.dese.state.mo.us
Montana	No credential required	No level of education required; it is up to local decisions.	No requirements	No training is required by state.		Same as ABE (No ESL credential)	Same as ABE (No ESL requirements)
Montana Office of Public Instruction P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT  59620-2501
Contact: Margarete Bowles, ABE State Director
ph: (406) 444-4443
Web: www.metnet.state.mt.us
Nebraska	No ABE credential is required.	High school diploma	No requirements	24 hours of professional development every 3 years		For optional K-12 endorsement, adult ESL teachers need 15 hours of coursework.	No ESL requirements
Nebraska Department of Education
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94987
Lincoln, NE  68509
contact:  Vicki Bauer, Director
ph: (402) 471-4807
fax: (402) 471-8127
email: vicki.bauer@nde.ne.gov
Web: www.nde.state.ne.us/ADED/home.htm
Nevada	Voluntary Adult Basic Educator's Certificate of Performance	No level of education is required by the state.	Initial Certificate: Evidence of student outcomes as demonstrated by retention and CASAS test scores or receipt of GED. Must show for two classes. Good for 3 years.	For optional professional license, a master's degree is required, plus 6 hours of coursework and 3 years teaching experience; license is valid 3 years and need 30 hours of professional development.		Same as ABE	Same as ABE
Community College of Southern Nevada
2409 Las Verdes - K1A
Las Vegas, NV  89102
contact:  Ken Zutter, Program Information Specialist
ph: (775) 687-9236
fax: (775) 687-9114
email: kzutter@doe.nv.gov
Also contact:  Sharyn Yanoshak
ph: (702) 253-6280
fax: (702) 253-6280
New Hampshire	No credential is required.	State does not require a level of education. Requirements set by local programs, may vary by type of program.	No requirements			Same as ABE. ESOL Certificate is an option for Adult ESL professionals (given by the Bureau of Adult Education). This ESOL Certificate is given to recognize teacher's efforts but gives no financial reward.	Same as ABE--bachelor's degree is needed for the ESOL Certificate option.
Bureau of Adult Education
21 South Fruit Street, Suite #20 Concord, NH  03301-3860
contact: Debbie Tasker, Consultant and GED administrator. phone: (603) 271-6701; email: dtasker@ed.state.nh.us
Art Ellison: ph: (603) 271-6698; fax: (603) 271-1953 ;email:  aellison@ed.state.nh.us
Web: link: www.nhadulted.org
www.state.nh.us/labor
New Jersey	General certification required for all teachers working in the public school system (K-12), but no specification of content focus.	Bachelor's degree	Must pass an examination in physiology and hygiene, including the effects of narcotics and alcohol, have completed basic military training, or have completed college-level study in areas such as biology, health, or nutrition.	Must complete the Provisional Teacher Program (induction/mentoring for alternate route or traditionally prepared first-year teachers); or a state-approved college teacher preparation program and 1 year of full-time teaching under a valid state license.	Certification is permanent, but there is a requirement for 100 hours of professional development to be completed in a 5-year span of time to maintain the certification.	Same as ABE.
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 055, 2nd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625-0055
contact: Claudia Merkel-Keller, Assistant Director of Workforce Dev.
ph: (609) 943-5922
fax: (609) 984-4313
email: claudia.merkel-keller@dol.state.nj.us
Web: www.state.nj.us/education
New Mexico	No credential required	No level of education required		Statewide ABE professional development is offered but is not required.		Same as ABE (No ESL Credential required)	No ESL requirements
New Mexico Higher Education Department
1068 Cerillos Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87505
contact: State Director for Adult Basic Education,
Pamela Etre-Perez, PhD
ph:  (505) 476-6533
email:  pam.etre-perez@state.nm.us
Web: http://sde.state.nm.us
NMHED Web site (re: policies, procedures, grant opportunities): hed.state.nm.us.
New York	PreK-12 teaching Certificate required by Local Education Agencies (LEAs) Temporary teaching certificate in adult education (only as required by LEAs)	A bachelor's segree is required (for temporary preK-12 cert.). After 5 years of teaching, ABE staff need a masters degree (for permanent preK-12 cert.)	3 years of preparation/experience in the subject to be taught	At least 10 hours of inservice per year	Every year, teachers must renew their certificate.	Same as ABE	Same as ABE
New York State Education Department
Office of Workforce Preparation and
Continuing Education
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY  12234
contact:  Tom Orsini
ph: (518) 474-8940
fax: (518) 474-2801
email:  torsini@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.emsc.nysed.gov/workforce/home.html
usny.nysed.gov/licensing (teacher cert)
North Carolina	No credential required	Bachelor's degree	No state-level requirements	No training requirements at the state level (training is a local decision)		Same as ABE (No ESL Credential required)	Same as ABE (A Bachelor's Degree is necessary)	In the near future trying to put credential in place
Department of Community Colleges
200 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC  27603
contact: Karen Brown
ph: (919) 807-7140
fax: (919) 807-3445
email:  kbrown@nccommunitycolleges.org
Web: www.ncccs.cc.nc.us
North Dakota	No credential required					Same as ABE
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
600 East Boulevard Avenue, State Capitol Building, 9th Floor
Bismarck, ND 58505-0440
contact: David Massey, Assistant State Superintendent
ph: (701) 328-2393
fax: (701) 328-4770
email: dmassey@nd.gov
Web: www.dpi.state.nd.us/adulted
Ohio	If employed by an LEA, an instructor must hold:                      *a current Ohio teaching certificate/ license in any area (K-12 or adult education) or                                          * a temporary Adult Education Teaching Permit (this permit is for those with lapsed certificates or for those  without certificates with a minimum of a bachelors degree).                              For programs housed in community-based organizations or community colleges, instructor requirements are reviewed and negotiated during grant approval process, but most programs hire certified teachers.	Bachelor's degree or higher in any area	All staff paid by Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) funds must complete an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). The Resource Center Network (RCN), funded by the Ohio Department of Education, financially supports two activities per year for staff that work more than 7 hours per week; one activity for staff that work less than 7 hours per week. ABLE staff are encouraged to attend more than the required trainings. The state has developed teacher, administrator, and support staff competencies that will form the basis of PD tracks that may lead to a certification or endorsement in various areas (e.g., ESOL instructor). The tracks will include required and elective courses.	The RCN offers required and other core trainings in areas including but not limited to New Teacher Training, Reading, Writing, Math, Technology, Learning Disabilities, ESOL, etc.  A training calendar and online registration exist on the RCN Website.	Ohio teaching certificate/license must be renewed according to Ohio Department of Education Policy.  Adult Education Teaching Permit: Instructors apply for annual renewal through the local school district and Department of Education.	Same as ABE	Same as ABE	Local programs establish their own hiring practices within these guidelines. For instance, the program can decide that only individuals with ESL certificates will be hired to teach ESL classes or only those certified in math, reading, or writing will teach ABE/GED classes.
Ohio Department of Education
Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education
Adult Basic and Literacy Education
25 South Front Street, 6th Floor, Mail Stop 614
Columbus, OH 43215-4183
contact: Denise Pottmeyer, State Director for Adult Basic and Literacy Education
ph: (614) 466-5015
fax: (614) 728-8470
email: denise.pottmeyer@ode.state.oh.us
Web: www.ode.state.oh.us
Oklahoma	All teachers have to be Oklahoma certified, but there is no credential required for ABE teachers and ESL teachers.	Bachelor's degree	To obtain an Oklahoma Teacher's Certificate credential, teachers must pass general education and subject area competency examinations.	No state-level training prior to certification. Adult education training is provided by the state agency after the certified teacher has been hired by the local adult learning center.	Oklahoma Teacher's Certificates are renewed every 5 years.	Same as ABE (ESL teachers have to be Oklahoma certified and and pass general education and subject area competency examinations).	Same as ABE (ESL teachers need to have a bachelor's degree.)
Oklahoma Department of Education Oliver Hodge Memorial Education Building 2500 North Lincoln Blvd., Room 115 Oklahoma City, OK  73105-4599
contact:  Dr. Stephanie Curtis, Director of Lifelong Learning
ph: (405) 521-3321
fax: (405) 521-0091
Web: www.ridoe.net
http://sde.state.ok.us/pro/abe.html
Oregon	No credential required	A majority of full-time instructors hold master's degrees in relevant content areas. However, this is not always the case in rural areas. Part-time instructors often hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree.				Same as ABE
Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development	Requirements are determined by individual colleges.
255 Capitol Street NE/PSB
Salem, OR 97310-0203
contact: Mary Jane Bagwell, Adult Education Leadership Specialist
ph: (503) 378-8648, x 284
fax: (503) 378-8434
email: maryjane.bagwell@state.or.us
Web: www.oregon.gov/ccwd/abe
Pennsylvania	No credential required	No level of education required by the state; agencies require teachers to have a bachelor's degree.	No requirements	State provides professional development, but it is not a requirement.	New teachers are provided orientations.	No ESL credential required (looking into establishing "guidelines" for teachers to have certain knowledge).	Required: new ESL teachers are provided orientation.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA  17126-0333
contact: Rose Brandt
ph: (717) 772-3737
ph:  (717) 783-6788
email: rosebrandt@state.pa.us
Web: www.paadulted.org
Rhode Island	No credential is required.	No level of education is required by the state; many programs ask that teachers have a high school credential or bachelor's degree, but there is no state mandate.	No requirements mandated by the state; programs may have preferred qualifications.	Participation in new practitioner orientation within first year of hire; ongoing expectation of engagement in professional development activities. FY 08 grants included up to 50 hours of paid professional development for full-time staff.		Same as ABE	Same as ABE	Currently, a work group composed of ABE and ESL practitioners is researching models and creating a proposal to address credentialing, compensation, and qualification of staff.
Rhode Island Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education
255 Westminster Street, Shepard Building
Providence, RI  02903-3400
contact: Johan Uvin, State Adult Education Director
ph: (401) 222-8950 and 222-8948
fax: (401) 222-4256
email:  johan.uvin@RIDE.RI.GOV
South Carolina	No credential is required. A task force is working to establish a credential.	A bachelor's degree is required.	No additional requirements	Regional training through the College of Charleston	Current task force so that ESL teachers have to have a credential (not yet established)	ESL teachers must complete 45 hours of professional development. A 4-year degree is not required for ESL teachers.	At conferences and workshops, South Carolina offers "ESL Strands" best practices for teaching literary skills, etc.
South Carolina State Department of Education
Office of Community Education
South Carolina Department of Ed.
1429 Senate St. 906 Ruthledge Office Bldg.
contact: Kathy Harvin
Columbia, SC  29201
ph:  (803) 734-3160
fax:  (803) 734-2873
email: old email: Certification@scteachers.org
Web: www.scteachers.org and sc.ta.org
South Dakota	No credential is required.	No level of education is required by the state, but a bachelor's degree is preferred.	No requirements	15-hour New Teacher training for all ESL and AEL teachers within 4 months of hire date		Same as ABE (No ESL credential is required.)	15-hour New Teacher training for all ESL and AEL teachers within 4 months of hire date
Department of Labor
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD  57501-2291
contact:  Marcia Hess
ph: (605) 773-3101
fax: (605) 773-6184
email:  marcia.hess@state.sd.us
Web: www.sdjobs.org and www.state.sd.us
Tennessee	No credential required	Bachelor's degree	Preferred: Tennessee teacher certification, training, or coursework in teaching reading and/or math; 3 years' teaching experience; completion of at least three workshops in the subject(s) being taught	Requirement for first-year teachers: 6 hours of new teacher orientation on working with adult learners and a minimum of 6 hours of Division of Adult Education-sponsored professional development.		Same as ABE
Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Adult Education	Teacher certification is highly recommended but no longer a requirement.
500 James Robertson Parkway
11th Floor Davy Crockett Tower
Nashville, TN 37245
contact: Hope Lancaster, Director of Professional Development and ESOL
				All other teachers: a minimum of 6 hours of professional development each year
ph: (615) 741-7057
fax: (615) 532-4899
email: hope.lancaster@state.tn.us
Web: www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/AE
Texas	No credential is required. Optional credential started in 2004.	A bachelor's degree is required.	For optional credential, professional development required. Optional credential is based on a point system.	When teachers are certified with the optional credential, 12 hours of professional development are required. 24 hours of professional development are required for every teacher each year if teachers are not certified with the optional credential. Current in-service training requirement proposal		Same as ABE
Texas Learns
6311 Irvington Blvd.
Houston, TX 77022-5618
contact:  Joanie Rethlake, State Director
ph: (713) 696-0700
fax: (713) 696-0797
email: jrethlake@hcde-texas.org
Utah	No credential is required.	No required level of education is required by the state.	No requirements	No requirements		Same as ABE	No ESL requirements
Utah State Office of Education
250 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT  84111
contact: Marti Kelly, Coordinator of ABE
ph: (801) 538-7824
fax: (801) 538-7768
Web: www.usoe.k12.ut.us/cert
Vermont	No credential required	No state requirement (Majority have BA or MA, but there is no official requirement.)	No requirements	No requirements		Same as ABE
Department of Education
120 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501
contact: Thomas Alderman, Director of Adult Education
ph: (802) 828-3134
fax: (802) 828-3146
email: tom.alderman@state.vt.us
Web: www.education.vt.gov
Virginia	No credential is required.	Bachelor's degree (minimum)	Local program decision	Training available through the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center				Although there is no state-level requirement that adult education ESL teachers  be licensed/endorsed in adult education or ESL, the Division of Teacher Education and Licensure does have an adult education endorsement with an add-on related to ESL.  (See Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel - July 1998, Code of Virginia 8 VAC 20-21-160, 8 VAC 20-21-170, 8 VAC 20-21-180, and 8 VAC 20-21-190;  Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual - July 1998.)
	It is recommended by the Office of Adult Education and Literacy that individuals who are hired to teach adult education classes in Virginia be either licensed or working toward licensure.
Office of Adult Education and Literacy
Virginia Department of Education
James Monroe Building
101 North 14th Street
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA  23218-2120
contact:  Elizabeth Hawa, Director
ph: (804) 225-2075
email: Elizabeth.Hawa@doe.virginia.gov
Washington	No credential is required.	No level of education is required by the state.	No state requirements	No state requirement		Same as ABE (no ESL Credential is required); advanced degree is requested by employers.	Programs which are funded by the state need to provide professional development to ESL teachers.	Employers often request a master's degree from ESL teachers. Local employers, mostly community and technical colleges and community-based organizations, determine their own individual hiring requirements.
Adult Basic Education Office
WA State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
319 SE 7th Ave. P.O. Box 42495
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
contact: Brian Kates, Policy Associate
ph:  (360) 704-4324
fax:  (360) 586-0145
email:  bcaines@sbctc.ctc.edu
West Virginia	Adult License with ABE Endorsement	Bachelor's degree	Depending upon route to licensure, requirements may include:	Complete pre-service training program	1) Valid 5 years; 2) 6 semester hours of appropriate college/university coursework for issuance of a Professional Teaching Certificate or in a program of adult education; 3) 30 clock hours of ABE staff development in-service activities; 4) recommendation of a superintendent in the county of employment	Professional Teaching Certificate and ESL Endorsement	Initial Professional Teaching Certificate: Valid 3 years; 1) bachelor's degree; 2) NBPTS Certificate; 3) Praxis I & II, Principles of Learning and Teaching Praxis Test; Professional 5-Year Teaching Certificate: valid 5 years; 1) successful completion of a beginning educator internship or a valid out-of-state certificate and 5 years' teaching experience; 2) 2 years' experience; 3) recommendation of superintendent
Department of Education
Office of Professional Preparation
Building 6, Rm 252			1) Minimum education requirement
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charlestown, WV 25305-0330			2) Meets the proficiency scores on the state competency exam(s) and enrolls in an 18 semester hour WVBE-approved alternative route to certification program
contact: Coordinator
ph: (304) 558-7010
fax: (304) 558-7843
email: mfmiller@access.k12.wv.us
Web: http://wvde.state.wv.us			3) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certificate and WVBE Adopted Tests
Wisconsin	Certificate	Bachelor's degree	Provisional certificate: 20 relevant credit hours required	Professional certificate: relevant major required (including courses in educational methods, history and philosophy of the Wisconsin technical college system, curriculum development, educational psychology, educational evaluation, guidance and counseling, and educational diversity, plus 2-credit course)	Valid 2 years	Certificate	Provisional certificate: Bachelor's degree or minor in ESL, TESOL, applied linguistics, VESL, or bilingual education and 1 year of occupational experience outside the field of education
Wisconsin Technical College System Board	(provisional or 5-year certificate)
4622 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53707-7874
contact: Sharon Spangberg, Certification Consultant
ph: (608) 266-0003
fax: (608) 266-1690							Professional certificate: Required major in one of the areas listed above
email: sharon.spangberg@wtcsystem.edu
Web: www.board.tec.wi.us/cert/index.htm
Wyoming	No credential is required. (Since 2002 have been discussing a credential.)	No level of education is required by the state.	No state requirements.	No state training requirement		Same as ABE	Same as ABE
Community College Commission in Wyoming
Professional Teaching Standards Board
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Bldg. 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002
contact:  Margarete Elwood, Adult Basic Ed Director
ph:  (307) 777-7675
fax:  (307) 777-6234