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Teacher Licensing

The teacher education program at Brigham Young University–Hawaii primarily prepares elementary and secondary preservice teachers for the public-school classroom and secondarily assists qualified emergency hires for Hawaii teacher licensure.

Teacher education caters to both US and international students. US students often choose to teach in Hawaii or transfer their license in order to teach in another state. International students are encouraged and assisted in placement, completion, and teacher registration ‘licensing’ in their home country.

Licensing: Hawaii
Information: other US States
Licensing: Hong Kong
Information: other countries (Asia & Pacific)

The Teacher Education Program is accredited as a state-approved teacher education program by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB), the authorized agent of the State of Hawaii Department of Education. Teacher licenses are regulated and issued by the HTSB.

Students may be recommended to the HTSB for licensure in the following areas:

Major Licensing Area
BYU–Hawaii Major Hawaii Teacher Standards Board
Elementary Education (BS) Elementary Education (K-6)
Art Education (BS) Art (6-12) 
Biology Education (BS) Science (6-12) 
Business Education (BS) CTE-Business (6-12 
Chemistry Education (BS) Science (6-12) 
English Education (BA) English (6-12)
Exercise and Sports Science Education (BS) Physical Education (6-12)
History Education (BA) Social Studies (6-12)
Math Education (BS) Mathematics (6-12) 
Physical Science Education (BS) Science (6-12) 
Physics Education (BS) Science (6-12) 
Social Science Education (BS) Social Studies (6-12)
TESOL Education (BA) TESOL (6-12)

The decision to recommend for a teaching license is based upon the successful completion of all BYUH Teacher Education Program requirements, including professional field experiences. Graduation from the university does not guarantee a student will be recommended for a teaching license.

Upon recommendation by the BYUH Teacher Education Program and successful completion of the HTSB requirements, the individual is issued a teaching license by the State of Hawaii, which is required in order to be employed as a public school teacher. Reciprocity agreements allow a Hawaii license to be transferred to other U.S. states.

Neither the BYUH Teacher Education Program nor the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board licenses teachers in the other U.S. States. However, reciprocity agreements allow a Hawaii license to be transferred to other U.S. states.

Each state maintains its own requirements for both initial teacher licensing as well as the transfer of a teacher license from one state to another. Please reference the list below for information on teacher licensing within individual states. Because requirements can change, it is important to check with the individual licensure state agency.

StatesDept. of EducationLicensing
AlabamaALAlabama
AlaskaAKAlaska
American SamoaASAmerican Samoa (N/A)
ArizonaAZArizona
ArkansasARArkansas
CaliforniaCACalifornia
ColoradoCOColorado
ConnecticutCTConnecticut
DelawareDEDelaware
District of ColumbiaDCDistrict of Columbia
FloridaFLFlorida
GeorgiaGAGeorgia
GuamGUGuam
HawaiiHIHawaii
IdahoIDIdaho
IllinoisILIllinois
IndianaINIndiana
IowaIAIowa
KansasKSKansas
KentuckyKYKentucky
LouisianaLALouisiana
MaineMEMaine
MarylandMDMaryland
MassachusettsMAMassachusetts
MichiganMIMichigan
MinnesotaMNMinnesota
MississippiMSMississippi
MissouriMOMissouri
MontanaMTMontana
NebraskaNENebraska
NevadaNVNevada
New HampshireNHNew Hampshire
New JerseyNJNew Jersey
New MexicoNMNew Mexico
New YorkNYNew York
North CarolinaNCNorth Carolina
North DakotaNDNorth Dakota
Northern Marianas IslandsMPNorthern Marianas Islands (N/A)
OhioOHOhio
OklahomaOKOklahoma
OregonOROregon
PennsylvaniaPAPennsylvania
Puerto RicoPRPuerto Rico (N/A)
Rhode IslandRIRhode Island
South CarolinaSCSouth Carolina
South DakotaSDSouth Dakota
TennesseeTNTennessee
TexasTXTexas
UtahUTUtah
VermontVTVermont
VirginiaVAVirginia
US Virgin IslandsVIVirgin Islands
WashingtonWAWashington
West VirginiaWVWest Virginia
WisconsinWIWisconsin
WyomingWYWyoming

Licensing for countries outside the United States is regulated by national and local government agencies. Please reference the list below for information on teacher licensing, certification and registration for countries outside the United State. Neither the Brigham Young University–Hawaii teacher education program nor the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board license teachers internationally.

CountryDepartment of Education
AustraliaAustralia DOE
ChinaMinistry of Education of the People's Republic of China
FijiFiji Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts
Hong KongHK Education Bureau
IndonesiaIndonesia DOE
JapanJapan DOE
KiribatiKiribati Ministry of Education
MalaysiaMalaysia DOE
MongoliaMongolia Ministry of Education, Culture, Sciences, and Sports
New ZealandNew Zealand DOE
PhilipinesPhilipines DOE
SamoaSamoa Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture
American SamoaAmerican Samoa Department of Education
SingaporeSingapore DOE
South KoreaSouth Korean Ministry of Education
TaiwanTaiwan DOE
ThailandThailand DOE
TongaTonga Ministry of Education and Training