Become a Teacher
Our online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification (PBTC) programs are designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and are seeking New Hampshire Teaching Certification.
The online PBTC programs offer teacher certifications with concentrations in the critical shortage area for teachers in the State of New Hampshire. We also offer additional certifications for already certified teachers. Those holding an initial teaching certification can earn additional or advanced certifications in as few as 18-29 credits.
Apply for an online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification
Our Non-Traditional, Distance-based Model
Unlike traditional teacher prep programs, many of which have a full-time student teaching component, our programs allow you to work full-time in an educational setting in a role such as a paraprofessional or teaching assistant.
Availability by State
Our programs leading to teacher certification or licensure are available to new students in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. See Availability in Your State for full details.
Teacher Info Session
Watch our on-demand teacher info session to learn more about how the UNH College of Professional Studies Online can help you grow your teaching career.
Online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certifications:
For those with a bachelor's degree seeking initial or additional certification, we offer Initial and Additional Teacher Certifications, as well as Advanced Endorsements for certified special education teachers.
General Special Education (See Availability in Your State for full details)
General Special Education and Elementary Education
Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education
General Special Education (See Availability in Your State for full details)
Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education
Reading and Writing Teacher* (See Availability in Your State for full details)
Reading and Writing Specialist* (See Availability in Your State for full details)
Digital Learning Specialist (See Availability in Your State for full details)
*Three years of classroom teaching experience required. Reading and Writing Specialist also requires a master’s degree in a literacy-related field for certification.
Additional certifications are available in any certification for which we are approved. Please contact us for further information.
Learning Disabilities (LD) (See Availability in Your State for full details)
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) (See Availability in Your State for full details)
Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities (EBD) (See Availability in Your State for full details)
Need to Complete Your Initial Online Bachelor's Degree?
View our Online Bachelor's With Teacher Certification
We offer four NH Department of Education-approved bachelor's degrees with a selection of teacher certification options.
Online Bachelor's With Teacher Certification Options
Certification options include:
Certification option:
Our Accreditation
The UNH College of Professional Studies is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Below you’ll find the current accreditation status of our teacher education programs.
BLIND AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS (Not included in the last accreditation review)
(Not included in the last accreditation review) DEAF AND HEARING DISABILITIES
DIGITAL LEARNING SPECIALIST (Not included in the last accreditation review)
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (K-6) (K-8)
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISABILITIES
GENERAL SPECIAL EDUCATION
INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
MATHEMATICS, MIDDLE LEVEL
MATHEMATICS, UPPER LEVEL
READING AND WRITING SPECIALIST
READING AND WRITING TEACHER
SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES
Program Details
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis, with the opportunity to begin studies during the Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer terms.
Learn more about our requirements to begin the admission process and gain full admission status.
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
The State of NH requires all teachers to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, unless they have scored in the 50th percentile or above in the SAT after 2005, GRE, or ACT tests (NH DOE will review scores and issue a waiver). Candidates who have not taken the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators will be expected to submit passing scores, NH DOE Waiver, or current NH DOE Teaching Certification by completion of EDC 800, Introduction to Field Experience and Program Requirements. Information, practice tests, practice guides and registration for the test is available at: www.ets.org/praxis. Additional study options are available on our resource page.
Praxis II and Pearson Foundations of Reading Assessments
In addition to passing the Praxis Core exam, for certain teacher certifications, teacher candidates may be required to pass a Praxis II exam and/or the Pearson Foundations of Reading assessment. Specific exam requirements are found on the School of Education Testing requirements page.
One of the most unique and valuable traits of our PBTC programs is the field-based component.
Candidates need to be working or volunteering* in an approved school or program during most of their tenure in the program.
Those seeking initial teacher certification work as paraeducators, classroom aides, assistants, or Alternative 4 teachers within public or private schools and programs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, or Vermont.
*Minimum volunteering requirement: 10 hours per week.
Candidates for initial certification are required to document a minimum of 360 supervised teaching hours for one certification and a minimum of 440 supervised hours for two certifications.
Experiences in inclusive classrooms working with students in the grades or age ranges of your certification are a requirement of the program. For certifications that cover a broader range of grades or age ranges, candidates must spend a minimum of 10 hours working with each population.
- Early Childhood Special Education / Early Childhood Education age ranges: 0-2, 3-4 and 5-8
- Elementary Education grade levels: K-4 and 5-8
- General Special Education grade levels: K-4, 5-8 and 9-12
In this field-based program, candidates work with three mentors throughout their plan of study:
- UNH College of Professional Studies professor
- Field Placement Faculty
- Supervising Teacher in the School/Program (chosen by the candidate, this mentor should be an experienced teacher who holds the certification being sought)
The Field Placement Faculty will observe the teacher candidate for the methods courses listed in the provided chart.
Each of these courses has an additional $250 fee to cover the on-going supervision and support of the field-based experience. Candidates will be required to teach lessons and be observed by the Field Placement Faculty.
Please check the Catalog for a full listing of PBTC Methods Courses that require a field-based mentor.
Flexible Schedules
Read more about our Online Flexibility.
Career-Focused
There are several ways to plan your course and earn a dual certification. Ask us about our credit-efficient options for earning two certifications. It typically only takes about 2-5 courses to make this goal a reality! In addition, up to 24 credits will transfer into our M.S. in Instruction and Leadership.
Eligible individuals can apply for tuition assistance through the Early Childhood Tuition Assistance (ECTA) which is funded by the NH Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration! 100% of tuition is covered for up to two classes per term.
Eligible individuals include childcare workers, preschool teachers, and elementary school paraprofessionals.
Get started by connecting with an advisor
An advisor trained in our teacher certification programs will contact you to learn more about your academic and career goals.
We’ll also share our course schedule so you can read more about the College’s programs, students, and faculty.
Availability by State
Our programs leading to teacher certification or licensure are available to new students in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Select your state to view full details.
All programs leading to teacher certification or licensure are available in New Hampshire.
*Maine teacher candidates must complete clinical work in placements located in York, Cumberland or Oxford county.
Programs leading to teacher certification or licensure are available to new students in Maine, with limitations in the following areas:
- Digital Learning Specialist
The Department of Education in Maine does not offer a certification in this area.
Sources:
Maine Department of Education, Certification Requirements by Position, https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/requirements. Accessed 12/9/19.
Programs leading to teacher certification or licensure are available to new students in Massachusetts, with limitations in the following areas:
- Specific Learning Disabilities
The Department of Education in Massachusetts does not offer a certification in this area. - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The Department of Education in Massachusetts does not offer a certification in this area. - Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities
The Department of Education in Massachusetts does not offer a certification in this area.
Sources:
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Teacher Fields and Grade Levels. Teacher Specialist Fields and Grade Levels. Accessed 12/9/19.
All programs leading to teacher certification or licensure are available in Vermont.