Want to become a teacher in the great state of Mississippi? If so, you have come to the right place. Below you will find a short article that lists the steps to becoming a teacher in Mississippi.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Teacher Preparation Program

To teach in the U.S., educators must hold at least an undergraduate degree. The state of Mississippi also requires students to complete a state-approved teacher education program to receive certification.  Mississippi does not list courses or semester-hour requirements, but every college or university teacher education program will have requirements of its own. Contact your teacher education program or the Department of Education for more information. 

Teacher education programs generally consist of two elements—curriculum and field experiences. The curriculum includes instruction on teaching foundational skills, pedagogy (the science of teaching), and preparing students to research, create and implement learning experiences in their field of study. Field experiences often include field observations, internships, student teaching, or a combination of all three.

Step 2: Complete the Required Exams

Most U.S. states require exams to show expertise in basic skills as well as in the subject area in which you plan to teach. Mississippi requires the PPST (Pre Professional Skills Test)   for Basic Skills and the Praxis II: Subject Exams.

Step 3: Submit a Mississippi Teaching Credential Application

Once you have successfully finished all of your educational obligations, completed your student teaching requirements, and passed all of the required assessments, you may apply for teaching licensure in the state of Mississippi. This can be done online through the Educator Licensure Management System (ELMS) or by downloading and printing the paper Licensure Application Packet. Regardless of your preference, certain documents t must be mailed to the Mississippi Department of Education. Send these documents Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771.