Teacher Licensure

All teacher education programs at Roger Williams University are approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education. Under the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) agreement, our graduates are eligible for certification in Rhode Island and all other states with the exception of Alaska, Iowa and Minnesota. Testing requirements for each state vary.

RWU discloses that the Master of Arts in Special Education and Bachelor of Arts in Education do not satisfy all educational requirements for licensure as an elementary or secondary public-school educator. Certification and licensure requirements are set by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), and students interested in learning about RIDE requirements, including state reciprocity policies, should enquire via the RIDE website or the students’ resident state websites for the most current information on licensure requirements for educators.

Rhode Island Right to Read Act

As a state-approved educator preparation provider, the RWU secondary teacher education programs, via collaboration with BRIDGE-RI, and masters in special education teacher education program through consecutive coursework throughout their respective programs, are both approved to prepare teachers to demonstrate proficiency or awareness to teach reading with scientific reading instruction and structured literacy instruction. 

Further, the elementary teacher education program at RWU, via partnership with the AIM Institute for Learning and Research, is approved to prepare teachers to demonstrate proficiency to teach science of reading instruction and structured literacy instruction.

The plans described above have been devised at RWU to ensure that all our teacher candidates completing in May 2025 and beyond will have met the requirements for the proficiency or awareness in the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy in accordance with the Right to Read Act in the state of Rhode Island.

Requirements for Certification by State

Listed below, you will find requirements for certification as well as rules about reciprocity and the new Praxis information affecting Rhode Island teachers.

Complete RWU Education Program Requirements

  • Successful completion of a full year residency (practicum and student teaching) activities. A minimum number of clinical experiences logged (e.g., 45 hours during each pre-practicum semester (2nd and 3rd years) prior to year-long senior residency is also required.
  • Demonstration of meeting content and pedagogical competencies as prescribed by appropriate RIDE-approved national professional association and be recommended for licensure at the completion of your student teaching semester
  • Demonstration of deep understanding of applicable student and professional standards, dispositions, and proficiency in designing and implementing standards-based instruction as evidenced in all field work outcomes and Program Performance Assessments on Taskstream.

Student Teaching Permit

Prior to student teaching, you will complete a student teaching permit application from the Field Office. Once the application process is complete, you will receive instructions to complete a RIDEmap account with a certification ID and permit. This account will be used to apply for teacher certification to pursue an educator license in Rhode Island.

If you are seeking licensure in another state, you may begin your search via our listings, review the RWU Certification Handbook provided, or visit the official state education website for the most updated process.

Pass Praxis II Assessment Exams

Go to www.ets.org for test registration, date, and location

Elementary 
  • Elementary Multiple Subjects Tests (5001) which includes all subtests:
  • Reading and Language Arts Subtest (5002) with a score of 157
  • Mathematics Subtest (5003) with a score of 157
  • Social Science Subtest (5004) with a score of 155
  • Science Subtest (5006) with a score of 159
Secondary

One of the applicable content area subject test listed below:

  • Biology: Content Knowledge (5236) with a score of 154
  • Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5246) with a score of 146
  • English Language Arts Content and Analysis (5039) with a score of 168
  • General Science: Content Knowledge (5436) with a score of 141
  • Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161) with a score of 160
  • Physics: Content Knowledge (5266) with a score of 145
  • Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) with a score of 162

NOTE: Educators who hold a secondary science content certificate (Biology,
Chemistry, Physics or General Science) may apply for an additional secondary
science content certificate by providing evidence of 24 credits and meeting RI
test requirements in the science content area.

Secondary Foreign Language (only):
  • English to Speakers of Other Languages (5362) with a score of 155;
    AND applicable language test listed below:
  • Chinese (Mandarin) World Language (5665) with a score of 164
  • French World Language (5174) with a score of 162
  • German World Language (5183) with a score of 163
  • Latin (5601) with a score of 161
  • Spanish World Language (5195) with a score of 168
    OR for all other languages: Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) with a score of Advanced Low


NOTE: Effective June 1, 2025, addition of the Foundations of Reading Test (190/Pearson) with a cut score of 240 will be required for RI initial educator certification in areas that mandate proficiency in accordance with the Right to Read Act. Effective June 1, 2022, for Rhode Island licensure, pedagogy tests or Principles of Learning & Teaching (PLT) have been eliminated. It is the responsibility of the candidate and program completer to pursue and take PLT, if it is required for licensure in another state(s) that they intend to teach in.

Request Official RWU Transcripts

Verify all grades and any degrees awarded are posted on your unofficial transcript tab on RogerCentral before ordering your official transcript

Complete RI Educator Certification Application

NOTE: Once your certificate is processed, a license number may be issued to you and requested on secure sites, such as SchoolSpring

Program verification requests can be emailed to Lori Medeiros at lmedeiros@rwu.edu

Additional state certification guidance can be found on our listings.

Special Education Candidates
  • Pass Praxis test for Mild/Moderate Special Education (5355)
  • Complete all graduate program requirements
  • Apply on the RIDE website
  • Follow state guidance to acquire an individual certificate for Elementary, Middle and/or Secondary Special Education