Get Your Oregon Teaching Certification
If you would like to become a teacher in Oregon, the first step is to receive a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You will also need to complete an approved teacher preparation program along with your education. At this point, you may qualify for an Initial Teaching License. However, there are additional requirements to receive an Initial I Teaching License.
In order to receive an Initial I Teaching License, you must also be able to submit proof of subject mastery, basic skills, civil rights understanding, and recent experience. You will also need to submit a form completed by your school, an application form, and any applicable fees. Finally, you will need to provide a fingerprint card to have a criminal background check run.
Once you have received your license to teach in Oregon, you will need to find a job. Portland Public Schools has made news with the high quality and innovative structure of education. Student achievement and drop-out prevention/recovery have been wildly successful in this district with well-compensated teachers. Eugene School District 4J serves most of Eugene with its innovative programs that include magnet schools at the high school level and language immersion schools at lower levels (including Spanish, French, and Japanese options). Salem-Keizer Public Schools and Gresham Barlow School District both offer the same innovative and high-quality education that Portland and Eugene do with their diverse populations situated against the backdrop of beautiful Pacific Northwest.
After having taught for three years with your Initial I Teaching License, you will need to upgrade to an Initial II Teaching License, and then to a Five-Year Teaching License. When you receive each license, you will also receive a letter that provides instructions and requirements for renewing or going on to the next level specifically for you. If you lose this letter, you can request another set of instructions from the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
