Missouri teaching jobs

How to find teaching jobs in Missouri

Missouri teaching jobs typically require a Bachelor’s degree along with a teaching license in your subject of specialization. Missouri teaching jobs are expected to grow at rate of 4.8% by 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics , creating a strong job market for teachers in Missouri as well as for out-of-state teachers looking to relocate.

Options for teaching in Missouri

With over 900,000 pre-K-12 students enrolled in Missouri’s nearly 2,500 public schools, there are many Missouri teaching jobs available at the kindergarten, elementary, middle or high school level.

How to earn your Missouri teaching license

Educators looking to teach in Missouri will first need to pass the Missouri state’s educator testing requirements, overseen by the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Missouri uses a tiered licensing system and issues two different types of Missouri teaching licenses.

New teachers in Missouri can apply for the Initial Professional Certificate (IPC), valid for four years. Teachers must then complete four years of teaching experience which includes 30 contact hours of professional development. After four years, Missouri teachers move to the Career Continuous Professional Certificate (CCPC), which is a lifetime teaching credential in the state of Missouri.

Missouri teaching education requirements

To be eligible to teach in Missouri, candidates will need to have a Bachelor’s degree in the field of education or in a core subject area along with completion of an approved teacher preparation program.

Alternative teacher certification in Missouri

Aspiring Missouri teachers who hold a Bachelor’s degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Missouri via the following three routes:

• Alternative (or Innovative) Route
• Temporary Authorization Route
• American Board of Certification for Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Route

Certificate reciprocity in Missouri

The process of transferring teaching certification from one state to a different state is called certification reciprocity. If you are an American licensed teacher looking to teach in Missouri, be aware that you will first need to transfer your teaching credentials.

Missouri is one of 44 US states currently participating in The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC)Interstate Agreement for Educator Licensure. Out-of-state teachers must have a valid teaching certificate issued by another state and previous teaching experience. The Missouri teaching certificate issued will depend on the teacher’s experience.

Required tests for teachers in Missouri

Educators looking to teach in Missouri will need to pass the state’s designated standardized tests for educators, the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments (MEGA) and the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA). Teachers in Missouri will also need to complete the complete a Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment during their teaching practicum.

Other requirements to teach in Missouri

In order to be certified to teach in Missouri, you are required to undertake a state and federal background check and fingerprinting through the State Highway Patrol’s Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS).

Salary and benefits for teachers in Missouri

Salaries for teachers in Missouri vary by school district. A teacher in Missouri with three years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree can expect to earn a starting salary of $40,470. Missouri teachers are also eligible to receive health and retirement benefits. On average, teachers in Missouri get around 15 weeks of vacation.

Missouri teacher shortage areas (by subject)

Missouri is experiencing a shortage of teachers for the 2017 school year in the following subject areas: special education, foreign languages and STEM.

Professional development for teachers in Missouri

To keep their Missouri teaching certificate valid, Missouri teachers are required to complete professional development hours on an ongoing basis.

Top districts for teaching jobs in Missouri

Some of the top districts to teach in Missouri include the following:

School District of Clayton

Ladue School District

Kirkwood School District

Rockwood School District

Parkway Schools

Pattonville School District

Webster Groves School District

Lindbergh Schools School District

Park Hill School District

Lee's Summit School District

Teaching in Missouri at a Glance