Teaching Jobs in New Jersey

How to find teaching jobs in New Jersey

Teaching jobs in NJ require a Bachelor's degree and a teaching license in a subject of specialization. School districts in New Jersey include mostly areas with high population density, and like neighboring New York, classrooms are often culturally mixed. Teachers with an ESL qualification are highly sought after, as well as foreign language teachers.

Options for teaching in New Jersey

With over 1.3 million pre-K-12 students enrolled in New Jersey's over 2,500 public schools, there’s no shortage of NJ teaching jobs at the kindergarten, elementary, middle or high school level.

How to earn your New Jersey teaching license

The New Jersey Department of Education has a three-step licensing process for new teachers. First, aspiring teachers in New Jersey will need to establish credibility and be issued the following two certificates:

• Certificate of Eligibility (CE)
• Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS)

Second, NJ teachers must legalize your employment status and be issued a Provisional Certificate, valid for a period of two years. Third, teachers in New Jersey will need to apply for a Permanent, or Standard certificate, a teaching credential with lifetime validity

New Jersey teaching education requirements

Teachers in New Jersey must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have completed an accredited teacher preparation program, with an overall GPA of at least 2.5. Before you enroll in a teaching program in New Jersey, you may also be required to take the Praxis I Basic Skills Exam in reading, writing and math.

Alternative teacher certification in New Jersey

Those who hold a bachelor’s degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in New Jersey. You must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility before beginning an alternate program and complete 200 hours of an alternate route program. The New Jersey Department of Education website has a complete list of approved alternate programs.

Certificate reciprocity in New Jersey

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 for teaching jobs in New Jersey, be aware that you will first need to transfer your teaching credentials.

New Jersey 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. Explore all your options for certification reciprocity in New Jersey on the New Jersey Department of Education website.

Required tests for teachers in New Jersey

Teachers in New Jersey will need to pass the Praxis II examination relevant to their intended certification area (passing scores vary depending on your GPA).

Other requirements to teach in New Jersey

Candidates for initial teacher certification in New Jersey must also pass an examination in hygiene, physiology, and substance abuse or have completed college studies in either one of the following three subjects: biology, health or nutrition.

Although New Jersey teachers are not required a undergo a criminal background check as part of the teacher certification process, all schools in New Jersey will require new hires to submit to a fingerprint check at the state and federal level.

Salary and benefits for teachers in New Jersey

Teaching salaries in New Jersey vary depending on a teacher’s experience and degree level, as well the subject taught. The yearly income for teachers with three years of teaching experience in New Jersey is $48,000.

New Jersey school districts also offer teachers in New Jersey health insurance benefits, which includes an optional dental plan. Some schools may require New Jersey teachers to contribute towards their health insurance plan.

Teachers in New Jersey are entitled to 15 weeks of vacation each year.

New Jersey teacher shortage areas (by subject)

New Jersey is experiencing a shortage of math, science and special education teachers for the 2017 school year.

Professional development for teachers in New Jersey

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

Some of the top districts to teach in New Jersey include the following:

Princeton Public Schools

Millburn Township Schools

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

The School District of the Chathams

Montgomery Township School District

Tenafly Public Schools

East Brunswick Public Schools

Bernards Township School District

Livingston Public Schools

Summit Public Schools.