Compare State Teacher Policy Data

Alabama

PreK-3; Birth through age 4

Alaska

Birth to age 5

Arizona

Birth to grade 3

Arkansas

Birth to K, Elementary teachers can add an ages 3 to 4 endorsement

California

The state offers an early childhood specialist credential, but it does not appear to be an instructional license.

Colorado

Birth through age 8

Connecticut

Birth to K; PreK-3

Delaware

Birth to grade 2

District of Columbia

PreK-3

Florida

Birth to age 4; PreK-3

Georgia

Birth to K; PreK-5

Hawaii

PreK-K and PreK-3

Idaho

Birth to grade 3

Illinois

Birth to grade 2

Indiana

PreK-3

Iowa

PreK-K; Birth through grade 3; PreK-3

Kansas

Birth to K; Birth to grade 3

Kentucky

Birth to K

Louisiana

Birth to K; PreK-3

Maine

Birth to age 5

Maryland

PreK-3

Massachusetts

PreK-2

Michigan

PreK-3; B-K

Minnesota

Birth to grade 3

Mississippi

PreK-K

Missouri

Birth to grade 3

Montana

PreK-3

Nebraska

Birth to grade 3; PreK-3 endorsement can only be added to a K-6 license.

Nevada

Birth to grade 2

New Hampshire

Birth to grade 3

New Jersey

PreK-3

New Mexico

Birth to grade 3; age 3 to age 8; birth to PreK

New York

Birth to grade 2

North Carolina

Birth to K

North Dakota

Birth to grade 3

Ohio

PreK-3

Oklahoma

PreK-3

Oregon

PreK-3 specialization can be added to an elementary license but is not required to teach early childhood education.

Pennsylvania

PreK-4

Rhode Island

PreK-2

South Carolina

PreK-3

South Dakota

Birth to grade 3

Tennessee

PreK-3

Texas

PreK-3 and PreK-6; this is the state's de facto elementary license.

Utah

Utah's early childhood certification, which allows candidates to teach grades K-3, does not cover preschool grades (birth through kindergarten). This license is addressed in Elementary: Licensure Loopholes. This indicator therefore does not apply to Utah.

Vermont

PreK-3; Birth-grade 3; Birth-PreK endorsement

Virginia

PreK-3

Washington

PreK-3

West Virginia

PreK-K; PreK

Wisconsin

Birth-grade 3

Wyoming

Birth-age 5; Birth-age 8 (grade 3)