Online Teacher Certification and Licensure at WGU
Licensure Information for WGU's School of Education
If you're looking to make a difference for students and your community, earning a teaching degree from WGU is a great way to achieve your goal. Our online educator degrees give you important skills and credentials that prepare you for teacher licensure and a career in the classroom.
WGU’s Teachers College is committed to helping educators pursue teaching degrees that will aid them in improving student outcomes. Our online teaching degree programs are designed to help you be equipped for the challenges of the classroom, and be eligible to obtain your educator certification. To ensure that our graduates are ready to help students learn and adhere to licensing requirements, our Teachers College is accredited at the initial-licensure level by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Each state has unique requirements for educator certificates, and it's important to understand the educator licensure requirements in your state. WGU's Teachers College online degree programs will help prepare you for teaching certification in any of the 50 states. Learn about teaching license requirements by state.
Educator licensure requirements vary depending on state laws, but typically include:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree program
- Submission of transcripts
- Completion and clearance of a background check
- Passing of required entrance exams and basic skills tests
LICENSURE AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
In compliance with federal law and NC-SARA policy, Western Governors University provides the following information relating to professional licensure/certification.
Click on the business program name below for a list of US states and territories in which the program has institutional authorization, any necessary program approvals, and professional licensing opportunities. These programs are only available in select states and territories (as listed below). All other business programs are not designed or intended to lead to a professional license in any state or territory.
For more information, please contact WGU’s licensing department at licensure@wgu.edu.
Consumer Complaint Information
The process by which students can register complaints under the consumer complaint process can be found at these links:
WGU’s main office is located in Utah. Information regarding the complaint process in Utah can be found at this link.
Information regarding any adverse actions by any state or any accrediting agency involving WGU can be found in the Consumer Complaint Process.
If you have other questions, please contact authorization@wgu.edu.
Refund Policy
Refund policies for WGU students for the return of unearned tuition and fees can be found at these links:
Title IV Notice
Notice regarding changing state of residence: A student who changes his or her state of residence while enrolled in a program may become ineligible for Title IV Higher Education Act funding if the change in residence results in a student participating in a program in a state in which WGU does not meet licensure or certification requirements in that new state of residence. For more information, please contact WGU’s licensing department at licensure@wgu.edu.
If you have other questions, please contact authorization@wgu.edu.
Educator License Information by State/Territory
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Alabama, please check the Alabama Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Alaska, please check the Alaska Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
Institutional Authorization
American Samoa does not regulate distance education. Therefore, approval for WGU to offer distance education programs to students located in American Samoa is not required.
Educational Prerequisites
The American Samoa Department of Education requires prospective educators to complete an American Samoa approved program. Prospective educators may not complete a program that is out-of-state, like at WGU. In addition, educators may not transfer a license from another state using any pathway.
For this reason, WGU’s programs do not meet any of the educational prerequisites for licensure in the field of education in American Samoa. Candidates interested in teaching in American Samoa may consult the American Samoa Department of Education website.
Candidates will not be accepted for enrollment in WGU’s education programs if they are seeking a license in American Samoa.
Consumer Complaint Information
Students can refer to this information regarding the complaint process for those attending WGU in American Samoa.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Arizona, please check the Arizona Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Arkansas, please check the Arkansas Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in California, please check the California Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in the state of Colorado, please check the Colorado Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Connecticut, please check the Connecticut Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Delaware, please check the Delaware Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For further details on DC teacher certification requirements, please see the DC Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Florida, please check the Florida Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Georgia, please check the Georgia Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Guam, please check the Guam Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Hawaii, please check the Hawaii Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Idaho, please check the Idaho Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Illinois, please check the Illinois Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Indiana, please visit the Indiana Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Iowa, please check the Iowa Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Kansas, please check the Kansas Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Kentucky, please check the Kentucky Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Louisiana, please check the Louisiana Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Maine, please check the Maine Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Maryland, please check the Maryland Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Massachusetts, please check the Massachusetts Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Michigan, please check the Michigan Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Minnesota, please check the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Mississippi, please check the Mississippi Teacher Licensure article in the Student Handbook.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Missouri, please check the Missouri Teacher Licensure article in the Student Handbook.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Montana, please check the Montana Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Nebraska, please check the Nebraska Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Nevada, please check the Nevada Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in New Hampshire, please check the New Hampshire Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in New Jersey, please check the New Jersey Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in New Mexico, please check the New Mexico Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in New York, please check the New York Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in North Carolina, please check the North Carolina Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in North Dakota, please check the North Dakota Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
Forthe most current information about becoming a teacher in the Northern Mariana Islands, please check the Northern Mariana Islands Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Ohio, please check the Ohio Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Oklahoma, please check the Oklahoma Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Oregon, please check the Oregon Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Pennsylvania, please check the Pennsylvania Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Puerto Rico, please check the Puerto Rico Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Rhode Island, please check the Rhode Island Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in South Carolina, please check the South Carolina Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in South Dakota, please check the South Dakota Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Tennessee, please check the Tennessee Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Texas please check the Texas Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Utah, please check the Utah Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Vermont, please check the Vermont Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in the Virgin Islands, please check the Virgin Islands Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Virginia, please check the Virginia Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Washington, please check the Washington Teacher Licensure student handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in West Virginia, please check the West Virginia Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Wisconsin, please check the Wisconsin Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Wyoming, please check the Wyoming Teacher Licensure Student Handbook article.
