The following documents are required for the Standard License Application. Your effective license date is the date that all requirements are met by submitting the required documentation. Applicants should periodically check the website for revisions to the documents and implementation of the online system.
1. Submit an application.
Download the application for Standard Hawaii Teaching License. Submit your signed, dated application to HTSB. It is helpful to read the Instruction Sheet Application for Standard Hawaii Teaching License first.
2. If you anwer "yes" to a question in the Professional Fitness section on the application, Section 2, you must submit the following:
- Your signed statement with full explanation for each circumstance or incident, including the state in which the complaint, lawsuit, investigation or adverse action occurred and the disposition of the matter, as well as relevant explanation of the circumstances; and
- Certified copies of official court records for criminal convictions and official or notarized copies of documentation of other matters; and
- Two letters of recommendation addressed to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board from people who have known you in a professional capacity within the last five years. References should include their telephone and email contact information as the letters will be verified.
- Additional documentation may be requested after the evaluation of your documents.
You are required to disclose all criminal convictions of misdemeanors and felonies, including convictions based on a plea of "nolo contendere" or "no contest". For the purpose of this application, DUI/DWIs must be reported. You do not need to report arrests not followed by convictions.
NOTE: Failure to disclose information or providing false or deceitful answers can lead to denial of your application, adverse action on the license, and/or criminal prosecution.
3. Submit proof of completion a State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP):
A. Request that the university where you completed your teacher education program submit the HTSB Institutional Recommendation directly to HTSB. Complete the top portion of the form, sign and date it, and send it to your institution with a stamped envelope addressed to the HTSB.
NOTE: Applicants completing a Hawai'i state approved teacher education program since 2002 are NOT required to submit transcript(s) or the HTSB Institutional Recommendation. Documentation will be submitted directly to HTSB by Hawaii's approved teacher education institutions and agencies no later than 6 weeks following the date of your completion of all program requirements.
NOTE: If you hold a current, valid teaching license in another state and the state licensing agency confirms that you completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program on HTSB's Confirmation of Licensure and Certification Tests Taken, you do not have to submit an Institutional Recommendation.
- EXCEPTION: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certified teachers holding a current, valid out of state teaching license and a current, valid NBPTS certificate are NOT required to submit proof of a SATEP.
- EXCEPTION: Teachers with a current, valid out of state teaching license with the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate (MNTC) designation are NOT required to submit proof of a SATEP.
B. Applicants with degree(s) conferred by non-U.S. four-year degree granting Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) must have their transcript(s) evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. Applications are available from ECE's website, www.ece.org. Submit the original or notarized ECE Evaluation Report with your application.
4. Experience Route:
Submit the HTSB Form Verification of Qualifying Experience, and send it to the superintendent, principal, or headmaster of the school where you completed the contracted K-12 experience. You must also submit a notarized copy of your out-of-state teaching certificate/license that you held during the time period of the qualifying experience.
5. Pass basic skills, pedagogy and content knowledge tests.
NOTE: Praxis requirements have recently changed. Check the Praxis Chart to ensure you take the correct tests.
See Praxis Information Sheet for the Praxis tests required for licensure in Hawai'i. ONLY Praxis tests with the exact code, title, and cut score at or above Hawaii's passing score may be accepted by HTSB. Official score reports from Educational Testing Service (ETS) are required. If you used Code 8620 as a recipient of your score(s) when you registered for a test, HTSB will receive an official copy directly from ETS. However, if you did not list Code 8620 as a recipient, you may request an official copy from ETS for a fee. You may also send a notarized copy of your official passing Praxis score reports.
Applicants who completed a Hawaii State Approved Teacher Education Program and those applying via the Experience Route must submit passing Hawaii Praxis scores in basic skills, pedagogy and content knowledge.
If you hold a current, valid teaching license from another state and your tests in basic skills, pedagogy and content knowledge are verified by the out of state licensing agency on HTSB Form Confirmation of Licensure and Certification Tests Taken you do not have to submit Hawaii Praxis scores. For tests not taken, you must submit the appropriate Hawaii Praxis scores.
- EXCEPTION: If you hold a current, valid National Board Professional Teaching Standards Certificate and a current, valid out of state teaching license, you do not need to take any Praxis Tests.
- EXCEPTION: If you hold a current, valid teaching license with the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate designation you do not need to take any Praxis Tests.
Applicants should periodically check the HTSB website for updates to the testing requirements.
6. Pay the licensing fee.
The license fee of $240 (two hundred forty dollars) is the last requirement for your initial Hawai'i teaching license. When you are notified you may send a personal check, cashier's check or money order made payable to the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB). Do not send payment until notified. Currently, teachers employed by the Hawaii Department of Education will have the license fee deducted by mandatory payroll deduction. However, applicants should check the website for revisions to the fee payment procedure once HTSB's online licensing system is launched.