Standard Elementary Certificate
RULE: IDAHO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION (IDAPA 08, TITLE 02, CHAPTER 02)
018. STANDARD ELEMENTARY CERTIFICATE (3-16-04)
A Standard Elementary Certificate makes an individual eligible to teach grades Kindergarten (K) through eight (8), and may be issued to any person who has a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and who meets the following requirements:
01. General Education Requirements. Completion of the general education requirements at an accredited college or university is required.
02. Professional Education Core Requirements.
a. A minimum of twenty-four (24) semester credit hours, or thirty-six (36) quarter credit hours, in the philosophical, psychological, and methodological foundations and in the professional subject matter of elementary education, which shall include at least six (6) semester credit hours, or nine (9) quarter credit hours, in developmental reading and its application to the content area.
b. At least six (6) semester credit hours, or nine (9) quarter credit hours, of elementary student teaching or two (2) years of satisfactory experience as a teacher in grades K-8.
03. Additional Requirements. An institutional recommendation from an accredited college or university or verification of two (2) years of teaching experience in grades Kindergarten (K) through eight (8).
04. Ninth Grade Endorsement. If an individual with a Standard Elementary Certificate completes the requirements for a subject area endorsement as outlined under requirements for a Standard Secondary Certificate, an endorsement allowing teaching of that subject through grade nine (9) may be added to the Standard Elementary Certificate.
05. Proficiency. Proficiency in areas noted above is measured by completion of the credit hour requirements provided herein. Additionally, each candidate shall meet or exceed the state qualifying score on approved elementary content area and pedagogy assessments.
REQUIREMENTS - Praxis II content area assessments - For additional information, refer to: www.ets.org/praxis
| Title | Number | Qualifying Score |
| Elementary Education: Content Knowledge | 0014 | 143 |
| Principles of Learning and Teaching K-6 OR | 0522 | 161 |
| Principles of Learning and Teaching 5-9 | 0523 | 162 |
Endorsements – May Be Added to a Standard Elementary Certificate
RULE: IDAHO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION (IDAPA 08, TITLE 02, CHAPTER 02)
021. ENDORSEMENTS (3-16-04)
Holders of a Secondary Certificate or a Standard Elementary Certificate may be granted endorsements in subject areas as provided herein. An official statement of competency in a teaching area or field is acceptable in lieu of courses for a teaching major or minor if such statements originate in the department or division of the accredited college or university in which the competency is established and are approved by the director of teacher education of the recommending college or university. To add an endorsement to an existing credential, an individual shall complete the credit hour requirements as provided herein and shall also meet or exceed the state qualifying score on appropriate, state-approved content, pedagogy and performance assessments. When converting semester credit hours to quarter credit hours, two (2) semester credit hours is equal to three (3) quarter credit hours.
Access the following webpage to apply for a Standard Elementary Certificate: Applying for an Idaho Certificate/Credential
K-12 Endorsement on an Elementary Certificate
An Elementary Certificate may be endorsed K-12 for teaching music, art, education media generalist (library), physical education, reading and foreign language in the secondary school when the educator:
- completes the secondary methods course in the area of the endorsement;
- meets the academic qualifications for the subject area; and,
- meets or exceeds the appropriate Praxis II content area assessment.
Requirements for these endorsements are described in subject area endorsements (Subject Area Endorsements on a Secondary Certificate).
Ninth Grade Endorsement on an Elementary Certificate
An endorsement may be added to a Standard Elementary Certificate allowing the educator to teach a content-specific subject in the ninth grade. The intent of this provision is to allow secondary endorsements on an Elementary Certificate acknowledging the academic background of middle school teachers. It is not the intent, nor is it permissible, for a teacher with an Elementary Certificate to teach students in grades 10-12, even with a ninth grade endorsement.
To qualify for a secondary endorsement, the educator must meet all requirements for that endorsement and meet or exceed the qualifying score on appropriate Praxis II assessment(s). For a list of secondary endorsements see Subject Area Endorsements on Secondary Certification.