Home Teaching Programs in New Hampshire

Teaching Programs in New Hampshire

New Hampshire earned top scores for preparing its teachers in early reading instruction, according to a recent report released by The National Council on Teacher Quality. More than 80% of its teacher prep programs received grades of “A” or “B” as compared to just 51% of the rest of the country. A state that works that hard to ensure its teachers are highly qualified makes New Hampshire an ideal state to consider for teaching programs.

How Do I Become a Teacher in New Hampshire?

There are multiple routes to become a licensed teacher in New Hampshire. The most straightforward is the traditional pathway, which involves obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education and passing the state exam. For those switching careers who may have degrees in other fields, several alternative certification routes are available. Career and technical teachers have an entirely different pathway, and teachers moving to New Hampshire from other states have yet another licensing path. Read on for additional credentialing information from the New Hampshire Department of Education.

Traditional Pathway to Becoming a Teacher in New Hampshire

Becoming a teacher through the traditional route begins with earning a bachelor’s in education from an approved teaching program in New Hampshire. Depending on which subject and grade level you plan to teach, you will also seek an endorsement from the state. New Hampshire teachers must also pass required tests from the Praxis exam series, which will vary according to the educator’s content area and grade level.

Becoming a Teacher Through Alternative Certification or as a Career Switcher

Teachers who are switching careers may hold degrees in a subject other than education. They may also have a great deal of work experience in the workforce and want to share their knowledge with younger learners. In this regard, New Hampshire offers several alternative certification pathways.

  • Portfolio/Oral Board: This alternative pathway is open to educators who hold a bachelor’s degree, have worked for three months in the same field in which they are seeking endorsement, and have passed the required Praxis exams. Eligible applicants will submit an extensive written portfolio, which, if approved, will be followed by a half-day oral examination.
  • National/Regional Licensure: This alternative certification is available for teachers who already hold licenses from a national licensing board, including the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National School Psychology Certification Board, U.S. Department of Defense, or NH Allied Health for Speech Language Pathology. Applicants must also pass the required Praxis tests.
  • Site-Based Licensing Plan: This alternative route is designed to address critical teaching shortage areas as well as to provide school districts with the ability to hire qualified candidates for specific content areas. Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers can also seek certification through this route. This pathway begins with a candidate obtaining a Statement of Eligibility, the rules for which vary according to endorsement area. These candidates must also hold a bachelor’s degree and complete required testing, except for CTE teachers, who may qualify for New Hampshire certification based on work experience under certain circumstances.

Teachers Moving to New Hampshire from a Different State

Out-of-state applicants should be aware that in New Hampshire, reciprocity includes the acceptance of either another state’s approved teaching program or a teaching license with specific experience.

Teachers who move from other states to New Hampshire, therefore, have two options to pursue licensure.

  • The first option is for teachers who hold a degree from an approved teacher preparation program out of state. These teachers may apply for a license in New Hampshire once submitting evidence of a transcript from a verified, approved program.
  • The second option is available for teachers who have worked for three out of the last seven years under a full teaching license from a state other than New Hampshire. In the absence of a degree from an approved teaching program, applicants are instead asked to submit transcripts as well as letters from employers over the last seven years, documenting the applicant’s educational work experience.

Average Salaries and Projected Job Growth for New Hampshire Teachers

Teachers in New Hampshire can expect annual salaries that are on par with national average salaries, with a growth rate slightly lower than the national average of 3%-4%. However, the need varies by area of the state. If you hope to teach in a rural area, those parts of New Hampshire may have more opportunities.

Career Annual Mean SalaryProjected Job Growth
Elementary School Teachers$59,9302%
Middle School Teachers$60,2902%
Secondary School Teachers$60,7202%
Postsecondary Teaching$94,477*Varies by subject

*Averaged from all postsecondary salaries
Salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Job growth information from CareerOneStop.

Teacher Training Programs in New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers many state-approved teacher preparation programs for students to consider. The following schools provide a wide range of options for both undergraduate and graduate degrees and offer a variety of different specialty areas for their students. In addition, some teaching programs in New Hampshire provide both traditional, on-campus degrees while others offer opportunities for long-distance learning and online degrees.

Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester)

At SNHU, students can pursue many degree options, ranging from a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science to a Master of Education or even a Doctor of Education. This small, private university of 3,000 students prides itself on offering affordable tuition rates to its students, with 30% discounts for U.S. service members as well as spouses of active-duty military members. Among the many specialty content areas offered here are music education, early childhood special education, and middle school science education. SNHU is known for its wide array of online degree programs, but it also offers many on-campus programs in the education field.

Tuition 2019-2020

  • Campus Undergraduate: $30,756 per year
  • Campus Master’s: $700 per credit (day classes), $627 per credit (evening/certificate classes),
  • Doctor of Education: $16,000 per year
  • Online Undergraduate: $320 per credit
  • Online Graduate: $627 per credit

Plymouth State University (Plymouth)

In addition to undergraduate degrees, Plymouth State University also offers many master’s and doctoral degrees in education, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies and other graduate-level certificates. Plymouth State trains teachers by using a cohort method for the field experiences of its students. The university also participates in the Regional Student Program, which allows New England students to attend at reduced tuition for programs that are not available within their own state’s schools.

Tuition 2020-2021 (estimated)

  • Undergraduate Resident: $14, 492 per year
  • Undergraduate Non-resident: $23,902 per year
  • Undergraduate Regional: $20, 902 per year
  • Graduate Resident: $535 -$625 per credit (depending on degree)
  • Graduate Non-resident: $670 -$760 per credit (depending on degree)

University of New Hampshire (Durham, Manchester)

UNH offers teaching programs at the undergraduate, certificate, and graduate levels. The school also offers an online M.Ed. in Educational Studies. According to UNH, 96% of its graduates go on to teach or work in an education-related job. No matter which program or degree you pursue, you will be encouraged to promote social change as an educator through the program’s emphasis on reflective critical inquiry.  One way the school aims to promote social change is through its Teacher Residency for Rural Education program, where students receive a 50% tuition reduction, a $28,000 stipend, and a master’s degree in just 15 months.

Tuition 2020-2021 (estimated)

  • Undergraduate Resident: $15, 520 per year
  • Undergraduate Non-resident: $32,860 per year
  • Undergraduate Regional: $27,160 per year
  • Graduate Resident: $14,1070 per year
  • Graduate Non-resident: $27,810 per year
  • Graduate Regional: $21,255 per year

Saint Anselm College (Manchester)

The Teacher Education Programs (TEP) at this Catholic liberal arts university prepares its undergraduate students for teaching careers using a clinical practice model. This method places students in one of 26 urban, suburban, and private school settings starting in their sophomore year. Students elect either an elementary or a secondary school track to earn their bachelor’s degrees, and their program culminates with a capstone clinical experience.

Tuition 2020-2021

  • $41,510 per year

Keene State College (Keene)

Keene State College provides an expansive teaching program offering bachelor’s degrees, post-baccalaureate teaching certificates for students already holding bachelor’s, master’s degrees, and post-master’s certification for those wishing to become school administrators. KSC is unique as a teaching prep program in encouraging its undergraduates to study abroad. The school prides itself on closely advising its students, and its faculty are all current or former educational professionals.

Tuition 2020-2021

  • Undergraduate Resident: $5,877
  • Undergraduate Nonresident: $10,733
  • Undergraduate NE Program: $9,403
  • Graduate Resident: $542 (per credit)
  • Graduate Nonresident: $594 (per credit)

New Hampshire Teacher Resources

  • New Hampshire Department of Education: The New Hampshire DOE has several resources of particular use to teachers in the Granite State, including links to credential requirements as well as professional educator programs.
  • New Hampshire Office of Social Emotional Wellness: This DOE-run website provides many professional resources for New Hampshire teachers on subjects ranging from bullying prevention to cultural and diversity training.
  • National Education Association New Hampshire: This professional association seeks to provide the state’s teachers with meaningful professional development that ultimately benefits the public school students of New Hampshire. The NEA-NH also maintains several resources of interest to new teachers, including job postings and articles about the challenges and rewards of early-career educators.
  • Educators Rising New Hampshire: The state chapter of the national organization aims to support new and future teachers with a variety of innovative professional development offerings, including TEACHERFEST, a conference for students in teacher preparation programs in New Hampshire.