A Higher Standard
RSSMany states have recently revised their certification requirements for school librarians
By Margie J. Thomas and Patsy H. Perritt -- School Library Journal, 12/01/2003
While finding work as a public librarian is almost guaranteed for those with a master's degree from an American Library Association–accredited school, media specialists must also meet department of education certification requirements in the state in which they plan to work. Although most states require teacher certification for library media specialists, those standards vary greatly for each state, with some calling for one or all of the following: a master's degree in library and information science or education, teacher certification or classroom experience, and additional course credit hours. Keep in mind that all of these standards may change as a result of No Child Left Behind, which mandates certification for all lower elementary grade public school teachers. Although states will try to comply with the new law, it will prove difficult to obtain media specialist certification in some areas of the country, including Cheyenne, WY, Pocatello, ID, and Blue Hill, ME. If states lack ALA–accredited schools or education degrees, librarian candidates will be forced to pack their bags for a year or more. Of course, online courses are also an option, but learning from a remote location is not for everyone.
One of the most crucial developments in the last few years is that more states recognize the importance of teaching information-literacy skills. Indeed, certified school librarians must still demonstrate knowledge of children's and young adult literature, library management, and cataloging, but there's a growing trend toward basing competency on the tenets outlined in Information Power (ALA Editions, 1998) and the ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialist Preparation (ALA Editions, 2003), which were developed by the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians along with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). These standards specify that future media specialists must teach information literacy and research skills, collaborate and provide leadership in schools, and manage information resources.
Thanks to the lobbying efforts of ALA and NCATE, 20 states now require a master's degree in education or library and information science for certification, or the completion of a state-approved program in school library media. A teaching background is also mandatory in nine states, including Texas, which calls for two years of classroom-teaching experience, and Arizona, which requires one year of teaching experience.
Thirty-six states—including Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Idaho—require a classroom-teaching certificate, in addition to a master's degree or course hours, for media specialist certification. Some states, such as Indiana and Florida, allow candidates to complete requirements for classroom teacher certification in addition to the requirements for the master's degree at an ALA–accredited library school. Generally, this requires six to 18 hours of additional course work, or about two to six courses, in a school or college of education, and may include classes in educational psychology, child development, and educational foundations. This process, sometimes referred to as 'program certification,' allows you to satisfy state requirements for classroom teacher and school library media certification by having a college or school verify that the course work has been completed, rather than having the state department of education conduct a transcript analysis. Thirty-seven states —including Delaware and Kentucky—require at least some practicum or internship in a school library prior to certification, thus sending a clear message that media specialists require specialized training.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia mandate a bachelor's degree for certification as a media specialist. Most specify the completion of an additional 15 to 36 credit hours in library or educational media or completion of an ALA or ALA/NCATE–approved program in library and information science or educational media. Louisiana and a few other states offer the option of either undergraduate or graduate hours for these credits. Twenty-seven states, including Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Nevada, require at least 20 undergraduate or graduate credit hours, or about seven courses. And 30 states—including Connecticut, Kansas, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington—now offer tiered certification, which provides a variety of options for attaining the 'master teacher' or professional certification level. Programs that help attract teachers, such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers, are both designed to help those with college degrees speed up the teacher-certification process and cut down on the number of education classes required. Those with an MLS but no teaching certificate may use these programs to obtain the certificate required by the state in which they intend to work.
| Teaching Certificate Required | Teaching Experience Required | LMC Internship/Practicum Required | Master's Degree Required | Tiered Credential/Certificate | ||
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Education Teacher Education and Certification Office www.alsde.edu/html/sections/section_detail.asp?section =66&footer=sections E-mail: tcert@alsde.edu | Yes | Yes, for class A library media certificate | Yes, usually 300 hours | Yes | Yes |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Education and Early Development www.eed.state.ak.us/TeacherCertification E-mail: tcwebmail@eed.state.ak.us | Yes, type A or C | No | NA | Yes, for type C (may not classroom teach) | Yes |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Education Certification Unit www.ade.state.az.us/certification/E-mail: certification@ade.az.gov | Yes | Yes, one year | NA | Yes or passing score on Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment | NA |
| Arkansas | Office of Professional Licensure Arkansas Department of Education arkedu.state.ar.us/teachers/index.html E-mail: tolson@arkedu.k12.ar.us | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Provisional and standard |
| California | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Information Services www.ctc.ca.gov/default.html E-mail: credentials@ctc.ca.gov | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Colorado | Colorado State Library www.cde.state.co.us/index_license.htm E-mail: nassar_n@cde.state.co.us | Yes, type A | Yes, one year | Yes | No | Yes |
| Connecticut | Bureau of Certification and Professional Development Connecticut State Department of Education www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/cert/index.htm E-mail: teacher.cert@po.state.ct.us | Yes, or eligible to attain | No | Yes | No | Initial, provisional, and professional educator |
| Delaware | Delaware State Department of Education Certification of Professional Public School Personnel deeds.doe.state.de.us/certificate/deeds_doc_ruleschap2.asp E-mail: NA | No | No | Yes | No | Temporary, limited standard, standard |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia Public Schools Teacher Recruitment Center Education Credentialing and Standards Branch www.k12.dc.us/dcps/teachdc/certification.html E-mail: NA | NA | NA | Yes or experience | Yes | NA |
| Florida | Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification www.firn.edu/doe/edcert/home0022.htm E-mail: edcert@mail.doe.state.fl.us | NA | NA | NA | No | NA |
| Georgia | Professional Standards Commission Certification Section www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification.asp E-mail: mail@gapsc.com | NA | NA | NA | Yes, or completion of approved program | NA |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Education Office of Personnel Services/Teacher Recruitment Unit doe.k12.hi.us/personnel/teacherlicensingreqts.htm E-mail: Teacher_Recruitment@notes.k12.hi.us | Yes | NA | Yes | Yes | NA |
| Idaho | Teacher Certification/Professional Standards State Department of Education www.sde.state.id.us/certification E-mail: kpotter@sde.state.id.us | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Illinois | Illinois State Board of Education Division of Professional Certification www.isbe.state.il.us/teachers E-mail: NA | Yes | No | NA | No | Media professional, media specialist, media supervisor |
| Indiana | Indiana Professional Standards Board Licensing www.in.gov/psb E-mail: helpdesk@psb.state.in.us | Yes | No | Yes | No | NA |
| Iowa | Board of Educational Examiners Department of Education Grimes State Office Building www.state.ia.us/boee/ E-mail: Christina.dystra@ed.state.ia.us | Yes | NA | NA | Yes | NA |
| Kansas | Certification and Teacher Education Kansas State Department of Education www.ksde.org/cert/cert.html E-mail: mgage@ksde.org | Yes, professional level | Yes | Yes | Yes | Provisional, conditional, and professional |
| Kentucky | Kentucky State Department of Education Education Professional Standards Board Division of Certification www.kyepsb.net/certinfo.html E-mail: sherry.paul@mail.state.ky.us | Yes | NA | Yes,24 credit hours | Yes | NA |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Department of Education, Teacher Certification and Higher Education, Office of Quality Educators www.doe.state.la.us/DOE/asps/home.asp?I=CERTIFICATION E-mail: customerservice@mail.doe.la.us or mhmccoy@doe.state.la.us | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Maine | State of Maine Department of Education Certification Office www.state.me.us/education/cert/cert.htm E-mail: Pat.Julien@state.me.us | No | No | No | No | Initial, conditional, or professional |
| Maryland | Maryland State Department of Education Certification Branch www.msde.state.md.us/certification E-mail: NA | No | No | Yes | Yes, or school library program | Educational media associate, generalist, or specialist |
| Massachusetts | Office of Educator Certification and Licensure Massachusetts Department of Education www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html E-mail: LicensureHelp@doe.mass.edu (or online form) | Yes | NA | Yes | Yes, or school library program | Provisional or standard certificate |
| Michigan | Office of Professional Preparation and Certification Michigan Department of Education www.michigan.gov/mde E-mail: LoganCE@michigan.doc | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning Personnel Licensing cfl.state.mn.us/licen E-mail: Personnel.Licensing@state.mn.us | No | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Education Teacher Certification www.mde.k12.ms.us/license/ E-mail: cchester@mde.k12.ms.us | Hold or meet requirements for standard educator license | No | No | Yes, or library/media program | Class A, AA, AAA, or AAAA |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Teacher Quality and Urban Education Teacher Certification www.dese.state.mo.us/divteachqual/teachcert E-mail: webreplyteachcert@mail.dese.state.mo.us | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Montana | Montana Office of Public Instruction www.opi.state.mt.us/index.html E-mail: cert@state.mt.us | Yes | NA | Yes | No | Provisional, endorsement |
| Nebraska | Teacher Education Program Approval Teacher Certification www.nde.state.ne.us/TCERT/TCERT.html E-mail: tcertweb@nde4.nde.state.ne.us | Yes | No | No | No, but endorsement in library media | NA |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Education Teacher Licensing Office www.nde.state.nv.us/licensure E-mail: license@nsn.k12.nv.us | Yes | No | Yes | Yes, completion of school library program | School library media specialist and professional SLM specialist |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Education Bureau of Credentialing www.ed.state.nh.us/Certification/teacher.htm E-mail: NA | No | No | Yes | No | Intern, beginning educator, experienced educator |
| New Jersey | Office of Licensing and Academic Credentials New Jersey Department of Education www.state.nj.us/njded/educators/license E-mail: NA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Associate educational MS; educational MS |
| New Mexico | Professional Licensure Unit New Mexico State Department of Education Education Building sde.state.nm.us/divisions/ais/licensure E-mail: cherra@sde.state.nm.us | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| New York | Certification Unit Office of Teaching Initiatives New York State Education Department www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certificate_index.htm E-mail NA | NA | NA | Yes | Yes, for permanent certification | Provisional, permanent certification |
| North Carolina | Department of Public Instruction Licensure Section www.dpi.state.nc.us/employment.html E-mail: teachnc@dpi.state.nc.us | NA | NA | Yes | Yes, for coordinator positions | Library media supervisor or coordinator |
| North Dakota | Department of Public Instruction School Approval and Accreditation www.state.nd.us/espb/licensur/endorse/index.htm E-mail: amiller@state.nd.us | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Ohio | Office of Certification and Licensure Ohio Department of Education www.ode.state.oh.us/Teaching-Profession/Teacher/Certification_Licensure E-mail: contact.center@ode.state.oh.us | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Department of Education Professional Standards sde.state.ok.us/pro/tcert/profstd.html E-mail: cindy_marose@sde.state.ok.us | Yes | Yes, one year | NA | Yes | license, certificate |
| Oregon | Oregon Department of Education Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_584/584_036.html E-mail NA | No | No | Yes | Yes for Stage II | Initial teaching license (stage I), continuing teaching license (stage II) |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/site/default.asp?g=0 E-mail: 00certificat@psupen.psu.edu | Yes | No | Yes | No | Provisional, permanent |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Education Office of Teacher Certification www.ridoe.net/teacher_cert/certification/Default.htm E-mail: NA | No | No | Yes | No | Three-year provisional and five-year professional |
| South Carolina | Department of Education Division of Teacher Quality www.scteachers.org/Cert/index.cfm E-mail: certification@scteachers.org | NA | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| South Dakota | Department of Education and Cultural Affairs www.state.sd.us/deca/ACCOUNT/certif.HTM E-mail: Jamie.freestone@state.sd.us | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Education Office of Teacher Licensing www.state.tn.us/education/lic_home.htm E-mail: Education.Comments@state.tn.us | NA | NA | NA | Yes | NA |
| Texas | State Board for Educator Certification www.sbec.state.tx.us E-mail: sbec@mail.sbec.state.tx.us | Yes | Yes, two years | Yes | Yes | NA |
| Utah | Utah State Office of Education www.usoe.k12.ut.us/cert E-mail: NA | Yes | Yes, two years for standard certificate | NA | NA | Basic, standard |
| Vermont | Educator Licensing Office Vermont Department of Education www.state.vt.us/educ/license/index.htm E-mail: licensing@doe.state.vt.us | Yes | NA | Yes | No | NA |
| Virginia | Professional Licensure Virginia Department of Education www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html E-mail: telliott@mail.vak12ed.edu or ppitts@mail.vak12ed.edu | Yes | No | Yes | No | Provisional |
| Washington | Professional Education and Certification Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction www.k12.wa.us/cert/default.asp E-mail: cert@ospi.wedned.edu | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| West Virginia | Department of Education wvde.state.wv.us/certification E-mail: mbowe@access.k12.wv.us | No | No | Yes | No, but preferred | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Teacher Education and Licensing www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlsis/tel/index.html E-mail: NA | Yes, or eligibility | No | Yes | Varies with specific license | Yes |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Education Professional Teaching Standards Board www.k12.wy.us E-mail: PTSB@www.k12.wy.us | Yes | No | No | NA | NA |
| For links to complete certification requirements, visit individual state home pages. | ||||||
