State Teacher Certification

DESE Online Profile & Applications

All candidates seeking initial state certification or provisional certification must complete an online profile and application on the DESE website. Please refer to the two-page PDF for instructions.

Legal Name Change on DESE Profile

If you have changed your legal name and would like to have that change made on your certificate, you will need to send DESE the following information via US Mail:

  • A letter requesting that DESE staff change your legal name. Please include the following information in that letter:
    • Your last name as it currently appears on the DESE website and your new last name
    • Your educator ID number and your Social Security Number
    • A copy of the documentation for your name change (marraige certificate, etc.)

Please send all documentation to the following mailing address:

DESE - Educator Certification
PO Box 480
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Initial State Certification

Please contact the Coordinator of Teacher Certification at (417) 873-7369 for questions regarding state certification. Please refer to the DESE website for more information.

Additional Areas of Certification

Individuals having a current Missouri professional certificate of license to teach may acquire certification in additional areas by successfully completing the Praxis II test designated for the additional area of certification sought. Refer to the Praxis II test codes. If you are initially certified in a middle school content area and wish to add secondary certification in the same content area, you must pass the appropriate secondary content Praxis II exam. If you are initially certified in a secondary content area and wish to add middle school certification in the same content area, you must pass the Principles of Learning and Teaching 5-9 Praxis exam (code 0523).

General State Certification Requirements

  • Completion of an approved program of study
  • 2.5 overall GPA (For all post-secondary institutions)
  • Passing Praxis II score in appropriate area
  • Valid fingerprint clearance

Certification Verification for Other States

If verification of Drury's recommendation for initial state certification is needed for licensure in a state other that Missouri, please mail the verification forms and a stamped/addressed envelope to the Coordinator of Teacher Certification. Information can be mailed to Drury University, Lay Hall, 900 North Benton, Springfield, MO 65802.

Substitute Certification

In order to apply for a substitute certificate in Missouri, follow the procedure on the DESE website.

Provisional & Alternative State Certification

Provisional
Please refer to the DESE website for more information.

Temporary Authorization Certificate (TAC)
Please refer to the DESE website for more information. The required courses through Drury for special education and middle school / secondary are linked below.

The TAC does not include elementary education (1-6).

Teacher Certification Grade Requirements

Elementary education students must earn a grade of "C" or better in the following courses:

  • All education courses
  • Courses meeting the 21 hour concentration area
  • Required written and oral communication courses

Middle school and secondary education students must earn a grade of "C" or better in the following courses:

  • All education courses
  • All content specific courses
  • Required written and oral communication courses

Graduate Student Grade Requirements

Students with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00 are automatically placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation are subject to possible dismissal from the graduate program.

Graduate students are expected to do work of high caliber and standards. Receiving a grade below a "B-" requires the student to meet with the graduate program director and discuss academic performance. Any student receiving two grades below a "B-" will be dismissed from the program.

Graduate students also seeking state teacher certification must meet the grade criteria listed under Certification Grade Requirements above.