Requirements to Become a School Librarian By-State

If you are wondering what it takes to become a school librarian, we have compiled a comprehensive guide to state certification requirements with current links.

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If you are wondering what it takes to become a school librarian, we have compiled a comprehensive guide to state certification requirements with current links. 

School librarians are focused on student success and should be a part of every school and all grade levels. Professional or certified school librarians are specifically trained to work with students and have extensive librarian-related experience like research, information literacy, book recommendations, and technology on top of their teaching experience. They work with students and other teachers to ensure that everyone is able to access information in a variety of formats and that reading is integrated across the curriculum. School librarians are leaders within their schools and help develop important skills in students from a young age because they focus on learning outcomes and individual discovery. 

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Working with students on a daily basis comes with some hard work and a lot of joy. In several states, school librarians need a Bachelor’s degree in education and a Master’s in library science. Each librarian must also make sure they maintain state requirements in order to be an educator. Many states prefer that those who obtain a Master’s attend an American Library Association (ALA) accredited school. This shows that the librarian has met certain standards in their education to receive the degree.

GIS Map of School Librarian Requirements by State Paired with Academic Achievement Data

In collaboration with SJSU’s School of Information, we have developed this GIS map where you can view state requirements to become a school librarian plus additional data around school librarians and school libraries and student achievement. Click directly on the map or go here to access

Requirements to become a school librarian vary by state. Below is a list of requirements that allow a librarian to become certified for schools in each state:

Alabama

  • Teaching license, Master’s Degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Specialist Test, minimum passing score of 148.
  • Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program (AECTP).
  • Additional Praxis tests.
  • Alabama Department of Education Teacher Education and Certification Office https://www.alsde.edu/ 

Alaska

  • Type C Endorsement, i.e. Library Science-Media, Bachelor’s or higher in program in Library Media Education.
  • Three semester hours of approved Alaska studies and three semester hours of multicultural education/cross cultural communications.
  • Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Arizona

  • Teaching license or one year of verified full-time teaching experience and subject knowledge competency.
  • National Evaluation Series (NES) tests- Library/Educational Media, minimum passing score of 220.
  • Professional Knowledge Exams, minimum passing score of 220. 
  • Arizona Department of Education: Certification Offices

Arkansas

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree in School Library Media.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 148.
  • Two years of teaching experience.
  • Arkansas Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure http://www.arkansased.gov/

California

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).
  • Completed Teacher Librarian Services Credential program or professional preparation program in teacher librarian services. 
  • Commission on Teacher Credentialing  http://www.ctc.ca.gov/ 

Colorado

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree.
  • Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE), minimum passing score of 220.
  • Completed program in library science including fieldwork. 
  • Educator Talent – Licensing Office http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof

Connecticut

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree or licensure in school library media as an endorsement.
  • Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification Connecticut State Department of Education  https://portal.ct.gov/SDE

Delaware

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree from accredited college/university in an ALA approved program.
  • Delaware Department of Education https://www.doe.k12.de.us/

Florida

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree or higher in educational media or library science.
  • Florida Teacher Certification Exams
  • Florida Department of Education http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/

Georgia

  • Master’s degree.
  • Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE), minimum passing score of 220.
  •  Georgia Department of Education http://www.gadoe.org

Hawaii

Idaho

  • Teaching license.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 151.
  • Idaho Technology Competency Assessment, Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Course (K-8 Certification).
  • Certification & Professional Standards Commission State Department of Education http://www.sde.idaho.gov/

Illinois

  • Teaching license.
  • Library Media Content Test-Library Information Specialist, minimum passing score of 175.
  • Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS), edTPA
  • Illinois State Board of Education https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Licensure.aspx

Indiana

  • Teaching license.
  • Indiana CORE Assessments-Library/Media Specialist, minimum passing score of 220.
  • Indiana Department of Education Office of Educator Licensing and Development http://www.doe.in.gov/licensing

Iowa

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree for Elementary school media specialist for K-6, Bachelor’s degree for Secondary school media specialist for 7-12, Master’s degree if certification is for K-12.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test-Library Media Specialist, minimum passing score of 156.
  • Board of Educational Examiners http://educateiowa.gov/

Kansas

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Specialist Test, minimum passing score of 153.
  • Kansas State Department of Education Teacher Licensure and Accreditation (TLA)  http://www.ksde.org/

Kentucky

  • Teaching license (K-12), Master’s degree.
  • Praxis II School Media Librarian Test needed if candidate has taught less than two years, minimum passing score of 156.
  • Division of Educator Licensure and Quality https://education.ky.gov/ 

Louisiana

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 136. 
  • Praxis II-Principles of Learning & Teaching.
  • Louisiana Department of Education Certification and Higher Education http://www.teachlouisiana.net

Maine

  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 143.
  • Praxis II-Principles of Learning & Teaching.
  • State of Maine Department of Education https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/

Maryland

Massachusetts

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree
  • Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) with qualifying scores on Communication and Literacy Skills Test.
  • Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education http://www.doe.mass.edu/licensure/

Michigan

  • Teaching license.
  • Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)-Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 48. Those with three or more years of teaching experience are exempt.
  • Completion of First Aid training that includes CPR.
  • Michigan Department of Education https://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-5683_14795---,00.html 

Minnesota

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test.
  • Minnesota Teacher Licensing Exams (MTLE).
  • Minnesota Department of Education https://education.mn.gov/MDE/

Mississippi

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree or higher in library media program.
  • Praxis I, Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 143.
  • Mississippi Department of Education https://mdek12.org/

Missouri

Montana

  • Teaching license.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 150.
  • Completion and verification of online course, “An Introduction to Indian Education for All in Montana" in addition to license within the past five years, graduation from an accredited program, or current license. 
  • Montana Department of Education: https://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Licensure/Become-a-Licensed-Montana-Educator 

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

  • Teaching license or Bachelor’s degree or certification in library/media from National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
  • Content Knowledge Assessment (CKA) in Library Media.
  • New Mexico Department of Education: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/ 

New York

  • Five pathways available:
    • Pathway I Approved Teacher Preparation Program:
    • Pathway II: Individual Evaluation
    • Pathway III: Individual Evaluation for Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate
    • Pathway IV: Interstate Reciprocity
    • Pathway V: National Board Certification
  • New York State Teacher Certification Examination PRogram Content Speciality Test.
  • New York Department of Education: http://www.nysed.gov/ 

North Carolina

North Dakota

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree and 26 hours of library media education.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 156.
  • Praxis 1: ETS-Pre Professional Skills Testing (PPST).
  • North Dakota Department of Public Instruction: https://www.nd.gov/dpi 

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

  • Teaching license or Master’s degree with 29 hours in library science and 16 in advanced educational media or additional 29 hours to Master’s degree.
  • Civil Rights Exam.
  • Oregon Department of Education: https://www.oregon.gov/tspc/ 

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 151.
  • K-12 certificates need to pass Principles of Learning. 
  • South Carolina Department of Education: http://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/ 

South Dakota

Tennessee

  • Teaching license, Master’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 146.
  • Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching
  • Tennessee Department of Education: https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing.html 

Texas

  • Master’s degree, demonstrated two years of classroom teaching.
  • Texas Examination of Educator Standards or Praxis II Media Content Test or comparable passing score from Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico and Oklahoma 
  • Texas Department of Education: http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/ 

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

  • Teaching license, Bachelor’s degree.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test, minimum passing score of 138.
  • Praxis 1, Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching.
  • West Virginia Department of Education: http://wvde.state.wv.us/teachwv/certification.html 

Wisconsin

Wyoming

  • Teaching license.
  • Praxis II Library Media Content Test can be used as “Alternate Route Endorsement Area”.
  • K-6 elementary candidates need Praxis II exam, secondary candidates need Praxis II, Principles of Learning and Teaching exam.
  • Wyoming Department of Education: http://wyomingptsb.com/ 

 

Information compiled using the School Library Connection.

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