Become a Teacher in Mississippi

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Teaching in Mississippi Snapshot

$46,370Secondary School Teacher Salary

$44,230Elementary School Teacher Salary

$8,702Public School Spending Per Student

All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics pupil expenditure information was provided by Governing

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205
(601) 359-3513

Explore Featured Degree Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name	Type of Program	Learn More	Program Description
University of Southern California	Master of Arts in Teaching	Learn more about USC Rossier	The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University	Master of Science in Teaching	Learn more from Fordham University	Fordham University’s online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Vanderbilt University	Master of Education in School Counseling	Learn more about Vanderbilt Peabody	Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Mississippi

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 02/12/2019)

Prerequisite Coursework in Mississippi

All states require at least a bachelor’s degree to teach. Some states require additional undergraduate coursework, but Mississippi does not.

Mississippi Teacher Certification Programs

Teacher Certification Programs can be taken online or on-site. They typically include an educational theory and classroom skills seminar and a fieldwork component of student teaching in the area.

Required Tests for Mississippi

Most states require tests to show competency in basic skills as well as in the desired subject area. Mississippi requires the PPST (Pre Professional Skills Test) for Basic Skills and the Praxis II: Subject Tests.

You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms' Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.

Initial Teaching Certifications

To earn your Mississippi teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program.

Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.

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Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard's Bok Center

Earn recognition of your ability to develop and deliver a memorable teaching experience when you receive a premier certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX, upon successful course completion.

Learn more about an 8-week short course from Harvard's Bok Center

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Alternative Certification in Mississippi

In order to receive your teacher certification through an alternate route in Mississippi, you must use one of four state-approved Alternate Route Programs. You can pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching without having a bachelor's degree in education, pursue the MS Alternate Path to Quality Teachers (MAPQT), participate in the Teach Mississippi Institute, or the ABCTE alternative certification program, an online course typically completed over 8-10 months. This certification can be attained while taking other college courses, or working full time. All alternate route programs in Mississippi require testing, a training program or coursework and a one-year internship.

Mississippi Teacher Certification Information & Links

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Transferring Your Certification

Certification Reciprocity in Mississippi

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Mississippi, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Mississippi Department of Education.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Mississippi, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

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Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Mississippi

Mississippi Teaching Jobs

Mississippi teaching jobs can be found by looking at the vacancies listing on the Job Placement Service of the Mississippi Teacher Center.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

Mississippi Teacher Salary and Incentives

In Mississippi, teachers earned an average of $42,925 per year in 2017-18, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Mississippi provides additional salary for teachers in high needs schools and shortage subjects. for more specific salary information, the Department of Education publishes the annual Mississippi Teacher Salary Schedule.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Mississippi Teacher Benefits and Retirement

Mississippi public school teachers with at least 30 years of teaching experience at age 60 or older, are eligible for full retirement benefits for life under the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS). Retirement benefits are calculated using average compensation and years of creditable teaching service. PERS also handles health insurance for Mississippi teacher retirees.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

Mississippi Teacher Shortage Areas

A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to the Learning Policy Institute.

The following is a list of teacher shortage areas in Mississippi for the 2017-18 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education (see page 87).

Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish)
Biology
Physics

Mathematics
Chemistry
Special Education

Financial Aid in Mississippi

Mississippi residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.

Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.

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Career Advancement

Professional Development for Mississippi Teachers

The Mississippi Teacher Center provides information on the Mississippi Beginning Teacher Support Program, a mentoring and induction program for prospective teachers in Mississippi. Mississippi Teachers Continuing Education provides listings for conferences, workshops and courses that teachers can use in their professional development.

Benefits of a Master's Degree in Mississippi

It is no longer enough to only have years of experience for teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, teachers are almost solely evaluated by their success in the classroom. A master's degree in the field of education can give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.

After a master's program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security and higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.

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Explore Featured Program Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name	Type of Program	Program Description
University of Southern California	Master of Arts in Teaching	The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University	Master of Science in Teaching	The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Harvard University's Bok Center	Advanced Certification in Teaching	The 8-week Teaching and Learning Strategies for Higher Education online short course is delivered by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX. Students in this course will engage deeply with the most relevant research on effective teaching methods in the higher education context, while refining their own practices, portfolio, and teaching philosophy.
Vanderbilt University	Master of Education in School Counseling	Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

Sponsored Program