RHODE ISLAND
STATE RESOURCES

Bachelor’s degree in an education field such as early childhood, elementary education, secondary education, etc. (see RI Department of Education)

Praxis Core & Praxis Subject Area Tests (see RIDE)

• Step 1: Attend and complete a RI Department of Education-approved educator preparation program (see RI Approved Programs list)

• Step 2: Take Praxis exams (may be a requirement to complete some educator preparation programs)

• Step 3: Apply for Initial Certification (3-year certificate; see RIDE website)

• Step 4: Apply for Professional Certificate

  • Must have three years’ experience working with an Initial Certificate

  • Must have at least 30 Professional Learning Units (PLUs) annually = 90 total

• Step 5: Apply for Advanced Certificate

  • Must have at least five years’ experience working with a Professional Certificate

  • Must have at last 20 Professional Learning Units (PLUs) annually = 100 total

• AND at least one of the following:

  • Achieve National Board Certification

  • Advanced degree

  • RI Department of Education or national recognition award (e.g., teacher of the year)

  • Complete NISL Executive Development Program or served as NISL facilitator

  • Obtains certification in shortage areas identified by RIDE

Teach for America: https://www.teachforamerica.org/rhode-island 

The Rhode Island Department of Education maintains a list of approved educator preparation programs: https://ride.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur806/files/2023-11/RI_Approved_Preparation_Programs%20%283%29.pdf 

• Rhode Island Council for Exceptional Children - https://rhodeisland.exceptionalchildren.org/about-us 

• Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) provides support to those seeking administrative licensure

• Equity Institute

•  Providence Public Schools Grow Your Own (GYO) Program: Provides support to paraprofessionals to obtain their initial teaching licensure.

• • • University of RI (URI)

      • NSF Grant scholarship to recruit STEM majors into teaching.

      • Desposito Aspiring Teacher Memorial Scholarship

    • Brown University

      • Teach Grant

    • Rhode Island College (RIC)

      • RI College (RIC) Hope Scholarship: Students at RIC can attend their last two years of college tuition-free.

      • Various scholarships available to RI College students

    • Statewide

      • T.E.A.C.H. RI scholarships for studying early childhood

RI Promise: Free tuition for an associate’s degree for any student who recently obtained a high school diploma or G.E.D. and is 18 years old or younger. Students ages 19-21 may submit an appeal.

RI College (RIC) Hope Scholarship: Students at RIC can attend their last two years of college tuition-free.