Certification Cost and Budgeting

Brittany Gibson

Feb 21, 2025

1483

Preparing for certification costs is an important part of budgeting for your teaching program. Planning ahead can help you manage these expenses smoothly.

To start, consider setting aside funds for the maximum potential certification cost or, if that isn’t possible, save as much as you can to cover these expenses.

Next, explore available aid options:

Waivers - ETS, the company that hosts the Praxis exam, provides fee waivers for some college students who meet all the eligibility criteria.
Vouchers - Some states provide vouchers for specific required tests and distribute those vouchers through Relay. They are often first-come, first-serve basis —so respond quickly if one is offered.
Financial Aid - If you qualify, certification costs may be added to your financial aid package. Submitting your FAFSA early can help secure this assistance.

Being proactive about certification expenses can help ensure a financially manageable program experience.

Certification/Licensure Cost by State

State	Pathway	Program	Estimated Cost
Colorado	Residency	Colorado Traditional Teacher Licensure Program	Praxis Test Fees - $130-$150 (per attempt) Fingerprints - $50 ($40 processing fee and $10 fingerprinting fee) Initial License - $90 in-state/$100 out-of-state
	Non-Residency	Colorado Alternative Teacher Licensure Program	Praxis Test Fees - $130-$150 (per attempt) Fingerprints - $50 ($40 processing fee and $10 fingerprinting fee) Alternative Teacher License/Alternative Interim Authorization - $90 Initial License - $90 in-state/$100 out-of-state
	Advanced Certification	Colorado Additional Endorsement Program	Praxis Test Fees - $130-$150 (per attempt) Fingerprints - $50 ($40 processing fee and $10 fingerprinting fee) Additional Endorsement - $80
Connecticut	Residency & Non-Residency	Connecticut Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program	*Basic Skills Requirement - $0- $180 (This cost varies depending on which exam and method of delivery is used for the requirement). REC - $0 (However, you will need to send all previous transcripts to CSDE) edTPA - $300 Praxis Test Fees - $180- $256 (per attempt) Initial Educator Certificate - $200**
Connecticut	Elementary Residency	See Colorado	Read here for more information about licensure requirements for Connecticut.
Delaware	Residency	Delaware Alternative Route to Certification Program (ARTC) - Relay Teaching Residency	Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Initial License - $100 For Special Education Candidates: Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Standard Certificate - $100
	Non-Residency	Delaware Alternative Route to Certification Program (ARTC)	Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Initial License - $100 For Special Education Candidates: Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Standard Certificate - $100
	Advanced Certification	Delaware Additional Certification Program	Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Initial License - $100 Standard Certificate - $100
Georgia	Residency	See Colorado	Read here for more information about licensure requirements for Georgia.
Georgia	Non-Residency	See Colorado	Read here for more information about licensure requirements for Georgia.
Illinois	Residency & Non-Residency	Graduate Alternative Licensure Program- All Endorsement areas	ILTS Exam- $99-198 ELS(APE)- $130 ($30 for registration + $100 for license) edTPA- $300 PEL- $150- $160
New Jersey	Residency & Non-Residency	New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility (CE) Certification Program	Certificate of Eligibility (covers provisional and standard certificate) - $170 Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Initial License - $100 Standard Certificate - $100 For Dual Cert Candidates: Certificate of Eligibility - Teacher of Students with Disabilities - $170 For additional endorsement: Standard Certificate - $100 Renewal of Provisional Certificate - $70 Name Change Request (if applicable) - $20
New Jersey	Advanced Certification	New Jersey Additional Certification Program	Certificate of Eligibility - Teacher of Students with Disabilities - $170 Standard Certificate - $100 Renewal of Provisional Certificate - $70 Name Change Request (if applicable) - $20
New York	Teacher Pathway & Lead Teacher Pathway	New York Transitional B Alternative Teacher Preparation Program	Fingerprint Clearance/Background Check: $102+ Required Workshops (CAI, SVP, DASA): ~$75+ per workshop Transitional B Certification Application: $50 Certification Exams: CSTs (Students with Disabilities, Exam 060): $122 Other CSTs: $150+ EAS: $80 Certificate Application on TEACH: $50 per certificate sought
New York	Advanced Certification	New York Additional Certification Program	Fingerprint Clearance/Background Check: $102+ Required Workshops (CAI, SVP, DASA): ~$75+ per workshop Certification Exams: CSTs: $150+ Students with Disabilities CST (Exam 060): $122 EAS: $80 Certificate Application on TEACH: $50 per certificate sought
Pennsylvania	Residency	Pennsylvania Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program	Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) - $23.85 Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance - $13 Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records - $22 Intern Certificate - Special Education PK-12, if required - $200 Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Instructional I Teaching Certificate - $200
	Non-Residency	Pennsylvania Teacher Intern Certification Program	Intern Certificate - $200 Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) - $23.85 Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance - $13 Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records - $22 Intern Certificate - Special Education PK-12, if required - $200 Instructional I Teaching Certificate - $200
	Advanced Certification	Pennsylvania Additional Certification Program	Intern Certificate (if required by employer) - $200 Praxis Test Fees - $50-209 (per attempt) Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) - $23.85 Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance - $13 Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records - $22 Instructional I Teaching Certificate - $200
Rhode Island	Residency	See Colorado	Read here for more information about licensure requirements for Rhode Island.
Tennessee	Residency	Tennessee Teaching Residency Licensure Program	Praxis Test Fees - $130-180 (per attempt/per test) Background Clearance - $35.15 Apply for Practitioner License (Resident) - No cost
	Non-Residency	Tennessee Job-Embedded Licensure Program	Praxis Test Fees - $130-180 (per attempt/per test) Background Clearance - $35.15 Apply for Practitioner License (Job-Embedded) - No cost
	Advanced Certification	Tennessee Additional Endorsement Program	Background Clearance - $35.15 Provisional Special Education Endorsement, if applicable - No cost Praxis Test Fees - $130-180 (per attempt/per test)
Texas	Residency & Non-Residency	Texas Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program	TExES Content Exam- $116- $136 Intern or Probationary Certificate- $78 TEA Fingerprinting- $50.25 Application for a Texas Standard Certificate- $78
Washington, DC	As of February 21, 2025, Relay is in the process of launching new teacher preparation program offerings for applicants in Washington, D.C. We will update the certification costs as soon as information is available.

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