Career and Technical Education Certification

Career and Technical education (CTE) educators must hold both a Delaware teaching license and at least one certificate. The license authorizes an educator to work in a Delaware public or charter school. The certificate identifies the area in which the educator is authorized to practice.

There are two types of certification in the field of CTE education; both certification options are equally acceptable in Delaware schools. For reference, we refer to the certification areas as follows:

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certification – Some CTE educators pursue a college educator preparation program (EPP) that leads directly to a license and CTE certification. Generally, candidates that come from an EPP are qualified to teach due to their college credentials and may meet the licensure and certification requirements upon application. CTE certificates are issued in the areas of AgriScience, Business Education, Family and Consumer Sciences, Marketing Education, and Technology Education. CTE Educators may also be able to obtain certification through an Alternative Routes to Certification Program.

Skilled and Technical Science (STS) Certification – Some CTE educators choose to work in a professional or trade field for a number of years before entering the classroom. These individuals may pursue a license and STS certificate. An STS certificate may be issued in the same career area as a CTE certification candidate with related work experience. STS educators, may or may not hold a college degree and are given up to six years to complete the coursework and testing required for full licensure and certification.

This Career and Technical Certification page contains the following sections:

License Overview
Certificate Overview
DEEDS Application Process Steps
CTE Certification Requirements
CTE vs STS Hiring Practices
Career and Technical Education Documentation Requirements
- Career and Technical Education Certification Requirements
- Skilled and Technical Sciences Certification Requirements
Document Guidelines for Submission
Career and Technical Education Resources
Career and Technical Education Certification Regulations
- Career and Technical Education Certification Regulations
- Skilled and Technical Sciences Certification Regulations

Applying for Delaware licensure and certification is a two-step process, in that you must hold both a License and at least one Certificate. The License authorizes you to work in a Delaware public/charter school, and the Certificate(s) identifies the area(s) in which you are authorized to teach.

License Overview

Delaware defines “License” as a credential that authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued. A Delaware educator holds only one license; however, the license type depends on experience as outlined below.

Initial License: If you are a brand new educator or have more than one year but less than four years of licensed teaching experience, you should apply for an Initial License.
Continuing License: If you have over four years of licensed teaching experience, you should apply for a Continuing License.
Advanced License: If you have received National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, you should apply for an Advanced License.

Top of Page

Certificate Overview

A Delaware educator can hold multiple certificates to certify their education in a specific area of expertise. The certificate types are detailed below.

Standard Certificate: Delaware defines “Standard Certificate” as a credential issued to certify that an educator has the prescribed knowledge, skill or education to practice in a particular area to teach a particular subject, or to teach a category of students. Find your certification area by reviewing Delaware’s list of Standard Certificates. The Professional Standards Board promulgates the regulations governing certification.
Emergency Certificate: Delaware defines “Emergency Certificate” as a temporary credential issued to an educator who has obtained employment or an offer of employment with an employing authority and holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License, but lacks the necessary skills and knowledge to immediately meet certification requirements in a specific content area.
Certificate of Eligibility: Delaware defines “Certificate of Eligibility” (COE) as a credential issued to an educator who is participating in a state-approved, appropriate, alternative route to licensure and certification program for teachers of students with disabilities and holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License.

Top of Page

DEEDS Application Process Steps

Log in to your DEEDS account via the EdAccess login page.
Apply for the appropriate License and Certificate(s) for the content area you want to teach.
Have a credit card (not a debit card) at hand. There will be a one-time $100 application fee, which is reimbursable upon employment in a Delaware public or charter school when the educator is fully licensed and certified.
Request to send all official documentation:
- All official transcripts.
- Test Scores (Praxis, ACTFL.) – if applicable (not required for reciprocity applications)
- Proof of student teaching, if not on your transcript.
- Copy of your out-of-state credential, if applicable.
- Verification of Experience (Form E or Form E/NT), if applicable (for out-of-state reciprocity applicants)
Upon receipt of all documentation, DDOE Staff will review the application and documentation.
DDOE staff will update your application status within DEEDS. You can monitor the application progress by clicking the “View My Applications” button on the DEEDS Educator Dashboard. Each application is shown with progress banners to indicate where the application is within the review and approval process.
If additional documentation is needed to process your application, then a red “Respond to Deficiency” button will appear on the DEEDS Educator Dashboard. You will need to respond to the deficiency from within the DEEDS application, providing whatever additional information is requested in order for the application process to continue. This is the communication between DDOE and the applicant during the application process.
You may apply for employment while your License and Certificate(s) are pending. Districts and charter schools will have access to your application information via DEEDS.

Top of Page

CTE Certification Requirements

CTE and STS certificates are issued to educators employed in Delaware public schools with specific CTE pathways approved by the Delaware Department of Education, Career and Technical Education Office. The approved CTE pathway defines experience, education, and certification requirements. CTE and STS certification requirements are specific to approved programs of study and are correlated to an approved program of study code, both of which are available in the “CTE teacher certification guidelines” document found on the CTE Educator Resources page. The certification document also includes a definition of related work experience for each career area and professional licensure or certification requirements. Specific certification(s) for each CTE program of study are provided in column G of the CTE teacher certification requirements document.

Top of Page

CTE vs STS Hiring Practices

The hiring entity is responsible for choosing the appropriate certification under which it will hire and can make this decision based on the certification requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the hiring entity’s budget. An STS certificate is valid in the program for which it is issued. A CTE certificate may be valid in multiple programs. See CTE Certification Requirements section above, for program certification requirements.

Delaware Pathways promotes CTE programs in Delaware schools and is a great resource for students and families. This resource lists CTE programs by school and includes information on CTE program education requirements and projected salaries.

Top of Page

Career and Technical Education Documentation Requirements

Career and Technical Teachers:

The following items must be sent. To ensure speedy processing, please ensure that you follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

Official Transcript(s) – minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree.
Student Teaching on an official transcript.
Copy of current and valid out-of-state teaching license, if applicable.
Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – if you have one or more years of out-of-state teaching experience while holding a valid teaching license.
Test scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request. Visit the Testing Guidelines page for more information.

Skilled and Technical Sciences Teachers:

The following items must be sent, if relevant and applicable. Documentation requirements align to the STS Candidate – Licensure/Certification Checklist as it will be helpful in providing the applicant with a list of requirements towards certification completion and in guiding the applicant through the documentation requirements. This form will be completed by either the HR department or the Delaware Department of Education once all requirement documents are received. To ensure speedy processing, please ensure that you follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

Professional and Occupational License(s)
- State license or registration certificate if required by law.
- Candidate should note the following: In occupations where a state license or registration is required by law, all applicants for Skilled and Technical Sciences certification shall present a valid and current Delaware license or registration upon application for teaching credentials and must be renewed as required by law.
Educational Requirements – Part #1 (refer to STS Education Requirements for clarification.)
- Copies of all professional, occupational, and/or instructor licenses – Delaware or out-of-state; preferably current
- Documents of any career-related credits or training related to the career area of certification
- Documents of any career-related credits or training related to the career area of certification and related to the practice of teaching or instructing others
Educational Requirements – Part #2 (refer to STS Education Requirements for clarification.)
- Official transcript(s) reflecting any college coursework or technical training that has been successfully completed (minimum of two years training or coursework)
Experience Requirements
- Experience must be documented by using the following forms.
  - Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – if applicable.
  - Form E/NT (Verification of Non-Teaching Experience) – if applicable.
- Candidate should note the following:
  - Candidate must demonstrate that they have six years of work experience in an area related to the STS career area; two of the years must be within the last five years OR
  - Candidates must demonstrate that they have six years of work experience by teaching in or direct supervision of educators in an area related to the STS career area; two of the years must be within the last five years.

Top of Page

Documentation Guidelines for Submission

All documents, with the exception of copies of out-of-state and/or national certificates (if applicable), must be official, meaning that they must be sent directly from the appropriate third party (e.g., the college/university, testing organization, former employer, independent credentialing agency) to the Department electronically to
deeds@doe.k12.de.us
, or forwarded unopened, by mail to the Department by the candidate. Applicants submitting test scores should be sure to review the Testing Guidelines for test-specific submission procedures.

Top of Page

Career and Technical Education Resources

CTE Teacher Requirements

CTE Industry Requirements

STS Education Requirements

Top of Page

Career and Technical Education Certification Regulations

The following regulations, promulgated by the Professional Standards Board, govern the requirements for the specific certification. It is recommended that candidates become familiar with the regulations that are specific to their employment.