Teaching Math in Nebraska

Nebraska is known for its good-natured, honest and friendly residents. It also has a booming city life, with major metropolitan centers such as Lincoln and Omaha offering plenty of culture and entertainment options, including Broadway plays, museums and national musical acts. While it may not have the highest teacher salaries in the country, Nebraska boasts a low cost of living and low unemployment rate, making it a great choice for any math teacher.

Whether you’re interested in launching or continuing your education career, Nebraska offers numerous student loan forgiveness programs available to both beginners and veterans alike. Nebraska can also boast the second lowest student-to-teacher ratio in the nation – with only 9.6 students per teacher. On a more radical note, Nebraska was one of the few states that declined to adopt the Common Core State Standards.

Math Teacher Certification in Nebraska

Math Teaching Qualifications

In addition to a bachelor’s degree, Nebraska requires that all prospective teachers meet the qualifications for at least one endorsement to teach a particular subject and complete a mandated human relations training program.

Credentials & Exams

Nebraska uses the PPST (Pre Professional Skills Test) for basic skills and the Elementary Education Curriculum Instruction and Assessment (EECIA) test for teachers planning to teach grades K-8. The Praxis II Content Area exam is also required.

Nebraska offers three levels of certification. These include:

• Initial Certificate: This five-year license is issued to recent graduates of accredited teacher preparation programs.
• Standard Certificate: This five-year certificate is issued to teachers who have completed two consecutive years of either full- or half-time teaching.
• Professional Certificate: This ten-year license is issued to teachers with a Master’s degree, doctoral degree or National Board Certification.

Nebraska accepts recommendations from teacher preparation programs from accredited colleges and universities in other states, but all candidates must meet specific state requirements. Cases are evaluated on an individual basis. Nebraska does not typically recognize certificates that have been granted through alternate programs or by testing only.

Alternative Certification for Math Teachers

Transition to Teaching Program: Offered through the University of Nebraska at Kearney, this program is available to applicants who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and have completed 75 percent of the requirements for certification in a specified content area. In addition, eligible applicants will need to show that a school district is willing to hire and mentor them in advance.