If you're a media specialist with plans to relocate or someone who's eager to join the profession, here are the latest certification requirements you'll need to know. Since School Library Journal's last certification article (see 'Getting Certified in 50 States,' June 2000, pp. 50–72), 17 states—Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Vermont—have revised or updated their library media specialist certification requirements. While finding work as a public librarian is almost guaranteed for those with a master's degree from an American Library Association–accredited school, media specialists must also meet department of education certification requirements in the state in which they plan to work. Although most states require teacher certification for library media specialists, those standards vary greatly for each state, with some calling for one or all of the following: a master's degree in library and information science or education, teacher certification or classroom experience, and additional course credit hours. Keep in mind that all of these standards may change as a result of No Child Left Behind, which mandates certification for all lower elementary grade public school teachers. Although states will try to comply with the new law, it will prove difficult to obtain media specialist certification in some areas of the country, including Cheyenne, WY, Pocatello, ID, and Blue Hill, ME. If states lack ALA–accredited schools or education degrees, librarian candidates will be forced to pack their bags for a year or more. Of course, online courses are also an option, but learning from a remote location is not for everyone. One of the most crucial developments in the last few years is that more states recognize the importance of teaching information-literacy skills. Indeed, certified school librarians must still demonstrate knowledge of children's and young adult literature, library management, and cataloging, but there's a growing trend toward basing competency on the tenets outlined in Information Power (ALA Editions, 1998) and the ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Programs for School Library Media Specialist Preparation (ALA Editions, 2003), which were developed by the American Library Association and the American Association of School Librarians along with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). These standards specify that future media specialists must teach information literacy and research skills, collaborate and provide leadership in schools, and manage information resources. Thanks to the lobbying efforts of ALA and NCATE, 20 states now require a master's degree in education or library and information science for certification, or the completion of a state-approved program in school library media. A teaching background is also mandatory in nine states, including Texas, which calls for two years of classroom-teaching experience, and Arizona, which requires one year of teaching experience. Thirty-six states—including Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Idaho—require a classroom-teaching certificate, in addition to a master's degree or course hours, for media specialist certification. Some states, such as Indiana and Florida, allow candidates to complete requirements for classroom teacher certification in addition to the requirements for the master's degree at an ALA–accredited library school. Generally, this requires six to 18 hours of additional course work, or about two to six courses, in a school or college of education, and may include classes in educational psychology, child development, and educational foundations. This process, sometimes referred to as 'program certification,' allows you to satisfy state requirements for classroom teacher and school library media certification by having a college or school verify that the course work has been completed, rather than having the state department of education conduct a transcript analysis. Thirty-seven states —including Delaware and Kentucky—require at least some practicum or internship in a school library prior to certification, thus sending a clear message that media specialists require specialized training. All 50 states and the District of Columbia mandate a bachelor's degree for certification as a media specialist. Most specify the completion of an additional 15 to 36 credit hours in library or educational media or completion of an ALA or ALA/NCATE–approved program in library and information science or educational media. Louisiana and a few other states offer the option of either undergraduate or graduate hours for these credits. Twenty-seven states, including Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Nevada, require at least 20 undergraduate or graduate credit hours, or about seven courses. And 30 states—including Connecticut, Kansas, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington—now offer tiered certification, which provides a variety of options for attaining the 'master teacher' or professional certification level. Programs that help attract teachers, such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers, are both designed to help those with college degrees speed up the teacher-certification process and cut down on the number of education classes required. Those with an MLS but no teaching certificate may use these programs to obtain the certificate required by the state in which they intend to work.

State-by-State Certification Standards

		Teaching Certificate Required	Teaching Experience Required	LMC Internship/ Practicum Required	Master's Degree Required	Tiered Credential/ Certificate
Alabama	Alabama Department of Education Teacher Education and Certification Office E-mail: tcert@alsde.edu	Yes	Yes, for class A library media certificate	Yes, usually 300 hours	Yes	Yes
Alaska	Alaska Department of Education and Early Development E-mail: tcwebmail@eed.state.ak.us	Yes, type A or C	No	NA	Yes, for type C (may not classroom teach)	Yes
Arizona	Arizona Department of Education Certification Unit E-mail: certification@ade.az.gov	Yes	Yes, one year	NA	Yes or passing score on Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment	NA
Arkansas	Office of Professional Licensure Arkansas Department of Education E-mail: tolson@arkedu.k12.ar.us	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Provisional and standard
California	California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Information Services E-mail: credentials@ctc.ca.gov	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
Colorado	Colorado State Library E-mail: nassar_n@cde.state.co.us	Yes, type A	Yes, one year	Yes	No	Yes
Connecticut	Bureau of Certification and Professional Development Connecticut State Department of Education E-mail: teacher.cert@po.state.ct.us	Yes, or eligible to attain	No	Yes	No	Initial, provisional, and professional educator
Delaware	Delaware State Department of Education Certification of Professional Public School Personnel E-mail: NA	No	No	Yes	No	Temporary, limited standard, standard
District of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools Teacher Recruitment Center Education Credentialing and Standards Branch E-mail: NA	NA	NA	Yes or experience	Yes	NA
Florida	Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification E-mail: edcert@mail.doe.state.fl.us	NA	NA	NA	No	NA
Georgia	Professional Standards Commission Certification Section E-mail: mail@gapsc.com	NA	NA	NA	Yes, or completion of approved program	NA
Hawaii	Hawaii Department of Education Office of Personnel Services/Teacher Recruitment Unit E-mail: Teacher_Recruitment@notes.k12.hi.us	Yes	NA	Yes	Yes	NA
Idaho	Teacher Certification/Professional Standards State Department of Education E-mail: kpotter@sde.state.id.us	Yes	No	No	No	No
Illinois	Illinois State Board of Education Division of Professional Certification E-mail: NA	Yes	No	NA	No	Media professional, media specialist, media supervisor
Indiana	Indiana Professional Standards Board Licensing E-mail: helpdesk@psb.state.in.us	Yes	No	Yes	No	NA
Iowa	Board of Educational Examiners Department of Education Grimes State Office Building E-mail: Christina.dystra@ed.state.ia.us	Yes	NA	NA	Yes	NA
Kansas	Certification and Teacher Education Kansas State Department of Education E-mail: mgage@ksde.org	Yes, professional level	Yes	Yes	Yes	Provisional, conditional, and professional
Kentucky	Kentucky State Department of Education Education Professional Standards Board Division of Certification E-mail: sherry.paul@mail.state.ky.us	Yes	NA	Yes,24 credit hours	Yes	NA
Louisiana	Louisiana Department of Education, Teacher Certification and Higher Education, Office of Quality Educators E-mail: customerservice@mail.doe.la.us  or mhmccoy@doe.state.la.us	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Maine	State of Maine Department of Education Certification Office E-mail: Pat.Julien@state.me.us	No	No	No	No	Initial, conditional, or professional
Maryland	Maryland State Department of Education Certification Branch E-mail: NA	No	No	Yes	Yes, or school library program	Educational media associate, generalist, or specialist
Massachusetts	Office of Educator Certification and Licensure Massachusetts Department of Education E-mail: LicensureHelp@doe.mass.edu  (or online form)	Yes	NA	Yes	Yes, or school library program	Provisional or standard certificate
Michigan	Office of Professional Preparation and Certification Michigan Department of Education E-mail: LoganCE@michigan.doc	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
Minnesota	Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning Personnel Licensing E-mail: Personnel.Licensing@state.mn.us	No	NA	Yes	No	NA
Mississippi	Mississippi Department of Education Teacher Certification E-mail: cchester@mde.k12.ms.us	Hold or meet requirements for standard educator license	No	No	Yes, or library/media program	Class A, AA, AAA, or AAAA
Missouri	Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Teacher Quality and Urban Education Teacher Certification E-mail: webreplyteachcert@mail.dese.state.mo.us	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
Montana	Montana Office of Public Instruction E-mail: cert@state.mt.us	Yes	NA	Yes	No	Provisional, endorsement
Nebraska	Teacher Education Program Approval Teacher Certification E-mail: tcertweb@nde4.nde.state.ne.us	Yes	No	No	No, but endorsement in library media	NA
Nevada	Nevada Department of Education Teacher Licensing Office E-mail: license@nsn.k12.nv.us	Yes	No	Yes	Yes, completion of school library program	School library media specialist and professional SLM specialist
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Department of Education Bureau of Credentialing E-mail: NA	No	No	Yes	No	Intern, beginning educator, experienced educator
New Jersey	Office of Licensing and Academic Credentials New Jersey Department of Education E-mail: NA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Associate educational MS; educational MS
New Mexico	Professional Licensure Unit New Mexico State Department of Education Education Building E-mail: cherra@sde.state.nm.us	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
New York	Certification Unit Office of Teaching Initiatives New York State Education Department E-mail: NA	NA	NA	Yes	Yes, for permanent certification	Provisional, permanent certification
North Carolina	Department of Public Instruction Licensure Section E-mail: teachnc@dpi.state.nc.us	NA	NA	Yes	Yes, for coordinator positions	Library media supervisor or coordinator
North Dakota	Department of Public Instruction School Approval and Accreditation E-mail: amiller@state.nd.us	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Ohio	Office of Certification and Licensure Ohio Department of Education E-mail: contact.center@ode.state.oh.us	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Department of Education Professional Standards E-mail: cindy_marose@sde.state.ok.us	Yes	Yes, one year	NA	Yes	license, certificate
Oregon	Oregon Department of Education Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission E-mail: NA	No	No	Yes	Yes for Stage II	Initial teaching license (stage I), continuing teaching license (stage II)
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation E-mail: 00certificat@psupen.psu.edu	Yes	No	Yes	No	Provisional, permanent
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Education Office of Teacher Certification E-mail: NA	No	No	Yes	No	Three-year provisional and five-year professional
South Carolina	Department of Education Division of Teacher Quality E-mail: certification@scteachers.org	NA	NA	Yes	No	NA
South Dakota	Department of Education and Cultural Affairs E-mail: Jamie.freestone@state.sd.us	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
Tennessee	Tennessee Department of Education Office of Teacher Licensing E-mail: Education.Comments@state.tn.us	NA	NA	NA	Yes	NA
Texas	State Board for Educator Certification E-mail: sbec@mail.sbec.state.tx.us	Yes	Yes, two years	Yes	Yes	NA
Utah	Utah State Office of Education E-mail: NA	Yes	Yes, two years for standard certificate	NA	NA	Basic, standard
Vermont	Educator Licensing Office Vermont Department of Education E-mail: licensing@doe.state.vt.us	Yes	NA	Yes	No	NA
Virginia	Professional Licensure Virginia Department of Education E-mail: telliott@mail.vak12ed.edu  or ppitts@mail.vak12ed.edu	Yes	No	Yes	No	Provisional
Washington	Professional Education and Certification Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction E-mail: cert@ospi.wedned.edu	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
West Virginia	Department of Education E-mail: mbowe@access.k12.wv.us	No	No	Yes	No, but preferred	Yes
Wisconsin	Teacher Education and Licensing E-mail: NA	Yes, or eligibility	No	Yes	Varies with specific license	Yes
Wyoming	Wyoming Department of Education Professional Teaching Standards Board E-mail: PTSB@www.k12.wy.us	Yes	No	No	NA	NA
For links to complete certification requirements, visit individual state home pages.