• Administrator Certification

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • DEEDS Application Process Steps

    1. Log in to your DEEDS account via the EdAccess login page.
    2. Apply for the appropriate License and Certificate(s) for the content area you want to teach.
    3. 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.
    4. 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)
    5. Upon receipt of all documentation, DDOE Staff will review the application and documentation.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.


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  • Principal or Assistant Principal Documentation Requirements

    The following items must be sent directly to the Department for your application to be reviewed. Please follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

    • Official Transcript(s) – Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of a master's degree.
      • Education Requirements - must meet one of the selections below:
        • A master’s or doctoral degree in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership from a regionally accredited college or university with advanced preparation accreditation by NCATE/CAEP; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any field and satisfactory completion of an alternative route to licensure or certification program for school principals as provided in 14 Del.C. §§1260 – 1266; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactory completion of a Department-approved educator preparation program for school principals as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 290 Approval of Education Preparation Programs.
      • Copy of current and valid out-of-state license, if applicable.
      • Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – a minimum of five (5) years of certified experience as an educator with satisfactory annual evaluations in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or equivalent setting as approved by the Department.
      • Test Scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request.
        • This certificate area requires one of the following Praxis II Tests:
          • Passing score of 160 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code #6011); or
          • Passing score of 160 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6021); or
          • Passing score of 151 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code #6990); or
          • Passing score of 162 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6991)
        • For certificates requiring Praxis II, Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the Praxis test. Please use Reporting Code 7065.

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  • Certified Central Office Personnel Documentation Requirements

    The following items must be sent directly to the Department for your application to be reviewed. Please follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

    • Official Transcript(s) – Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of a master's degree.
      • Education Requirements - must meet one of the selections below:
        • A master’s or doctoral degree in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership from a regionally accredited college or university with advanced preparation accreditation by NCATE/CAEP; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any field and satisfactory completion of an alternative route to licensure or certification program for central office personnel as provided in 14 Del.C. §§1260 – 1266; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactory completion of a Department-approved educator preparation program for central office personnel as provided in 14 Admin. Code 290 Approval of Educator Preparation Programs; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area; hold a School Principal and Assistant Principal Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1591) that was issued by the Department; and satisfactory completion of an additional nine (9) graduate-level credit hours in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent professional development approved by the Department. The additional nine (9) graduate-level credit hours must be completed after the conferral of the master’s or doctoral degree.
      • Copy of current and valid out-of-state license, if applicable.
      • Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – a minimum of five (5) years of certified experience as an educator with satisfactory annual evaluations in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or equivalent setting as approved by the Department.
      • Test Scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request.
        • This certificate area requires one of the following Praxis II Tests:
          • Passing score of 146 on the Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision Assessment (ETS Test Code #5412); or
          • Passing score of 160 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code #6011); or
          • Passing score of 160 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6021); or
          • Passing score of 151 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code #6990); or
          • Passing score of 162 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6991)
        • For certificates requiring Praxis II, Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the Praxis test. Please use Reporting Code 7065.

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  • Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent Documentation Requirements

    The following items must be sent directly to the Department for your application to be reviewed. Please follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

    • Official Transcript(s) – Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of a master’s degree.
      • Education Requirements - must meet one of the selections below:
        • A doctoral degree in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership from a regionally accredited college or university with advanced preparation accreditation by NCATE/CAEP; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any field and satisfactory completion of an alternative route to licensure or certification program for superintendents as provided in 14 Del.C. §§1260 – 1266; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactory completion of a Department-approved educator preparation program for superintendents as provided in 14 Admin. Code 290 Approval of Educator Preparation Programs; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area; hold a Certified Central Office Personnel Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1592) or Special Education Director Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1594) that was issued by the Department; and satisfactory completion of an additional nine (9) graduate-level credit hours in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent professional development approved by the Department. The additional nine (9) graduate-level credit hours must be completed after the issuance of the Certified Central Office Personnel Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1592) or Special Education Director Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1594).
    • Copy of current and valid out-of-state license, if applicable.
    • Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – a minimum of seven (7) years of certified experience as an educator, as follows:
      • A minimum of five (5) years of certified experience as an educator with satisfactory annual evaluations in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or equivalent setting as approved by the Department; and
      • A minimum of two (2) years of certified experience in one of the following full-time leadership experiences with satisfactory annual evaluations in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or equivalent setting as approved by the Department:
        • Working as a school principal or assistant school principal; or
        • Working as a certified central office administrator; or
        • Working as a special education director; or
        • Working in another administrative instructional leadership position; or
        • Any combination of the leadership experience requirements listed above.
    • Test Scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request.
      • This certificate area requires one of the following Praxis II Tests:
        • Passing score of 160 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6021); or
        • Passing score of 162 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6991)
      • For certificates requiring Praxis II, Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the Praxis test. Please use Reporting Code 7065.


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  • Special Education Director Documentation Requirements

    The following items must be sent directly to the Department for your application to be reviewed. Please follow the documentation guidelines for submission.

    • Official Transcript(s) – Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of a master's degree.
      • Education Requirements - must meet one of the selections below:
        • A master’s or doctoral degree in special education leadership from a regionally accredited college or university with advanced preparation accreditation by NCATE/CAEP; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in special education and satisfactory completion of an alternative route to licensure or certification program for leaders as provided in 14 Del.C. §§1260 – 1266; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactory completion of a Department-approved educator preparation program for special education directors as provided in 14 Admin. Code 290 Approval of Educator Preparation Programs; or
        • A master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership and satisfactory completion of an additional thirty (30) graduate-level credit hours in special education from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent professional development approved by the Department.
    • Copy of current and valid out-of-state license, if applicable.
    • Form E (Verification of Teaching Experience) – a minimum of five (5) years of one of the following experience requirements in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or an equivalent setting as approved by the Department:
      • Teaching special education students under a state credential with satisfactory annual summative evaluations; or
      • Working with special education students as a school psychologist, speech pathologist, or audiologist under a Delaware Standard Certificate or a Delaware professional license; or
      • Working with special education students as an educational diagnostician or special education coordinator; or
      • Providing pupil personnel services to special education students under a Delaware professional license; or
      • Supervising staff who teach special education students with satisfactory annual summative evaluations; or
      • Any combination of the experience requirements listed above.
    • Test Scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request.
      • This certificate area requires one of the following Praxis II Tests:
        • Passing score of 146 on the Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision Assessment (ETS Test Code #5412); or
        • Passing score of 160 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code #6011); or
        • Passing score of 160 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6021); or
        • Passing score of 151 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code #6990); or
        • Passing score of 162 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code #6991)
      • For certificates requiring Praxis II, Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the Praxis test. Please use Reporting Code 7065.


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  • 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.

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Last Modified on July 19, 2022