Idaho has more than 300,000 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 across its 181 school districts and at least 750 schools, according to the Idaho State Department of Education. This significant number of schools and students in the state indicates a substantial demand for educators with Education degrees, particularly Early Childhood Education.
Moreover, the US School System also spends an average of $7,771 per pupil in Idaho, just a bit more than half of the $12,612 nationwide average spending per pupil. This implies that those who intend to pursue an Education degree in Idaho will have to be prepared to face these challenges.
Related:
- Best 1 Year Online Master’s in Education Programs
- Top Online Colleges for Early Childhood Education
- Best Online English as a Second Language Endorsement Programs
- Top Online Special Education Endorsement Programs
- Best Schools Offering Online Reading Endorsements
Requirements for Teaching Licensure in Idaho
Complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Education
Aspiring educators in Idaho must first earn a bachelor’s in education or a related field from an accredited college or university. They must complete undergraduate coursework, which will depend on the desired level of teaching.
In addition to the Bachelor in Education degree, aspiring educators in Idaho are also required to complete a teacher preparation program recognized by a regional accreditation agency under the US Department of Education and the CAEP or Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. This involves a seminar on classroom skills and educational theory, and an experiential aspect of teaching in the chosen field. The educator preparation program is often undertaken as part of an Education Bachelor’s program.
Complete a State-Approved Teacher Certification Program
The Teacher Certification Program provides a structured process to ensure that teachers in Idaho meet the standards and qualifications required to teach in the state’s public schools. Once the teacher certification requirements are met, the following documents are to be submitted to the Idaho State Department of Education:
- Completed and signed application
- Proof of completed Bachelor’s degree and accredited teacher preparation program
- An institutional recommendation for licensure
- Applicable Praxis Subject Assessments
- A background investigation check packet
Pass the State-Mandated Exams
To be qualified to teach in Idaho, aspiring educators are required to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, which is a standardized assessment covering general knowledge of academic basics like writing, mathematics, and reading comprehension.
Additionally, the Praxis Subject Assessments must also be taken for those teaching specific subject areas.
Other Notes on Teaching Licensure Requirements
Do you hold a bachelor’s degree in a different field of study other than Education? Don’t worry, as alternative routes are available towards obtaining teacher certification for the state of Idaho.
Online Education Program Admission Requirements
Specific online EDU admission requirements in Idaho can differ depending on the school and the specific program. However, the following are some of the general requirements:
- High school diploma or an equivalent educational attainment
- Official transcripts from high school and post-secondary institution, if applicable
- A required minimum grade point average (GPA), which depends on the program and the school
- SAT, ACT and other standardized test scores
- Completion of certain prerequisite courses like Math, Science, and English
Aspiring educators are highly advised to check the requirements of the school and the program they’re interested in.
Average Salaries for Common Educator Roles in Idaho
- Preschool Teachers – $31,780
- Kindergarten Teachers – $50,810
- Elementary School Teachers – $61,670
- Middle School Teachers – $54,800
- Secondary School Teachers – $62,100
- Career/Technical Education Teachers (Secondary School) – $62,440
- Special Education Teachers (Kindergarten and Elementary School) – $64,790
- SpeEd Teachers (Middle School) – $45,760
- SpeEd Teachers (Secondary School) – $52,770
- ESL and Adult Education Instructors – $58,760
Scholarships for Future Educators in the State of Idaho
Future Educator Scholarship
This is a non-renewable award that provides a Freshman Scholarship of $2,000-$5,000 to qualified graduating high school seniors in Idaho who choose an early childhood education degree pathway at an accredited university or college in the state.
IdahoSTARS Emerging Leaders Master’s Degree Scholarship
This scholarship is available to professionals in the ECE field who are committed to a career in the areas of preschool, child care, and other fields that benefit young children in Idaho.
Rupert Elks Lodge Scholarship Fund
This scholarship is available to graduating senior students from Minidoka or Cassia County high schools who intend to enroll in a certification or degree in a vocational education program or a career & technical education program.
The 5 Best Online Education Degree Providers in Idaho
There are 12 educational institutions listed in the National Center of Education Statistics that offer at least an Education Major or Program in Idaho, and five of which are offering Education as a Distance Learning or Online program. Furthermore, four of these schools are offering Distance Learning or Online programs for Education and Teaching concentrating on early childhood, elementary, or kindergarten/preschool education. These institutions range from community colleges to state-recognized universities.
Prospective students who want to enroll in the “best” institution offering online Education or Teaching degrees in Idaho are highly advised to check the “Directory of Online Education Degree Providers in Idaho” section further below to explore the specific degree programs being offered by their preferred university or college.
The top five schools selected here are based on several factors, such as the number of online education degrees being offered. An “academic prestige” score is also considered, which is composed of various account metrics such as admissions standards and average class sizes.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public four-year institution of higher education with high research activities located in Pocatello and has three other locations across the state. It offers at least 250 academic programs for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Online students. The University boasts a campus community of at least 12,000 students and more than 800 faculty members. With a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, learners benefit from the personalized attention and guidance from their professors for a more enhanced learning experience.
ISU’s College of Education caters to aspiring Idaho teachers who want to pursue online Education degrees, whether in the area of general education, sports, leadership, or administration. The University offers fully online degrees at both Undergraduate and Graduate levels.
The Undergraduate programs include the following areas:
- Blended Early Childhood
- Elementary Education
- Special Education
The online Graduate programs include the following areas:
- Elementary Education, Med
- School Psychology, EdS
- Teaching, MAT
- Special Education, MEd
- Instructional Design and Technology, MEd or EdD
- In-State Tuition: $8,356 (Undergrad); $8,904 (Graduate)
- Online Ed Degrees: 25+
- Homepage
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is a public institution of higher education in Moscow with a Carnegie Classification of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.” It is the only land-grant and primary research university in Idaho. Founded in 1889, it was the state’s only university for 71 years.
The University provides a campus environment with a small-town vibe far away from the city. With more than 11,500 students, 76% of which are undergraduate, and with at least 800 faculty members, students can make the most of their education as they benefit from the low student-faculty ratio of 16:1.
The University’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences offers a variety of nationally accredited online Education degree programs at Graduate levels where in-state tuition fees are applicable and scholarships are available. These programs include the fields of:
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Physical Education
- Special Education
- In-State Tuition: $8,272 (Graduate)
- Online Ed Degrees: 5
- Homepage
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public, four-year, research-intensive institution with a Carnegie classification of R2 Doctoral University. It was initially established in 1934 as an independent junior college and became a public university in 1969.
BSU offers at least 200 areas of study at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels. Students have unique educational experiences by combining minors, internships, work opportunities, and hands-on research. It has a midsized residential campus with more than 26,000 students, around 87% of which are undergraduates, and a student-faculty ratio of 20:1.
BSU also offers a wide range of 100% online degrees and professional certificates, which provide the same prestige and amenities as its traditional degree programs. Some of the University’s online programs relevant to early childhood education include:
- Early Childhood Education Emphasis (BAS)
- M. Ed in Early and Special Education
- Master in Teaching in Special Education
- In-State Tuition: $8,782 (Undergrad); $7,645 (Graduate)
- Online Ed Degrees: 12
- Homepage
Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College is a public four-year college in Lewiston established in 1893 initially as a teacher training institution named Lewiston State Normal School. Today, LC State offers more than 130 academic programs at various Certificate and Degree levels, including at least 20 fully online programs. With more than 3,700 students, LC State boasts of providing a small-college educational experience at par with its private-school counterparts but at a public school tuition rate.
LC State offers a variety of online academic programs, including the 128-credit Bachelor of Arts/Science in Elementary Education, where students have to take 39-41 credits of General Education courses and 90 credits of Elementary Education courses. This program includes a yearlong internship guided by a faculty member and an on-site teacher educator in a local middle school or elementary school.
- In-State Tuition: $7,388 (Undergraduate)
- Online Ed Degrees: 9+
- Homepage
College of Southern Idaho
The College of Southern Idaho is a public, comprehensive community college in Twin Falls with off-campus programs in other locations across the state. While mainly offering academic programs at Associate and Technical Certificate levels covering more than 115 fields of study, CSI also provides upper-division courses through three major universities in Idaho.
CSI currently has at least 8,000 undergraduate students and more than 350 faculty members in its city-based small campus, making up for a student-faculty ratio of 22:1. Additionally, the College also offers fully online Technical Certificate and Associate Degree programs, wherein all general education courses are available in online and asynchronous learning formats.
- In-State Tuition: $3,360
- Online Ed Degrees: 4
- Homepage
Directory of Online Education Degree Providers in Idaho
Idaho State University
- Pocatello, ID
- Online Ed Degrees: 25+
- NWCCU-Accredited
- Tuition: $8,356
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
- Blended Early Childhood Education, BA.
- Business Education (BSED.)
- BA or BS in Elementary Education – Standard Certificate Only or with Subject Area Endorsement
- Family and Consumer Sciences, 30-Credit or 45-Credit Endorsement (teaching)
- BA or BS in Special Education
- BS in Workplace Training and Leadership
- Teacher Education Program for Elementary/Special Education
GRADUATE DEGREES
- Athletic Administration, MPE
- Deaf Education, MS
- Educational Leadership, MEd
- Elementary Education, MEd
- Higher Education Administration, EdD
- Human Resource Development, MS
- Instructional Design and Technology, MEd
- Instructional Design and Technology, EdD
- Instructional Design, PhD
- P-12 Education Administration, MEd
- P-12 Education Administration- Athletic Administration, MEd
- P-12 Education Administration, EdD
- P-12 Education Administration, EdS
- Secondary Education, MEd
- School Psychological Examiner, MEd
- School Psychology, EdS
- Special Education, MEd
- Teaching, MAT
University of Idaho
- Moscow, ID
- Online Ed Degrees: 5
- NWCCU-Accredited
- Tuition: $8,272
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
- None
GRADUATE DEGREES
- Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.)
- Physical Education (M.Ed.)
- Special Education (M.Ed.)
- Adult Organizational Learning and Leadership (MS.)
- Educational Leadership (M.Ed., Ed.S.)
Boise State University
- Boise, ID
- Online Ed Degrees: 12
- NWCCU-Accredited
- Tuition: $8,782
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
- Bachelor of Applied Science, Early Childhood Education Emphasis
GRADUATE DEGREES
- Master of Education in Early and Special Education
- Master of Educational Technology
- Master of Arts in Education, Language, Literacy and Culture
- Master in Teaching in Special Education
- Master in Teaching in Career Technical Education
- Doctor of Education in Educational Technology
- Education Specialist in Educational Technology
- Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Education, K12
- Graduate Certificate in Designing Accessible Online Education
- Graduate Certificate in Educational Games and Simulations
- Graduate Certificate in AI in Education
Lewis-Clark State College
- Lewiston, ID
- Online Ed Degrees: 9+
- NWCCU-Accredited
- Tuition: $7,388
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
- Elementary Education (BA/BS)
- General Studies – Education (BA/BS)
- Paraprofessional Education (AA)
- Early Childhood Development (AAS/ATC)
- Early Childhood Special Education (Minor)
- Literacy – Teaching Endorsement, Grades K-12 (Minor)
- Middle School English Language Arts (Minor)
- Middle School Minor in Science or Social Studies
GRADUATE DEGREES
- None
College of Southern Idaho
- Twin Falls, ID
- Online Ed Degrees: 4
- NWCCU-Accredited
- Tuition: $3,360
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
- Early Childhood Education, Basic Technical Certificate
- Early Childhood Education, AAS
- Early Childhood Education, ITC
- Education, Associate of Arts
GRADUATE DEGREES
- None
Northwest Nazarene University
- Nampa, ID
- Online Ed Degrees: 11
- NWCCU-Accredited
- Tuition: $39,370
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
- Elementary Education, Associate of Arts
- Secondary Education, Associate of Arts
GRADUATE DEGREES
- Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation, Master of Education
- Educational Leadership, Doctor of Philosophy
- Educational Leadership, Doctor of Education
- Educational Leadership – Building Administrator, Master of Education
- Educational Leadership – Building Administrator, Education Specialist
- Educational Leadership – Superintendent, Education Specialist
- Educational Leadership – Director of Special Ed, Education Specialist
- Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education
