Graduate Student requirements for teacher licensure programs are listed below. They are explained by program faculty, in the graduate student handbook, on the webpage linked below, and in the introductory meeting with the Holmes Center clinical coordinator. Further information is available in the Academic Course Catalog.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog and the Holmes Center Graduate Student Handbook for more information.
All education programs have minimum GPA requirements.
The NH Codes of Conduct and Ethics apply to all educators in NH, including college students in field work and internships. Review these documents and be prepared to ask questions at your meeting with the Holmes Center Clinical Coordinator and/or Seminar I.
Beyond academic program requirements, there are additional tasks that are required in order to be recommended for licensure in your certification area. These requirements are explained following this list.
Introductory Meeting with Holmes Center Clinical Coordinator
Internship Application
Create NH DOE EIS Account
Basic Academic Skills Assessment (if required by your licensure area)
Criminal History Record Check
GPA Requirement
Introductory Meeting with Mentor at Placement School (as needed)
Placement Confirmation & Intern Agreement Form
Background Check as Required by Placement District (as needed)
Seminar I (see calendar for internship semester)
Midterm Evaluation
Seminar II
Final Evaluation
Seminar III or Meeting with Holmes Center for Licensure Instructions
This meeting should happen upon enrollment to the graduate program. Reach out to the Holmes Center at psu-holmescenter@plymouth.edu to arrange an appointment. Alternatively, you can book an appointment with the clinical coordinator directly.
An explanation of non-academic recommendation requirements
Overview and Navigation of the Holmes Center webpages and handbook
The Internship in Teaching Application notifies the Holmes Center that you have completed coursework and non-academic pre-internship requirements and are ready to have your internship placement arranged. Submit your application before your internship semester as follows :
Fall Internships February 15 (prior spring semester)
Spring Internships April 15 (prior spring semester)
Intensive Year-long Internships Immediately Upon Enrollment
Choose the applicable button below to access the correct application.
Note: If you hold a current license in teaching, please inform the Holmes Center, because this requirement may have already been met. In addition, School Counseling and School Psychology are exempt from this requirement.
As part of the NHDOE Licensure requirements, students enrolled in an educator preparation program leading to certification must meet the Basic Academic Skills Assessment (BASA) in reading, writing, and math. This requirement reflects learning typically acquired between middle school and tenth grades. It is strongly recommended that students complete this requirement as soon as possible while middle and high school coursework remains freshest in memory. Passing scores in Reading, Writing and Math (as required for teacher candidates) or the test evaluation request are required at least 1 year before the internship begins. Scores must be reported to the Holmes Center.
In 2024, the NH DOE adopted Essential Academic Skills tests administered by Pearson National Evaluation Series for teacher candidates to meet the basic skills requirement. The tests should be taken during your first year at PSU and must be passed by meeting the current scores required by the State of New Hampshire. Students must retake and pass any subtest where the minimum score has not been achieved. There is a period of time required before a test can be retaken, so take these tests right away.
Important Note: Praxis Core is still an acceptable means of meeting the BASA requirement. Current teacher candidates with passing Praxis Core scores do not need to take the new tests to meet the BASA requirement.
Many graduate students met this requirement prior to enrollment due to existing licensure. The Holmes Center can assist you if you are unsure. Do not create a new account if you already have one. Otherwise, follow these detailed instructions to create your account. Use your personal contact information as your primary email and mailing address when you create your account.
By NH State Law, a Criminal History Record Check is required for all students who declare candidacy in an educator preparation program (even if you have existing licensure and/or employment). This mandatory criminal history record check includes both fingerprinting (submitted to the NH Department of Safety) and an application for clearance (submitted to the NH Department of Education). Note this background check can be used to meet the requirement for an SOE but not the other way around.
NH state law [RSA 189:13-a(IX)(b)] requires criminal history record checks for students who declare candidacy in an educator preparation program at an institution of higher education. There are many crimes which bar employment in education in New Hampshire.
Individuals enrolled in PSU programs leading to educator licensure (aka teacher prep) must set up a myNHDOE – Educator Info System (EIS) account and complete a criminal history record check. The CHRC includes:
Fingerprinting and Applying to the NH Department of Safety (with payment)
Applying to the NH DOE for clearance (with payment).
Placement School Background Check
Once an intern's placement has been arranged and confirmed with the mentor and an administrator (see Placement Confirmation Sheet), the intern must contact the school's district (SAU) office to complete the FBI criminal record check. New Hampshire state law requires the SAU to have the criminal record check results in their office before the internship begins.
Additional Background Checks
School districts may also require a criminal records check prior to the start of any early or mid-level field experience. Students must comply with local school policies and pay for all criminal record checks.
Matches are approved/arranged by program coordinators and the Holmes Center. This includes interns whose placements will be at their place of employment. NH DOE rules require mentors to be vetted by the Holmes Center to confirm that they meet said rules. Once arranged, interns will meet with mentors to introduce themselves (as needed) and begin the exciting task of building relationships. The Internship in Teaching calendar for your internship semester/year will be posted. Make sure to record the calendar dates in your planner before the internship semester begins. You will be following the calendar of your placement school.
The confirmation sheet ensures that the intern, mentor, and placement school administration are all aware and in agreement to fulfill the requirements of the internship in teaching.
The completion and submission of the Confirmation Sheet indicates that the intern is aware and agrees to adhere the requirements of the internship as well as those of the internship placement. Submission of the form is the responsibility of the intern.
The completed Internship in Teaching Placement Confirmation must be submitted to the Holmes Center (digital scan sent via email is acceptable) before the Registrar opens registration for your internship semester in order to ensure no delay in the intern's registration process.
In addition, teacher candidates are responsible to contact the placement district office (SAU) to complete an additional criminal records check. New Hampshire law requires the SAU to have the criminal record check results in their office before the internship begins.
Seminar I is required for all interns. The Holmes Center will host a meeting to explain the ins and outs of your internship. Mentors and University Supervisors will experience similar material in their internship overview and training sessions. Seminar I for interns happens the semester before your internship experience and may be held before, during, or after class (with scheduling assistance from faculty) as well as at scheduled, open-to-all sessions.
Seminar I Includes:
Overview of your internship calendar
Overview of the internship in teaching policies and handbook
Introduction to co-teaching
attendance, dress code, and lesson planning expectations
review of the NH Codes of Conduct and Ethics
In addition: You must apply for Degree Conferral, even if you do not plan to participate in the graduation ceremony. This initiates the audit of your DegreeWorks by the Registrar's Office and subsequent notification of the Holmes Center that you have indeed completed your program. You will find the information you need to complete your application on the Registrar's "Degree Completion, Transcripts, and Diplomas" page.
Subject-Area Testing is not required for graduation or for recommendation for licensure. It is, however, required by the NH DOE for most licensure endorsements. Teacher candidates should plan and study for their licensure required content area testing (e.g., Praxis II, etc.) while coursework learning will be freshest and so that the licensure process will be optimally efficient after the internship, and employment will be available as soon as possible.
The latest information regarding NH DOE testing changes can be found on the NH DOE BASA page.
During your internship, take advantage of additional events (such as resume workshop, education job fair, etc.). You will find further information on the Internship in Teaching webpage.
Upon submission of the completed Internship Confirmation Form, the Holmes Center will complete your registration override. Therefore, pre-internship requirements must also be completed before the date of registration for your internship semester or year.
The Mentor Teacher and University Supervisor will each complete this evaluation after the first seven weeks of the internship. The handbook explains the expectations for evaluation completion. The intern is expected to use the evaluation and feedback received to set competency goals for the remainder of the internship.
This seminar is an opportunity to meet with NH superintendents to discuss the hiring process. It is held one time during your internship semester (yr-long internships attend in spring) and is an excused absence from your placement. Educational leaders will share best practices for effective resumes and cover letters as well as coaching for excelling during interviews. Professional Dress is required. Although graduate students may already have employment, this event is also an excellent opportunity to practice for future interactions with administration professionals.
The Mentor Teacher and University Supervisor will each complete this evaluation at the conclusion of the internship. The handbook explains the expectations. Find competencies here.
At the end of the internship, Holmes Center faculty and staff will host an event to explain the Licensure process and discuss next steps after graduation. Those graduate students who cannot attend this seminar can request an appointment with the Holmes Center to cover this information individually.
Plymouth State University Educator Preparation Programs are approved by the New Hampshire State Board of Education and reviewed by the New Hampshire Council for Teacher Education (NHCTE). Completion of a PSU Educator Preparation Program (EPP) leads to recommendation for endorsement for the Beginner Educator Licensure with the New Hampshire Department of Education. Upon completion of an EPP, candidates may also request an Out of State Verification Form of Approved Education Program Completion. For information on reciprocity and obtaining a teaching license in a state other than NH, please contact the Holmes Center for assistance, psu-holmescenter@plymouth.edu. You can also contact the Department of Education for the state in which you are interested in pursuing licensure. Reciprocity does not mean an educator license from one state is automatically exchanged for a license in another state. The educator may have to complete additional requirements, such as coursework, assessments, or classroom experience, before receiving a full professional certificate in the new state.