Facts about the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)

 

Facts about the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) 

On May 1, 2008, Governor Matt Blunt signed Senate Bill 1066, authorizing another form of alternative certification of teachers in Missouri.  The law took effect August 28, 2008.  It allows persons who hold a certificate from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) to be eligible for a regular Missouri teaching certificate in these areas:

  • Elementary Education
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • English/Language Arts
  • General Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Social Science (Must pass the US and World History Tests)

By law, American Board certificate-holders are NOT eligible for a regular Missouri license in the areas of Early Childhood Education or Special Education.

Candidates for the American Board-based certificate must:

Successful applicants will be issued an Initial Professional Certificate by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Once employed, American Board certificate-holders will be subject to the same mentoring and professional development requirements that apply to all new teachers in Missouri schools.

Application Procedure

Complete the online ABCTE application.  In order to create a certification account (online profile) you will need to follow the Educator Certification System Help Guide.  Submit remaining items on the ABCTE checklist (located on the ABCTE application) in one packet to DESE-Educator Certification, P. O. Box 480, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0480.

For More Information

Visit https://www.americanboard.org/ to learn more about the American Board program, examination process, and fees.

 

 

TO LOG INTO YOUR ONLINE EDUCATOR PROFILE

To access your certification account (online profile) you must first log into the DESE Application Sign-in with a username and password, and then choose the Educator Certification System link located on the User Applications page.  Your certification account (online profile) provides access to each of the following:

  • Apply for a certificate
  • Print out a certificate
  • View a certificate or pending application
  • View assessment scores
  • Check for the receipt of transcripts
  • Check fingerprint/background status

Please Note:  If you have not logged in to your certification account (online profile) in over 5 years, please contact the Office of Data System Management or 573-522-3207.