Pathways to Teaching

  • Mississippi Alternate Route to Teaching Program

    The Alternate Route is for teachers with a non-teacher education bachelor degree from an accredited college/university. All Alternate Route programs have the following components:

    • Testing, which includes:
      • (for Alternate Route Elementary Education Candidates Only; also requires )
    • Alternate Route Teacher Preparation Program that includes:
      • Pre-Teaching Coursework
      • A One-Year Supervised Teaching Internship

    Once you have successfully completed testing requirements, you must enroll in an alternate route program and complete the training or coursework required. You will then be ready for your initial alternate-route license and internship.

    The alternate route program must recommend you for licensure to the MDE Office of Educator Licensure. Along with the recommendation, you must submit to the MDE Office of Educator Licensure:

    • A completed licensure application
    • All sealed, official transcripts showing at minimum a bachelor’s degree
    • Original Praxis scores, and
    • Proof of alternate route program enrollment

    Upon completion of the internship, you are ready to apply for your 5-year Standard Teaching License. Educators must submit to the Office of Educator Licensure a completed licensure application and proof of internship completion.

    Mississippi has three approved Alternate Route Programs that lead to educator licensure, including:

    • Degree Option:
      • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) (1st 12 hours are required for Certification)
        • Coursework includes 6 hours of graduate coursework or equivalent training program:
          • Classroom Management
          • Tests, Measurements and Evaluations (or course equivalent)
        • Teacher Internship includes 3 hours per semester (6 hours total = 1 Full School Year) – See Step 4.
        • Courses beyond the initial 12 hours for certification lead to a Master’s Degree in Teaching Arts.
      • Certification Only:
        • Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI) – Ole Miss (Online), Mississippi State, USM
        • American Board Certification for Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) – National Certification Program

    For more information about MS Alternate Route programs, please visit

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  • The Board of Trustees believes in the dignity of all individuals and worth of their labors. The Board of Trustees is an equal opportunity employer. See JPS Policy (GAAF) for the full statement regarding equal opportunity employment

  • Physical Address:
    624 South. President Street
    麻豆社事件, MS  39201

    Mailing Address:
    P.O. Box 2338
    麻豆社事件, MS 39225

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  • Have questions? We’re here to help!

    Telephone: (601) 960-8745

    Saundra Lyons
    Executive Director, Human Resources

    Stepfanie Nelson
    Director, Human Resources

    Dr. Tommy Nalls, Jr.
    Director, Recruitment

    Janet Wallace
    Manager of Teacher Support and Retention

    Cassandra Bonds
    PERS / Employment Verification Specialist

Last Modified on December 21, 2023