To become a math teacher in Idaho, you need a bachelor’s degree, a state-approved educator preparation program, and a passing Praxis score: 159 on Mathematics (5165) for grades 6-12, or 157 on Middle School Mathematics (5164) for grades 5-9. You then apply to the Idaho Department of Education for a five-year Standard Instructional Certificate.
Idaho issues one teaching credential, the Standard Instructional Certificate, and the endorsement attached to it sets the grades and subjects you can teach. Your first decision is which math endorsement to pursue: 8320 Mathematics: Middle Level (5-9) or 7300 Mathematics (6-12). That choice decides your coursework and your Praxis test. Requirements here are current as of October 2026, and the State Board has rule changes under review, so check each linked source before you apply.
- Complete an Approved Math Educator Preparation Program
- Pass the Praxis Mathematics Test for Your Endorsement
- Apply for Your Idaho Standard Instructional Certificate
- Renew Your Certificate and Advance Your Career
Step 1. Complete an Approved Math Educator Preparation Program
To become a math teacher in Idaho, you’ll need what most states require: a bachelor’s degree and a state-approved educator preparation program that ends with student teaching and an institutional recommendation. If you’re starting college, the fastest path is a math education degree that includes the program. Degree holders and teachers certified elsewhere have separate routes, covered later in this step.
Under Idaho’s certification rules (IDAPA 08.02.02), a traditional program must include:
- At least 45 semester credits in mathematics for a single endorsement (or 30 credits in math plus 20 in a second teaching field if you want two endorsements)
- At least 20 semester credits in education, including the competencies in the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Plan
- At least 10 undergraduate or 6 graduate semester credits of student teaching
Your math coursework will typically cover Calculus I and II, number theory, abstract algebra, analysis, statistics and probability, and discrete mathematics.
Choosing Between the 5-9 and 6-12 Endorsements
The 7300 Mathematics (6-12) endorsement lets you teach every secondary math course, including probability and statistics, which the middle-level endorsement doesn’t cover. The 8320 Mathematics: Middle Level (5-9) endorsement goes further than its grade range suggests. According to Idaho Department of Education guidance on math assignments, Algebra I, Integrated Mathematics I and II, and Geometry count as 9th-grade content, so an 8320 holder can teach those courses to a student in any grade. That doesn’t make 8320 interchangeable with 7300. If your district needs you in a course that requires the full 7300 endorsement, it can sponsor you through Alternative Authorization: Teacher to New Endorsement, Option III, which pairs a content assessment with a year of mentoring.
Approved Programs in Idaho
Seven Idaho institutions have state-approved educator preparation programs: Boise State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, College of Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, Northwest Nazarene University, and the University of Idaho. Out-of-state programs count if they’re accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) or AAQEP. The Be an Educator page lists program contacts for each school.
Already Have a Bachelor’s Degree?
Career changers can use one of Idaho’s four non-traditional programs. Each has its own entry requirements, and you apply for a three-year interim certificate only after you meet them:
- American Board (ABCTE): a self-paced online program with a Math 6-12 option. You pass ABCTE’s subject-area and Professional Teaching Knowledge exams and earn its certificate first, then apply for the interim certificate and teach for two years under a mentor.
- College of Southern Idaho (CSI) and Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC): each college evaluates your transcripts and builds an individualized learning plan that you complete while working in a school.
- Teach for America: a selective program. Once you’re accepted, you pass the Praxis content test for your subject and attend summer training before you teach, with two years of mentoring.
The Idaho Department of Education lists approximate program costs of $1,900 to $2,100 for ABCTE and about $5,000 each for CSI and LCSC. State fees come on top: $100 for the interim certificate application, a background check fee, and $75 when you apply for the standard certificate.
During the three years, you complete a state board-approved mentoring program and every condition listed on your interim certificate. For math teachers, that includes two one-time Idaho requirements: the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy course or the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment, and Teaching Mathematical Thinking (TMT), a three-credit course required of interim certificate holders with a math endorsement. Applications are on the non-traditional candidates page.
If a district wants to hire you right away, there’s one more option. An Alternative Authorization: Content Specialist is requested by the district, not by you, and it issues a three-year, non-renewable interim certificate for a $100 application fee. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a college or university preparation program or with ABCTE. You must also show content knowledge through one qualifier: a Praxis score in the subject, an ABCTE content or Professional Teaching Knowledge score, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, or a qualifying score on the state’s content competency rubric. A district mentor observes you at least monthly, and you finish everything within the three years.
Certified in Another State?
Idaho accepts a current certificate from a NASDTEC Interstate Agreement state only if it was issued after you fully completed that state’s approved certification program. Without one, you can still qualify if you completed a CAEP- or AAQEP-accredited program within the last two years. Either way, you start on a three-year interim certificate and meet the same Idaho conditions: the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy course or assessment, and TMT if it’s listed on your certificate. Deciding which side of a border to certify on? Compare the Montana math teacher requirements and the Wyoming requirements first, since each state sets its own exams and transfer rules. Start with the out-of-state applicants page.
| Route | Who It Fits | Certificate While You Finish | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional program | College students, or graduates completing an approved program | None needed: you apply for the standard certificate at the end | Student teaching and an institutional recommendation |
| Non-traditional route | Bachelor’s degree holders changing careers | Three-year interim certificate, once you meet the program’s entry requirements | State board-approved mentoring and the conditions on your interim certificate |
| Alternative Authorization: Content Specialist | Degree holders a district wants to hire now | Three-year, non-renewable interim certificate | Enrollment in a college program or ABCTE, plus one content qualifier |
| Out-of-state transfer | Teachers certified after completing an approved program in a NASDTEC state | Three-year interim certificate | Idaho literacy requirement, plus TMT if your certificate lists it |
Step 2. Pass the Praxis Mathematics Test for Your Endorsement
Idaho requires one Praxis Subject Assessment for each math endorsement. The State Board of Education sets the qualifying scores, and the June 2026 Board materials list them as:
| Endorsement | Praxis Test | Idaho Qualifying Score | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8320 Mathematics: Middle Level (5-9) | Middle School Mathematics (5164) | 157 | 180 minutes, 66 questions |
| 7300 Mathematics (6-12) | Mathematics (5165) | 159 | 180 minutes, 66 questions |
Each test costs $130 and gives you an on-screen graphing calculator. The 5164 covers numbers and operations, algebra, functions, geometry and measurement, and statistics and probability. The 5165 covers number and quantity with algebra, functions and calculus, geometry, and statistics and probability. On both, roughly a quarter to a third of the questions put the math inside a teaching task, such as diagnosing a student’s error.
If you narrowly miss the qualifying score, check your Praxis account for Praxis Bridge. ETS lists both 5164 and 5165 as Bridge-eligible in Idaho, effective October 1, 2025. Candidates who tested between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2025, may also qualify if they meet the eligibility requirements.
Two more points from the ETS Idaho requirements page. The Idaho Department of Education can’t receive scores electronically, so you print your score report and mail it with your application. And Praxis Core is not an Idaho certification requirement, although your college may require it for admission to its program.
Step 3. Apply for Your Idaho Standard Instructional Certificate
Once you’ve finished your program and passed your Praxis test, you apply through the Initial Certificate for Idaho Graduates process. Ask your college first, because some colleges of education submit the application for you. A complete packet includes:
- The signed Idaho Educator Certification Application
- The $75 application fee, by check or money order payable to the Idaho Department of Education
- A completed background investigation check (BIC) packet and fee, unless you completed one through your college within the past three years
- Official transcripts from every college you attended
- The Institutional Recommendation Form, completed by your college of education
- A copy of your Praxis score report
Mail the packet to Idaho Department of Education, Teacher Certification, PO Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0027. Your certificate is valid for five years and expires August 31 of its final year.
Step 4. Renew Your Certificate and Advance Your Career
Idaho doesn’t send renewal notices, so put your expiration date on your calendar now. To renew your certificate, you must:
- Complete six semester credits during the five-year validity period, tied to your content area, teaching practice, or a need your district identifies
- Earn at least three of those credits from an accredited college, on a transcript
- Count district in-service hours toward the other three if you want, at 15 hours per credit, using the Idaho Approved In-service form
- Apply between January 1 and August 31 of the year your certificate expires, with the $75 fee
You can renew online with a card, for a $3.25 convenience fee, unless you hold a three-year certificate, your certificate has expired, or you’re adding an endorsement or changing your credential. Credits don’t carry over to the next five-year period, and there are no extensions. If you miss the deadline, you’ll need to apply for reinstatement instead.
Two Idaho organizations offer professional development and networking for math teachers:
- Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM): webinars, regional events, and the annual Idaho STEM conference.
- Idaho STEM Action Center: a state agency whose externship program places teachers with industry professionals.
National Board Certification
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) offers two math certificates: Early Adolescence (students ages 11-15) and Adolescence and Young Adulthood (ages 14-18 and up). Both use the same NBPTS Mathematics Standards. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, three years of teaching, and a state certificate, then you complete three online portfolio entries and a computer-based assessment.
In Idaho, National Board certification brings two benefits. If you already hold a Standard Instructional Certificate, you can add an endorsement in the matching content area. And under Idaho Code Section 33-1004E, a National Board-certified teacher receives $2,000 a year for five years from the year certification was earned, counting teachers recognized as National Board certified as of July 1 each year. The payment is part of the state’s school funding formula, so confirm with your district that it’s being paid before you count on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an education degree to teach math in Idaho?
No. You need a bachelor’s degree and an approved educator preparation program, but the program doesn’t have to be part of your degree. Career changers can use a non-traditional program such as ABCTE, CSI, LCSC, or Teach for America and, once they meet that program’s entry requirements, teach on a three-year interim certificate while they finish.
What Praxis score do I need to teach math in Idaho?
As of October 2026, you need 159 on Mathematics (5165) for the 6-12 endorsement, or 157 on Middle School Mathematics (5164) for the 5-9 endorsement. Both tests run 180 minutes and cost $130.
Can I teach high school geometry with the middle-level math endorsement?
Yes. Idaho Department of Education guidance treats Algebra I, Integrated Mathematics I and II, and Geometry as 9th-grade content, so a teacher with the 8320 Mathematics: Middle Level (5-9) endorsement can teach those courses to students in any grade. Courses such as Probability and Statistics still require the 7300 Mathematics (6-12) endorsement.
How long is an Idaho teaching certificate valid?
Five years, expiring August 31. Renewal takes six semester credits earned in that window, at least three on a college transcript.
Will Idaho accept my teaching certificate from another state?
Often, yes. If your certificate is current and was issued after you completed an approved program in a NASDTEC Interstate Agreement state, Idaho issues a three-year interim certificate. You then meet the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy requirement, and TMT if your certificate lists it, to earn the standard certificate.
- Pick your endorsement first: 8320 Mathematics: Middle Level (5-9) or 7300 Mathematics (6-12) decides your coursework and your Praxis test.
- Know your score: Idaho requires 159 on Praxis Mathematics (5165) or 157 on Middle School Mathematics (5164), and you mail the score report yourself.
- Career changers have four programs: ABCTE, CSI, LCSC, and Teach for America each lead to a three-year interim certificate once you meet the program’s entry requirements.
- Two Idaho requirements on interim certificates: the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy course or assessment, plus Teaching Mathematical Thinking for math endorsements.
- Renew on time: six semester credits every five years, at least three from a college, and no extensions.
If you’re a career changer, the route you choose decides whether you can teach while you finish. The programs listed here include online options for degree holders working toward an Idaho math endorsement, so compare how each one handles student teaching or the interim certificate.