Please note: This information was last updated in 2023. Check with your state for the most recent information.

Louisiana

Contact Information

Address:
Louisiana Department of Education
Division of Educator Licensure
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064

Phone:
225-342-3490
877-453-2721

Louisiana Department of Education: http://www.teachlouisiana.net

Teach Live! (teacher certification portal): https://ldoe.force.com

Certification Requirements

Teacher Licensure Needed: Yes, but a candidate can apply as ancillary, with a Masters in Library Science. You must use the Ancillary Teaching Certification Application (AT) - (Rev. 9/15/2022)

Description: Candidates may add on to a valid teaching license or choose the new ancillary certificate (which is non-instructional). Louisiana offers ancillary certificates to applicants holding degrees or credentials in a specialized area such as library science. This is a five-year license that is renewable. You must have a Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a passing score on the Praxis Library Media Specialist Test. These are considered non-instructional.

Master's Degree Needed: Yes

Praxis II Library Media Content Test Needed: Yes, a candidate needs a passing score of 136 or above on the test (0311 or 5311) effective 9/1/2012-8/31/2023 and School Librarian 154 test 5312 effective 9/1/2022. The position is entitled Ancillary School Librarian and is not considered instructional. When registering for a test, you must opt to use your social security number or your scores will be erroneously reported to Louisiana and create delays in licensure.

House Bill 221, passed in August of 2001, enables exemption from Louisiana PRAXIS/NTE examinations requirements if the applicant holding valid out-of-state teaching credentials (1) has at least three years of successful teaching experience in another state, as certified by the previous out-of-state school district(s) from satisfactory annual evaluation results, and (2) has completed one year of employment as a teacher in Louisiana public school system, as verified by the superintendent of the employing public school system. The Louisiana superintendent must request full Louisiana certification for the out-of-state teacher, following the successful year of employment in Louisiana.

Other Testing Needed: No

Evaluation Process for Licensure:

The criteria for eligible individuals are:

Complete eighteen to twenty-one semester hours in library science, as follows:

1. Elementary and/or secondary school library materials, nine semester hours;
2. Organization, administration, and interpretation of elementary and/or secondary school library service, six semester hours;
3. Elementary and/or secondary school library practice, three semester hours (see note).

NOTE: Persons who have already served three years as fulltime school librarians and who completed all library science courses except elementary and secondary school library practice, may satisfy this requirement by a minimum one-year, on-the-job internship with supervision provided by the Library Science faculty of the College of Education for six semester hours of credit.

Reciprocity: Yes, however, one must meet the state's requirements for teaching licensure. Louisiana follows the Interstate Agreement with the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education & Certification (NASDEC). Further information can be found at: http://www.nasdtec.net/?InterstateAgreements