Transferring your teaching license from Minnesota to New Jersey
New Jersey evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials on a case-by-case basis. Expect a credential review by New Jersey Department of Education and additional New Jersey-specific exam or coursework requirements before a full license is issued.
See 1,160 open teaching jobs in New Jersey →Your current credential (Minnesota)
- Issuing authority
- Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- License type
- Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) (1 year (Tier 1) or renewable (Tier 2))
- Reciprocity policy
- Minnesota evaluates out-of-state licenses individually. Tier 2 may be issued to teachers with at least 2 years of out-of-state teaching experience.
New Jersey certification
- Issuing authority
- New Jersey Department of Education
- License you'll earn
- Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) (Indefinite (requires employment within 5 years))
- Typical timeline
- CE can be obtained in weeks; Standard Certificate typically requires 2 years of teaching under CE status
- New Jersey reciprocity policy
- New Jersey participates in NASDTEC. Out-of-state educators with valid certificates may receive a CE or CEAS based on their credentials; New Jersey is generally reciprocity-friendly.
Exams typically required in New Jersey
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on New Jersey's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills (or qualifying SAT/GRE scores)Basic reading, writing, and mathematics
- Praxis Subject AssessmentsContent knowledge for your certification area
- edTPAPerformance assessment required for Standard Certificate
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Minnesota credential is current. New Jersey will request a verification of your active Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) from Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
- Apply through New Jersey Department of Education. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any New Jersey-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but New Jersey may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to New Jersey districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 1,160 active openings — browse New Jersey teaching jobs to start identifying districts.