Licensing and Certification
At Red Clay, every great classroom begins with a great teacher. Educators must hold a valid state license to teach in a Delaware public or charter school. A license is permission to practice as an educator and ensures that a qualified professional teaches every student.
Delaware has three types of educator licenses: Initial, Continuing, and Advanced. Every license, except for an inactive Initial License, is issued for a specific period: Initial, Continuing, or Advanced. These licenses must be renewed before they expire to remain valid. Educators can hold only one license at a time.
At Red Clay, we are dedicated to supporting our educators throughout every stage of their licensure journey so they can concentrate on what truly matters — inspiring students.
Delaware Code requires educators to hold a license and certification for the following positions:
- Teachers (early childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary)
- Reading Specialist
- School Counselors
- School Psychologists
- Board Certified Behavioral Analysts or BCaBAs
- School Nurse
- Social Worker
The following positions do not require a license. However, you must upload your Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) license (professional license).
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Athletic Trainers
- Social Workers (Non-school social workers, i.e., LCSW, LMSW, LBSW)
You can apply for a license through DEEDS 3.0 (Delaware Educator Data System)
Initial License
An Initial License is valid for four years (or up to six years in the case of trade and industry teachers) unless suspended or revoked and is not renewable. It is most commonly issued to an educator with fewer than three years of full-time experience, but it may also be issued to an educator who has been out of the profession for an extended period of time.
Comprehensive information regarding the requirements for continuing licensure, conditions of issuance, and exceptions is detailed in 14 Del.C. §1210 Tier One – Initial Licensure.
During your initial license, you will: (See below).
