Become a Teacher in Oregon

Oregon offers a number of alternative teaching licensure options for teachers including a transitional license for teachers to work while getting their full license, and specialized teaching area licenses for subjects such as Chinese and Jazz Dance.

One route to alternative teaching licensure in Oregon is through the Troops to Teachers Program. Focused on assisting eligible military personnel transition into new careers as public school teachers in high-need schools, the program provides former service members with financial assistance, certification support and job hunting advice.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Oregon, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

The Oregon Department of Education posts career opportunities on its website and also recommends that job-seekers peruse the Oregon Job Opportunities page on GovernmentJobs.com.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average teacher in Oregon makes $61,631 per year. Oregon teachers may also receive other compensation, such as loan forgiveness for educators working in high-needs schools.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

The Oregon Department of Education offers a constantly updated series of professional development events which you can find on their the Oregon Department of Education online calendar. The department has also partnered with outside organizations to provide Oregon teachers with additional professional development opportunities, including the Oregon School Personnel Association. Oregon requires a minimum number of Professional Development Units for license renewal. The amount necessary changes over time; check the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission website for current requirements.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

A teacher shortage area is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as “an area of specific grade, subject matter or discipline classification, or a geographic area in which … there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary school teachers.” The Department allows states to identify their own teacher shortage areas, but encourages them to follow a prescribed methodology based on unfilled teaching positions, teaching positions filled by instructors with irregular certifications, and positions filled by teachers certified in other subject areas.

Oregon residents are eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program and the TEACH Grant, which offer financial aid to students in return for agreements to teach in high-need schools.

Learn more about how to finance your Master’s degree on Teach.com.

The Oregon Department of Education offers a constantly updated series of events which you can find with their professional development calendar. The Oregon Department of Education has also partnered with outside organizations in order to provide Oregon teachers with additional professional development opportunities, including the Oregon School Personnel Association (OSPA). Oregon requires a minimum number of Professional Development Units for license renewal. The number changes over time; check the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission website for current requirements.

It is no longer enough to only have years of experience teaching. After No Child Left Behind, the Every Student Succeeds Act and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master’s degree in the field of education can give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as increased hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.

After a master’s program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security as well as higher pay. According to the Portland Public Schools Teacher Salary Schedule, starting out as a teacher with a master’s degree in Portland, you will earn around $9,667 more than a teacher starting out with only a bachelor’s degree, and this differential will grow with your years of experience.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.