Enhanced Reciprocity Program
Connecticut’s enhanced reciprocity program streamlines the certification process for fully licensed educators, special services teachers, and administrators from:
- Alabama
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
You may apply for a ten-year Initial Educator Certificate if you currently hold a valid certificate in an applicable Enhanced Reciprocity state, minimally equivalent to Connecticut’s Initial Educator Certificate. As an out-of-state educator, you will be issued the closest comparable endorsement that Connecticut offers.
Please note that additional documentation and/or evaluation is required for administration, integrated early childhood, and special services certifications.
If you have completed at least 20 school months of successful experience under an active, full certificate within the last 10 years, you may qualify for an exemption from Connecticut’s beginning educator induction program (TEAM), if required for the endorsement.
The first issuance of an educator certificate for all out-of-state educators will be at the initial level. The level of certificate you are issued in Connecticut does not reflect your previous professional experience or salary rate. Salary decisions are made at the local level in Connecticut. Once you serve under the Initial Educator Certificate in Connecticut for 50 full months successfully, and meet other regulatory requirements (e.g., advanced coursework), you may be eligible to advance your initial certificate to the professional level.
Enhanced Reciprocity differs from the Interstate Agreement, which provides options based on submitting documentation verifying the successful completion of an approved educator preparation program for licensure; successful completion of teaching and/or service under a valid out-of-state certificate within the last ten years; and a determination of whether assessments are required for qualification.