The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is the body responsible for licensing art teachers in Hawaii. The state has made a commitment to arts education, and adopted the National Art Education Association Standards as their own.
These standards recognizing effective arts instruction as a core component to a 21st-century education, arguing that the arts merit study as a means of communication, as historical components of civilization, and as providers of unique forms of knowledge. To become an art teacher in Hawaii, complete the following steps:
 | Complete a Bachelor Degree and Teacher Prep Program |
 | Complete Testing |
 | Apply for a Certificate/License |
 | Maintain and Upgrade Your License |
 | Pursue Graduate Work |
Step 1. Complete a Bachelor Degree and Teacher Prep Program
The first step to becoming an art teacher in Hawaii is usually to complete a bachelor’s degree and State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP). There are currently four such approved programs in arts education based in the state, a list of which may be found here.
The requirements for completing a bachelors’ degree and teacher prep program will vary by institution and the grade you are preparing to teach. According to the National Art Education Association Standards, teacher prep classes in the visual arts should engage students in traditional and contemporary art-making processes, including studio time, survey the history of art, help foster respect for various art forms and the contexts in which they are made, and introduce students to an array of historical and contemporary artists. They also focus on the theories and techniques of art education. Other general teacher prep curriculum includes the principles of effective teaching, learning how to create dialogue in the classroom, collaborate with other teachers, provide meaningful feedback, conduct appropriate assessments, and, depending on the program, learning to teach the basics of reading, writing, and math.
Step 2. Complete Testing
To receive a Hawaii teaching license, you must meet basic skill requirements in reading, writing, and math. Bachelors degrees awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education may be used to validate basic skills instead of taking licensure tests; official transcripts are required.
Without a bachelors’ degree, you are required to demonstrate:
- Math skills with the Core Academic Skills for Educators in Math or the Math SAT;
- Reading skills with the Core Academic Skills for Educators Reading or the SAT Reading
- Writing skills with the Core Academic Skills for Educators Writing.
The National Teachers Exam (NTE) Communication Skills (CS) General Knowledge (GK) tests may also be used to show basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.
The relevant content tests required for art teachers in K-6, 6-12, or K-12 in Hawaii is the Praxis II Art: Content Knowledge test (5134), a two-hour exam that measures basic knowledge of art-making and the historical and theoretical foundations of art in the Western tradition and around the world. A passing score is 158. However, you may also meet the following requirements in lieu of passing the Praxis test:
- A major consisting of a minimum of thirty semester hours in an art-related field for a bachelor’s degree awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
- Or a minimum of thirty semester hours in the content field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, at least fifteen of which must be upper division level;
- Or a master’s, specialist or doctoral degree in the license field awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Step 3. Apply for Your License
The first license to apply for is as an art teacher in Hawaii is the Standard license, which lasts for five years and is renewable. Applicants who have completed a state-approved teacher education program may apply for a Standard License by completing the following steps:
- Submit your license application online or download and submit the paper application for the Standard Hawaii Teaching License. (If you answer “yes” to any question in the Professional Fitness Section of the application, you will be notified to submit additional documentation.)
- Submit verification that you completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP).If you completed a SATEP in Hawaii prior to 2002 or in another state at any time, submit the Educator Preparation Program Recommendation form. If you completed a SATEP in Hawaii after 2002, your institution will verify your teacher education program completion directly and you do not have to submit the Institutional Recommendation. Other rules apply for non-U.S. SATEPs.
- Submit passing scores for meeting basic skills competency on the tests noted above.
The fee for a Standard License is a nonrefundable $240 for 5-year license. Art teachers will put down “Art” in their license field along with the relevant grade designation: K-6, 6-12, K-12.
Step 4. Maintain and Upgrade Your License
To renew a Standard License after five years, teachers must prove that they meet all ten of the Hawai’i Teacher Performance Standards. These cover Learner Development, Learning Differences, Learning Environments, Content Knowledge, Application of Content, Assessment, Planning for Instruction, Instructional Strategies, Professional Learning and Ethical Practice, Leadership and Collaboration.
The Hawai’i Teacher Standards Board has a variety of suggested activities that can meet these standards individually, which are listed here. National Board Certification also meets all ten of the Hawai’i Teacher Performance Standards, as does providing the most recent teacher evaluation and professional development plan from your school with a satisfactory rating in all areas, if the evaluation instrument and professional development plan aligns with all ten of the Hawaii Teacher Performance Standards.
To renew a Standard License, complete the following steps:
- Complete your license renewal application online or by submitting a paper application from the Forms page.
- Complete and keep the following two forms before submitting your renewal application. (Do not submit these unless you are audited.)
- HTSB Form RA 5010 for Teachers (Verification of Satisfying Hawaii Teacher Performance Standards Documentation)
- HTSB Form RA 4010 (Verification of Experience for Renewal)
Teachers are eligible for audit up to one year past the new effective date of their renewed license. More details on fees and forms may be found here.
The next license to apply for after the Standard License is the Advanced License. These are available to art teachers who meet the following criteria:
- Have held a Standard License in Hawaii or another state
- Have at least five years of experience within the last eight years in Hawaii or another state
- Have a master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution, or be certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The degree must be in a field relevant to art, or a field that field that improves the practice of teaching, such as curriculum and instruction, technology, reading, or teacher leadership. You may not use a degree that was used to obtain a Standard License to also obtain an Advanced License.
To apply for an Advanced License, complete the following steps:
- Submit the Advanced license application form or download and submit the paper application for the Advanced Hawaii Teaching License. If you answer “yes” to any question in section 2 of the Professional Fitness Section of the application, you will be notified to submit additional documentation.
- Submit proof of one of the following with your application:
- An official transcript verifying that you received a master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
- A copy of your current, valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certificate and a copy of your current, valid out-of-state teaching license. (Hawaii-licensed teachers do not need to submit a copy of their Standard License or their NBPTS certificate if it was earned while a Hawaii licensed teacher.)
- Submit proof of one of the following with your application:
- Submit the Verification of Qualifying Experience for Advanced License form to document five (5) out of your last eight (8) years of satisfactory full-time teaching experience in the state, which issued your Standard License.
The fee is $480 for 10-year Advanced License. Renewing an Advanced License follows the same process as renewing a Standard License.
National Board certification is a prestigious option for all teachers, and Hawaii offers support sessions for teachers who choose to go through the rigorous process. More information is available here.
Step 5. Pursue Graduate Work
As noted above, a masters, doctorate, or specialist degree is one way to apply for an Advanced License. Post-bachelors’ programs available in the state include:
- Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Master of Education in Teaching (MEdT)
- Masters in Early Childhood Education (MEd)
- Masters in Educational Administration (MEd)
- Masters in Educational Foundations (MEd)
- Masters in Educational Psychology (MEd)
- Masters in Educational Technology (MEd)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Hawaii Art Teacher Salaries
According to the National Education Association, the average starting salary for teachers in Hawaii (as of the 2012-2013 school year) was $41,027, higher than the national average of $36,141.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for an elementary teacher in Hawaii as of May 2013 was $48,970. The average salary for a middle school teacher was $48,830, while the average salary for a high school teacher was slightly higher at $50,170. The BLS does not provide data on art teacher salaries as a separate unit, but tracks salaries for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers as a whole.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide data on art teacher salaries as a separate unit, but tracks salaries for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers as larger categories. The department reports the following annual mean wages and employment numbers as of May 2013:
| Occupation Title | Employment | Annual Mean Salary |
| Elementary School Teachers | 5,820 | $54,380 |
| Middle School Teachers | 1,750 | $54,360 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 4,160 | $55,930 |
However, teacher salaries can vary significantly by location. A sample of the median salaries and employment figures as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for some major cities appears below: