Art teachers play a vital role in the educational system by providing quality art programming in schools. They help students find their creative voices through carefully prepared curriculum and instruction.
Art classes are often offered in all grades, ranging from K-12. Individuals, interested in teaching art in a school environment in Nebraska, must meet state requirements to become a certified art teacher. Candidates interested in becoming an art teacher in Nebraska should complete the following steps:
Step 1. Complete a Bachelor Degree or an Approved Teacher Program
In Nebraska, an individual must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in order to apply for a regular teaching certificate. Completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program is also required by Nebraska’s board education.
During the application process, you will have to present official school transcripts showing all of the college credits acquired.
A Basic Skills Competency Examination is required for first-time issuance of a teaching certificate. As of September 1, 2014 the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test will be the Basic Skills Competency test that’s taken for admission into a Nebraskan teacher preparation program. Candidates must receive a passing score in the Writing, Reading and Mathematics portions of the exam to be admitted into the program. The following tests and passing scores are required:
- You must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills Test (Basic Skills Competency Exam)
- Core Academic Skills for Educators Reading (a passing score of at least 156)
- Core Academic Skills for Writing for Educators (a passing score of at least 162)
- Core Academic Skills for Educators (a passing score of at least 150)
However, this statutory requirement can be waived if the applicant has at least three years of consecutive teaching experience in the grades K-12.
In September 2015 in Nebraska, applicants of an initial endorsement such as; art, on a teaching certificate will have to provide proof that they passed the Praxis II exam. For candidates wishing to apply for an art endorsement on an initial teaching certificate will be required to pass an Art Content Knowledge test with a score of at least 158 on the Praxis II exam in the future.
Step 2. Acquire Human Relations Training
Human relations training is also a statutory requirement to obtain a Nebraska teaching certificate. There are six vital skills that must be acquired through a human relations training program. These skills demonstrate an individual’s ability to:
- Recognize biases or prejudices, which can include sexism or racism
- Effectively handle dehumanizing situations
- Relate to people of all backgrounds
Human relations skills training can be waived if the candidate can provide verification of skills through previous work experience. During this verification process, the applicant must provide a narrative detailing human relation skills that have been acquired during employment. Both the candidate and their supervisor must sign the narrative report.
Step 3. Submit an Application for a Nebraska Teaching License
After completing the necessary education and experience requirements, you will be eligible to apply for an initial teaching license in the state.
After completing an approved Nebraska Educator Program, you apply for your teaching certificate here on the board of education’s website.
- Complete the personal information section
- Identify, which license or certification you are applying for
- List of all your educational training
- Submit official and sealed transcripts
- List all teaching experience
- Be sure to enclose a check or money order for the application processing fee. Applicants paying with a debit/credit card will also have to pay a convenience fee.
- Mail the application to the following:Nebraska Department of Education Teacher Certification
P0 Box 94987
Lincoln, NE 68509-4987
If you are applying for an initial certificate after completing an out-of-state educator preparation program, you must first complete the Institutional Verification For A Nebraska Educator Certificate.
- Complete the personal information section
- Identify, which license or certification you are applying for
- List approved programs that prepared you for teaching
- Verify college credit hours
- Send two fingerprint cards and payment to cover fingerprinting fees
- Sign and date the application
- Mail the application to the followingNebraska Department of Education Teacher Certification
P0 Box 94987
Lincoln, NE 68509-4987
To add an endorsement or area of specialization to a regular Nebraska teaching certificate you should:
- First complete an online application at http://www.education.ne.gov/tcert.
- Pay the required non-refundable fee.
When applying for a full endorsement, an Institutional Verification form must completed by the Certification Officer at an approved program. Official transcripts displaying the coursework completed should also be included.
When applying for a provisional endorsement, complete the Provisional Endorsement form that has been signed by the Certification Officer at an approved educator preparation program.
Step 4. Renew and Update Your Nebraska Teaching License
Standard Teaching Certificate
To advance to a standard teaching certificate, one must have at least five years of teaching experience, with at least two and half years of teaching experience in a legally operated school system.
Submit the Employment Verification Form along with a photocopy of your teaching certificate to the Nebraska Board of Education if the experience you acquired was in another state. You must also complete the following:
- Pay the non-refundable processing fee.
- Provide transcripts for human relations course training or include a narrative report detailing your employment experience that helped you acquire the necessary six human relations skills.
Professional Teaching Certificate
An individual may qualify for a professional teaching certificate if they meet one of the following requirements:
- Submit an official transcript that shows completion of a master degree program in Curriculum, Instruction or in the applicant’s area of endorsement with education related coursework.
- Must currently have National Board Certification from an approved program.
- Hold a six-year specialist certificate or have a doctorate’s degree in their area of endorsement that’s completed at the master’s degree level.
To apply for a standard or professional teaching certificate you must complete an online application for faster processing.
When renewing a teacher certificate the individual must:
- Complete an online application form.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Proof of Human Relations training must be supplied via official transcripts or a verified narrative detailing the six skills acquired through work experience.
- Completion of at least six semester hours as advised by an approved educator training program while holding a teaching certificate or being eligible to hold a teaching certificate that hasn’t expired or has been expired for less than five years.
- If your teaching certificate has been expired for more than five years, the certification officer at an approved educator-training program will require 15 specific semester hours for issuance of a new teaching certificate.
Nebraska Art Teacher Salaries
According to the National Education Association, the average starting salary for teachers in Nebraska (as of the 2012-2013 school year) is $30,844, somewhat lower than the national average of $36,141.
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 | 8,770 | $48,240 |
| Middle School Teachers | 3,170 | $50,520 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 6,950 | $49,820 |
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:
| Occupation Title | Employment | Annual Mean Salary |
| Lincoln, NE | ||
| Elementary School Teachers | 1,190 | $52,260 |
| Middle School Teachers | 580 | $51,460 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 850 | $52,190 |
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| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | ||
| Elementary School Teachers | 4,020 | $46,580 |
| Middle School Teachers | 1,400 | $47,750 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 2,850 | $48,750 |
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| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | ||
| Elementary School Teachers | 710 | $45,980 |
| Middle School Teachers | 520 | $49,190 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 300 | $45,070 |
There is no statewide salary schedule, and salaries vary by school district. After being negotiated with the unions. Salary schedules and other contract information for each school district may be found here.
Information on postsecondary art, music, and drama teacher salaries in various areas of the state can be found in the following table provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics: