The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education is dedicated to recruiting and supporting highly qualified educators and kula staff to ensure student success. Whether you’re looking to become a licensed teacher, substitute teacher, paraeducator or kula administrator, there are many pathways to joining our public education system.

Nā mea hoʻolako hoʻonaʻauao

Nā kumu

The Department is renewing its commitment to hiring highly qualified licensed teachers in every classroom. This effort aligns with Priority II of the Department’s Strategic Plan: High Quality Educator Workforce in All Nā kula.

In order to teach in Hawaiʻi’s public schools, you will need to hold a Hawaiʻi teaching license or permit. In some states, a license is known as your teaching credential or teacher certification. To obtain your no-cost Hawaiʻi teaching license or permit, you must complete the requirements laid out by the state’s Papa Kūlana Kumu Hawaiʻi.

E kipa mai i ko makou E aʻo ma ka puka puka o Hawaiʻi e aʻo hou aʻe e pili ana i nā pono o ke aʻo ʻana ma Hawaiʻi, me ka laikini kumu.

Na Kumu Pani

The Department is seeking substitute teachers to help maintain learning continuity in schools. If you have a passion for education and want to make an impact in the classroom, e ʻimi i nā ʻike, kaʻina hana hoʻolimalima, a me nā koi aʻo e hoʻomaka.

Luna Hoʻonaʻauao (Kokua Hoʻonaʻauao)

Hana ʻia kahi paraedducator ma lalo o ka mākaʻikaʻi ʻana o nā kumu a i ʻole nā mea hana ʻoihana ʻē aʻe. He ʻano aʻo ke kūlana a hāʻawi i nā lawelawe pololei ʻē aʻe i nā keiki a me nā ʻōpio a me ko lākou ʻohana, me:

1. Hoʻokahi aʻo aʻo.
2. Kokua i ka hooponopono lumi papa.
3. Hāʻawi i nā kōkua aʻo i loko o kahi keʻena kamepiula.
4. Ke alakaʻi nei i nā hana pili makua.
5. Hāʻawi i ke kākoʻo aʻo ʻana ma kahi waihona a i ʻole ke kikowaena media.
6. He mea unuhi.
7. Ka hāʻawi ʻana i nā lawelawe kākoʻo aʻo ma lalo o ka mākaʻikaʻi pololei ʻana o kahi kumu aʻoaʻo a i ʻole ʻoihana loea.

At minimum, Educational Assistants must possess a high kula diploma or equivalent AND one of the following:

1. Successful completion of an examination approved by the Department, such as the ParaPro or ParaPathways Assessment provided by the Education Testing Service (ETS). 
2. At least 48 baccalaureate-level semester credits from an accredited institution recognized by the Department, which included 3 credits in mathematics and 3 credits in English.
3. An associate degree or higher from an accredited institution recognized by the Department.

Go to www.hawaiischooljobs.org to see all available Educational Assistant job opportunities!

ParaPro and ParaPathways Assessments

These are computer-based assessment options for Educational Assistants and paraprofessional tutors to meet the minimum qualifications for employment. ETS will continue to offer the ParaPro Assessment through Aug. 31, 2026. See our palapala hōʻike to learn about a ParaPathways testing opportunity only available until Dec. 31, 2026.

The administration of these assessments is managed by the Kaiāulu Nā kula for Adults (CSA)​. Contact a CSA campus to schedule a test date and time:

McKinley CSA:

• McKinley Campus: 808-594-0540
• Kauaʻi Campus: 808-274-3390
• Maui Campus: 808-873-3082

Waipahu CSA:

• Waipahu Campus: 808-307-9677
• Hilo Campus: 808-480-3231
• Wahiawa Campus: 808-305-3200

Nā Papahana Hoʻomākaukau

Programs that prepare teachers – including counselor and librarian candidates – or other practicing professionals, must obtain an affiliation agreement with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education in order to place candidates in our public schools under the direct supervision of a mentor. The Department maintains a list of programs with affiliation agreements.

Important: The affiliation agreement does not guarantee that candidates completing an educator program will be approved for a Hawaiʻi teacher, school counselor a i ʻole kula librarian license. Questions regarding whether a program meets requirements for a Hawaiʻi license – including out-of-state, online and “alternative route” programs – should be directed to the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board.

BECOMING A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR 

The Hawai‘i Department of Education is committed to building strong kula leadership through high-quality training and certification programs. Whether you’re an aspiring vice principal, principal, or an experienced administrator from another state, our certification pathways help ensure that all kula leaders are equipped to guide students and staff toward success.

HICISL Hope Principal Certification Program 

This one-year residency internship provides hands-on leadership experience under the guidance of a mentor principal. Participants gain valuable skills in kula administration, and successful completion leads to an Initial Kula Administrator Certificate (ISAC). This certification allows individuals to apply for vice principal or equivalent positions within Hawaiʻi’s public schools.

HICISL Principal Certification Program

Designed for tenured Department vice principals, this one-year preparatory program helps aspiring principals develop the skills needed for kula leadership. Upon successful completion, participants receive a Professional Kula Administrator Certificate (PSAC), which qualifies them to apply for principal or equivalent positions.

Nā ala hōʻoia no nā luna hoʻomalu i laikini ʻia ma waho o ka mokuʻāina

Experienced kula administrators from other states may be eligible for certification based on their qualifications.

Track IV - Luna Hoʻokele Laikini me Hope Poʻokela ʻIke

Inā ʻoe:

• Hold a valid K-12 kula administrator license from another U.S. state.
• Loaʻa ke kēkelē laepua ma ka Hoʻonaʻauao Hoʻonaʻauao a i ʻole alakaʻi alakaʻi hoʻonaʻauao mai kahi kulanui i ʻae ʻia.
• Have at least three years of experience as a licensed kula administrator.

You may qualify for the Initial Kula Administrator Certificate (ISAC), allowing you to apply for vice principal or equivalent positions.

Track V - Luna Hoʻokele Laikini me ka ʻike kumu

Inā ʻoe:

• Hold a valid K-12 kula administrator license from another U.S. state
• Loaʻa ke kēkelē laepua ma ka Hoʻonaʻauao Hoʻonaʻauao a i ʻole alakaʻi alakaʻi hoʻonaʻauao mai kahi kulanui i ʻae ʻia
• Loaʻa i ʻelima mau makahiki o ka ʻike hoʻokele K-12, me ka liʻiliʻi o ʻehā mau makahiki ma ke ʻano he kumu.

You may qualify for the Professional Kula Administrator Certificate (PSAC), allowing you to apply for principal or equivalent positions.

Nā lālā o ka ʻoihana koa a me nā hoa kāne - hiki ke lawe i nā laikini

Ma lalo o ka Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA), hiki i nā pūʻali koa ikaika a me kā lākou mau hoa kāne ke hoʻomau i ka hoʻohana ʻana i kā lākou laikini ʻoihana i ka wā e neʻe ai ma muli o nā kauoha koa. No ka hoʻokō ʻana, pono nā kānaka:

1. E neʻe ma waho o ka mana o ka mana laikini i hoʻopuka i kā lākou palapala laikini kumu a i ʻole palapala ma muli o nā kauoha koa.
2. E hāʻawi i kope o kā lākou mau kauoha koa i ka mana laikini hou. 
3. Ua hoʻohana ikaika i kā lākou laikini a i ʻole palapala i nā makahiki ʻelua ma mua o ka neʻe ʻana.
4. E kū maikaʻi me ka mana hoʻopuka laikini.
5. E mālama i nā kūlana o ka hoʻomaʻamaʻa, ka hoʻopaʻi ʻana, a me nā koi hoʻonaʻauao hoʻomau i ka mana hou.