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

Fa'aa'oa'oga

Faiaoga

O lo'o fa'afouina e le Matagaluega lana tautinoga i le fa'a faigaluegaina o faia'oga fa'aa'oa'oga fa'amaonia i potu a'oga uma. O lea taumafaiga e ogatusa ma le Fa'amuamua II o le Fuafuaga Fuafuaga a le Matagaluega: Aufaigaluega Maualuga A'oa'o i A'oga Uma.

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 Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board.

Asiasi i la matou A'oa'o i le faitoto'a o Hawai'i e a'oa'o atili e uiga i aogā o le a'oa'o atu i Hawai'i, e aofia ai le laiseneina o faia'oga.

Sui Faiaoga

O lo'o sailia e le Matagaluega ni faiaoga sui e fesoasoani i le fa'aauauina pea o a'oa'oga i totonu o a'oga. Afai e iai sou naunauga mo aʻoaʻoga ma manaʻo e fai se aʻafiaga i totonu o le potuaoga, su'esu'e agavaa, faiga fa'afaigaluega, ma mana'oga mo a'oa'oga e amata ai.

Faiaoga (Fesoasoani Fa'aa'oa'oga)

E galue se fa'aa'oa'oga i lalo o le va'aiga a faia'oga po'o isi fo'i fa'apolofesa. O le tulaga e fa'aa'oa'o i le natura ma tu'uina atu isi auaunaga tu'usa'o i tamaiti ma tupulaga talavou ma o latou aiga, e aofia ai:

1. A'oa'oga ta'ito'atasi.
2. Fesoasoani i le puleaina o potuaoga.
3. Tuuina atu o fesoasoani fa'aa'oa'oga ile fale su'esu'e komepiuta.
4. Fa'atinoina o le auai o matua.
5. Tuuina atu o fesoasoani fa'aa'oa'oga i totonu o se faletusi po'o se nofoaga fa'asalalau.
6. Galue o se faaliliu.
7. Tu'uina atu auaunaga lagolago fa'aa'oa'oga i lalo o le va'aiga sa'o a se faia'oga maualuga po'o se lōia fa'apolofesa.

At minimum, Educational Assistants must possess a high school 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 pepa fa'amatalaga to learn about a ParaPathways testing opportunity only available until Dec. 31, 2026.

The administration of these assessments is managed by the Community Schools 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

Polokalama Sauniuniga

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.

Taua: O le maliega fa'atasi e le fa'amaonia ai o sui e fa'amae'aina se polokalame fa'aa'oa'oga o le a fa'atagaina mo se faia'oga Hawai'i, faufautua a'oga po'o laisene tausi potutusi. O fesili e fa'atatau pe ausia e se polokalame mana'oga mo se laisene Hawai'i – e aofia ai polokalame i fafo atu o le setete, luga o le initaneti ma le “auala ese” – e tatau ona fa'asino atu i le Komiti Fa'atonu Fa'atonu a Hawai'i.

AVEA MA FA'ATAULAGA A'OGA 

O lo'o naunau le Matagaluega o A'oga a Hawai'i i le fausiaina o le ta'ita'iga malosi a le a'oga e ala i a'oa'oga maualuluga ma polokalame fa'amaonia. Pe o oe ose sui pule, pulea'oga, po'o se pule fa'apitoa mai se isi setete, o matou ala fa'amaonia e fesoasoani e fa'amautinoaina ua saunia uma ta'ita'i a'oga e ta'ita'ia tamaiti aoga ma le aufaigaluega i le manuia.

Polokalame Tusipasi Pule Sili a le HICISL 

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

Polokalame Tusipasi Autu a le HICISL

Ua fuafuaina mo sui pulea'oga tumau o le Matagaluega, o lenei polokalame sauniuni e tasi le tausaga e fesoasoani ai i pule o lo'o naunau e atia'e tomai e mana'omia mo le ta'ita'iga o a'oga. A mae'a manuia, e maua e sui auai se Tusi Fa'atonu Fa'atonu a le A'oga Fa'apolofesa (PSAC), e agava'a ai i latou e talosaga mo tulaga pule po'o tulaga tutusa.

Auala Faamaonia mo Pule Laisene i fafo o le Setete

Experienced school administrators from states outside of Hawaiʻi may be eligible for a provisional school administrator certification based on their qualifications. 

External applicants who meet certification requirements are issued a provisional school administrator license valid for two years from the date of issue. 

Su'ega IV - Pule Laisene ma le Sui Pule A'oga

Requirements:

• Hold a current/valid K-12 school administrator license/certificate from a U.S. state.
• Ia i ai se faailoga o le matuaofaiva i le Pulega o Aoga po o le Taitaiga Faaleaoaoga mai se iunivesite ua faamaonia.
• Have at least five years of K-12 school level administrative experience, including at least three years as a licensed/certified public school vice principal. (DOE OTM 600-020 employment verification form required.)
• Have satisfactory school level administrator performance evaluations from the last two years of employment.
• Have an updated resume or curriculum vitae.
• Have three letters of recommendation from: 1) most recent direct supervisor; 2) a teacher who was supervised by the applicant; and 3) a community member.  Letters must be signed and dated within six months of the application.  

If all requirements are met, applicants qualify for an Initial School Administrator Certificate – Provisional (ISAC-P), allowing him/her to apply for vice principal or equivalent positions.

Track V – Licensed School Administrator with Principal Experience

Requirements: 

• Hold a current/valid K-12 school administrator license/certificate from a U.S. state.
• Ia i ai se faailoga o le matuaofaiva i le Pulega o Aoga po o le Taitaiga Faaleaoaoga mai se iunivesite ua faamaonia.
• Have at least five years of K-12 school level administrative experience, including at least four years as a licensed/certified public school principal. (DOE OTM 600-020 employment verification form required.)
• Have satisfactory administrator performance evaluations from the last two years of employment.
• Have an updated resume or curriculum vitae.
• Have three letters of recommendation from: 1) most recent direct supervisor; 2) a teacher who was supervised by the applicant; and 3) a community member.  Letters must be signed and dated within six months of the application.

If all requirements are met, applicants qualify for a Professional School Administrator Certificate-Provisional (PSAC-P), allowing him/her to apply for vice principal, principal, or equivalent positions.

To support the transition to the Department, newly hired school administrators with a provisional certificate (ISAC-P or PSAC-P) must participate in identified program seminars to include:

• School Leadership – Foundations in Operations (SL-FIO)
• Polokalame Tusipasi Pule Sili a le HICISL
• Polokalame Tusipasi Autu a le HICISL
• New Principal Academy

Two years of probation with satisfactory performance evaluations result in tenure in the Department.  Professional School Administrator Certificate (PSAC), allowing you to apply for principal or equivalent positions.

Tagata o le Au'aunaga a le Militeri & Ta'ito'alua – Avea ma Laisene

I lalo o le Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA), e mafai ona faʻaauau pea ona faʻaaogaina e tagata faigaluega faʻafitafita ma o latou taitoalua a latou laisene faʻapolofesa pe a toe siitia ona o poloaiga a le militeri. Ina ia agavaa, e tatau i tagata taitoatasi ona:

1. Alu i fafo atu o le pulega faa-faamasinoga a le pulega o laisene na tuuina atu a latou uluai laisene po o tusi faamaonia ona o poloaiga faamiliteli.
2. Tuuina atu se kopi o latou poloaiga faamiliteli i le pulega fou laisene. 
3. Na fa'aaoga lelei a latou laisene po'o tusi pasi i le lua tausaga a'o le'i toe si'itia.
4. Ia tulaga lelei ma le pulega e tuuina atu laisene.
5. Fa'ata'ita'ia tulaga fa'ata'ita'i, fa'atonuga, ma fa'aauau a'oa'oga mana'omia ile pulega fou.