TESOL Certification in Louisiana | How to Become an ESL Teacher in LA

Louisiana’s immigrant population, although relatively small, is vital to the health and vitality of the state’s economy. In fact, according to the American Immigration Council, foreign-born citizens make up about 13 percent of workers in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. Most of Louisiana’s foreign-born population hails from Mexico (16 percent), Honduras (15 percent), and Vietnam (10 percent).

Featured Programs:

Liberty University Offers Undergrad Cert and B.Ed. in English as a Second Language.
The Grand Canyon University offers a Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program and a B.A. in Secondary Education.
Arizona State University - Online Offers Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, MTESOL
Campbellsville University Offers an ESL Endorsement (P-12), M.A. in Teaching - Secondary Education, M.A. in TESOL
St. John's University Offers a Ph.D. in Literacy: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
George Mason University Offers a MEd in Curriculum & Instruction, Concentration in TESOL

What’s most interesting about Louisiana’s immigrant population is the meteoric growth of the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the last 20 years. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there were just 10,293 ELLs in Louisiana two decades ago. By 2015, this number jumped to 23,924 ELLs, and by 2018, it reached 25,568, or about 3.7 percent of the PreK-12 student population.

This type of growth, of course, means exciting opportunities for the state’s ESL teachers. If you want to take advantage of these opportunities, you’ll need to earn a valuable ESL endorsement as part of your teaching certificate.

These steps will show you exactly how to earn TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification and become an ESL teacher in Louisiana:

	Earn a Degree in ESL and Qualify to Become an ESL Teacher in Louisiana
	Take and Pass the Required Exams
	Apply For Your Louisiana Teaching Certificate
	Earn a Master’s in ESL to Maintain and Upgrade Your Louisiana Teaching Certificate
	Learn More About ESL Teacher Salary Expectations for Jobs in Louisiana

Step 1. Earn a Degree in ESL and Qualify to Become an ESL Teacher in Louisiana

If you want to become an ESL teacher in Louisiana, you’ll need to earn an ESL endorsement alongside a standard teaching certificate.

If you’re new to the field of education and don’t yet have a bachelor’s degree, learning how to become an ESL teacher in Louisiana starts with completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree that’s part of an approved educator preparation program. In most cases, you’ll major in either elementary education or secondary education (most ESL teachers choose English or language arts) and then choose an add-on ESL program.

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Step 2. Take and Pass the Required Exams

Once you complete your education, you’ll need to take the pass the appropriate Praxis exams to become certified as a teacher in Louisiana. The required Praxis exams will differ depending on the grade level and subject area in which you’re seeking certification.

Step 3. Apply For Your Louisiana Teaching Certificate

After completing all education and exam requirements and receiving recommendation for a Level 1 Certificate from your program provider, you’ll create an account and apply through the Louisiana Department of Education’s Educator Certification Portal.

Step 4. Earn a Master’s in ESL to Maintain and Upgrade Your Louisiana Teaching Certificate

Once you’ve successfully taught for 3 years in your area of certification, you’ll be able to apply for a Level 2 Certificate, which is valid for 5 years and can be renewed upon meeting the standards of effectiveness for at least three years of the five-year renewal period and completing at least 150 continuing learning units (CLUs) of professional development that have been approved by your district.

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Step 5. Learn More About ESL Teacher Salary Expectations for Jobs in Louisiana

As of May 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following salaries for Louisiana’s teachers:

Elementary School

Early Career (25^th percentile): $43,930
Median: $48,700
Experienced (90^th percentile): $62,200

Middle School

Early Career (25^th percentile): $44,250
Median: $49,940
Experienced (90^th percentile): $62,660

High School

Early Career (25^th percentile): $44,910
Median: $50,810

Experienced (90^th percentile): $65,440

BLS stats also reveal what ESL teachers are earning in Louisiana in some of its largest metro areas, as of May 2020:

Baton Rouge (Elementary School)

Early Career (25^th percentile): $44,440
Median: $49,790
Experienced (90^th percentile): $63,090

Lafayette (Middle School)

Early Career (25^th percentile): $44,670
Median: $48,780
Experienced (90^th percentile): $61,2000

New Orleans (High School)

Early Career (25^th percentile): $46,270
Median: $53,430
Experienced (90^th percentile): $73,160

Get involved in the ESL profession by participating in Louisiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market trends for elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and secondary school teachers represent state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2021.

Student population data from the National Center for Education Statistics represents English language learners (ELL) enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in the fall of 2018.