Library Education & Licensing
The purpose of this page is to help you explore whether school librarianship is for you (and we hope it is!) and then help you find an education program that meets your needs.
What does it mean to obtain certification or licensure?
Defined
Certification, licensure or endorsement are terms used by the various states to recognize that a person has taken coursework in a subject area, passed a variety of tests, and/or met competency requirements. The certification or licensure then allows the person to teach or work in that subject area for specific grade levels.
State Requirements
Each state has different requirements for certification or licensure. For school librarians, many states first require certification or licensure as a teacher in another subject area before librarian certification can be obtained.
Some states require a master's degree, while others require only certification or licensure. Contact the state department of education where you plan to work for details. Many states will accept a teacher's or library certification earned in another state, but if you move, you'll want to check with the certifying agency to confirm whether your certificates are transferable or accepted there.
The University of Kentucky College of Education website on 50 States' Certification Requirements links to the teacher certification requirements in each of the 50 states. If you dig deeply here, you can find the requirements for school librarians.
Types of Library Education Programs
For school librarians, the appropriate first professional degree is either of the following:
- A master's degree from a program accredited by ALA
- A master's degree with a specialty in school librarianship from a program recognized by ALA/AASL [the new Directory will be available by September 1, 2026] in a regionally accredited institution within an accredited educational unit, for example, a School of Education accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) or the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
Programs accredited by the American Library Association educate librarians and information specialists for a wide range of settings from school libraries to academic libraries to the corporate world. If you are interested in moving across library settings it is generally recommended you seek out an ALA-accredited programs. Be aware that not all ALA-accredited programs offer a school librarianship concentration, but if they do, they generally meet the licensure requirements for school librarians in the state where they are located but not necessarily for all 50 states.
ALA/AASL recognizes library education programs that lead to a master's degree in education with a specialty in school librarianship. If you plan to focus solely on school librarianship these schools are great options.
Individual states also accredit library education programs which may or may not lead to a master's degree but allow one to work as a school librarian in that state and possibly in other states. Check with each state's department of education for more information on these programs.
Prospective students should review the guidelines for choosing a master's program in library and information studies.
Where can I find financial aid?
Scholarships are available from many agencies and associations. First look to see if your school district helps to pay for classes to add additional certifications or licensure. Check with your state Library Association to see if they offer any scholarships. The universities themselves often have scholarships and financial aid for graduate students.
- ALA has a scholarship program with an annual directory of awards from state library agencies, national and state library associations, local libraries, academic institutions, and foundations who give some form of financial assistance for undergraduate and/or graduate education programs in library and information studies.
- Beta Phi Mu Scholarships
- University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science's Knowledge River Scholarship for Hispanic and Native American Students
