No U.S. state requires parents to be certified teachers to homeschool their children. This is a common misconception. Only 10 states require parents to have a high school diploma or GED, and 40 states impose no educational qualifications on homeschooling parents whatsoever.
What is Certified Teacher Requirement?
The certified teacher requirement myth persists despite being entirely false. Zero states require all parents to be certified teachers. Zero. The confusion may stem from a few states that mention teacher certification as one optional pathway among several—but these states always provide alternatives. In reality, the overwhelming majority of states (40 out of 50) impose no educational qualifications on homeschooling parents. You don't need a teaching degree, a college diploma, or even a high school education to legally homeschool in most of the country. The assumption that parents need professional credentials to teach their own children has no basis in American homeschool law.
Key Takeaways
- No state requires parents to be certified teachers to homeschool
- 40 states have no parent qualification requirements at all
- Only 10 states require a high school diploma or GED (5 with alternatives)
- States with "competency" language leave interpretation to parents
- Recent legislative trends favor less regulation, not more
What States Actually Require
Only ten states require parents to have at least a high school diploma or GED: Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Of these, five offer alternative pathways that bypass even this minimal requirement.
Three states—California, Kansas, and New York—use vague language requiring parents to be "competent," "qualified," or "capable," but provide no specific requirements and leave the determination to parents themselves. In practice, these states don't enforce educational qualifications.
The remaining 40 states? No requirements whatsoever. Any parent can homeschool regardless of their educational background.
Recent Legislative Trends
If anything, requirements are decreasing rather than increasing. Ohio eliminated teacher qualification requirements entirely in 2023-2024 through House Bill 33, which also removed mandatory assessments and curriculum approval. Parents now submit only basic notice of intent. This represents one of the most significant recent moves toward educational freedom.
While advocacy groups have proposed increased regulation (including the "Make Homeschool Safe Act" released in 2024), no state has enacted such legislation. The broader school choice movement continues to influence homeschool policy toward less governmental oversight, not more.
Common Misconceptions
Beyond the certification myth, parents often worry they need a college degree (no state requires this), must pass competency exams (only Minnesota offers this as one optional pathway), or need state approval to teach (most states require only notification, not approval). The homeschool legal landscape is far more permissive than most people assume.
The misconception about certification requirements may discourage qualified parents from considering homeschooling. In truth, the vast majority of American families can begin homeschooling by simply notifying their school district—no credentials required, no permission needed.
The Bottom Line
The certified teacher requirement doesn't exist. Parents considering homeschooling should not be deterred by this persistent myth. While a few states require basic educational qualifications like a high school diploma, 80% of states impose no requirements on parents at all. Check your specific state's laws—they're almost certainly more permissive than you expect. The legal right to educate your own children without teaching credentials is well-established across the country.
