How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Teacher to Relocate to the United States? 🇺🇸
There is no national teaching license in the US — every state's education board sets its own rules, exams and fees. As a Nigerian teacher you typically need a foreign credential evaluation (WES), state-required exams such as Praxis, fingerprinting, and a state certificate. The most common work route for international teachers, the J-1 exchange visitor visa, has been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 under Proclamation 10998, and so has the EB-3 green card. The open route is H-1B sponsorship by a school district, which is not on the suspended list.
Quick Numbers
Total Cost
₦0.6M – ₦0.9M
Starting Salary
$48,780/yr
$48,780 (entry) to $107,600+ (top), secondary teachers (2025)
Nigerians Who Moved
J-1 and EB-3 suspended for Nigerians since 2026
2024-2025
Source Rank
BLS OOH May 2025
Step-by-Step: Registration & Costs
1Foreign credential evaluation (WES)WES Course-by-Course (Basic $186; ICAP $239)
State boards require your Nigerian teaching degree to be evaluated for US-equivalency. A course-by-course report is the standard for certification.
2Pass required exams (e.g. Praxis)Praxis Core $150 combined (or $90/subtest); Subject Assessment ~$130
Most states require Praxis Core (basic skills) and a Praxis Subject Assessment; some states use their own tests (e.g. Texas TExES, California CSET).
3Fingerprinting & background checkTexas example: $39 ($37 fingerprint + $2 processing); California $49
States require a criminal background check via fingerprinting before issuing a certificate.
4Apply for state teaching certificateCalifornia $100 + $2.65 service fee = $102.65 (Texas $78)
Submit your certification application to the state where you intend to teach. Fees and requirements vary by state.
Other Costs to Budget For
J-1 exchange teacher program runs through a State Department-designated sponsor; sponsor and SEVIS fees apply. J visas have been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026.
Official source ↗Some states use their own tests instead of Praxis.
Official source ↗Good News: Employer Sponsorship
International teachers usually enter via the J-1 exchange visitor teacher program, but Proclamation 10998, s.5(j), has suspended J visas and immigrant visas (including EB-3) for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-19/html/2025-23570.htm). The open route is a school district that sponsors the H-1B, which is not suspended.
What employers typically cover:
- J-1 sponsorship via designated organisation (suspended for Nigerian nationals)
- Some districts sponsor H-1B (open) or EB-3 (suspended for Nigerian nationals)
- Placement support and orientation
What You'll Earn: $48,780 (entry) to $107,600+ (top), secondary teachers (2025)
Entry
$48,780
per year
After 2 Years
$72,040
per year
Top of Band
$107,600
per year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025, High School Teachers. Median $72,040; 10th percentile $48,780; 90th percentile $107,600. Elementary (except special education) median is $63,970. Source ↗
Important Things to Know
- There is no national teaching license — you must qualify in the specific state where you intend to teach.
- The J-1 exchange visitor teacher visa, normally the dominant route, has been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 (Proclamation 10998, s.5(j)). The H-1B is the open alternative.
- Exams differ by state — Praxis is common, but Texas (TExES) and California (CSET) use their own tests.
- Most J-1 programs require at least 2 years of teaching experience and a degree equivalent to a US bachelor's.
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Start Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
How does a Nigerian teacher get a US teaching job?
The usual route, the J-1 exchange visitor teacher program, has been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 under Proclamation 10998, as has the EB-3 green card. The open route is an H-1B sponsored by a school district, after a WES credential evaluation, required exams (e.g. Praxis) and a state certificate.
Is there one US teaching license?
No. Licensing is state-by-state, so fees, exams and requirements vary depending on which state you apply to.
What do US teachers earn?
BLS (May 2025) reports a median of $72,040 for high school teachers, ranging from about $48,780 entry-level to over $107,600 at the top.
Related guides
Same profession, other countries
See cost breakdowns for this profession in other countries
Compare what it costs Nigerian teachers to relocate to each top destination.
Sources & Verification
We reviewed this page against official sources on 8 Oct 2026; each figure links to its source where an official one exists. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
The Texas $78 standard certificate fee is confirmed on TEA's Out-of-Country Application Checklist.
Praxis fees ($150/$90/$130) confirmed on ETS's praxis.ets.org test pages on 6 October 2026.
WES exact current fee is subject to a small 2025/2026 inflation increase; confirm live.
English-test minimums for teachers vary by state and sponsor and were not pinned to a single official figure.
Written by Max Ayobami
Founder of Japa Calculator, Nigeria's first data-driven relocation decision tool. Every cost figure and expert tip on this page is independently researched and verified against official government and regulatory body sources.