Review the guidelines for Pell Grant eligibility for teacher certification in the Federal Student Aid Handbook at http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/0809FSAHbkVol1Ch7.pdf. Basic requirements are that a student who has a bachelor's degree can enroll at least half-time in a program for a teacher certification or state licensing for elementary or secondary education and is generally only for those who already have a bachelor’s degree and is not toward a graduate degree. Any program you apply to must meet the requirements. If you are unsure whether a program is eligible, contact the school and ask its financial aid department about eligibility.
Download the free application for Federal Student Aid (FSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to begin the application process. FAFSA.ed.gov warns that although the deadline for the application is in June of the current school year, many states and schools have earlier deadlines, so you must contact each school for information.
Collect your financial information such as income tax records. Pell Grants are income- and need-based. On your application, list the program or programs you are applying for in order to have your financial aid information sent to the school. CollegeScholarships.com says that once you have submitted your Pell Grant application, you will receive an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number, which determines the amount of money you can receive.
Contact the educational program financial aid office to determine how much award money you will receive once you have gotten your EFC. For 2009-2010, the maximum amount for a Pell Grant was $5,350. Complete the school’s financial aid application. The school will submit the information for payment.