Becoming Licensed and Attaining Your Teaching Certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is teacher certification?
Certification is the process by which colleges or universities grant professional recognition to a graduate of their program who has completed required coursework in a particular subject area. What is a teaching credential?
A teaching credential is the license conferred by a state to teachers who have completed certain state mandated requirements for teaching certification; such as education courses and passed state mandated teaching examinations. Teachers may earn a credential that allows them to teach the early childhood grades (usually nursery school through grade three); the elementary grades (grades one through six or eight); the middle grades (grades five through eight); a secondary education subject area (usually grades seven through twelve); or a special subject, such as reading or music (usually grades kindergarten through twelve).
What is National Teacher Certification?
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers voluntary national certification for teachers in kindergarten through grade twelve. All states recognize national certification and many states and school districts provide special benefits to teachers holding national certification such as higher salaries. Additionally, many states allow nationally certified teachers to carry a license from one state to another. For teachers to acquire a national certificate, teachers must compile a portfolio showing their work in the classroom and pass a written assessment and evaluation of their teaching knowledge. Currently, teachers may become certified in one of seven areas, which are based on the age of the students and, in some cases, subject area. For example, teachers may obtain a certificate for teaching English language arts to early adolescents (ages 11-15), or they may become certified as early childhood generalists.
What is an emergency teaching certificate?
Because of critical teacher shortages, some states extend temporary and emergency licenses that bypass state licensing requirements. These often are granted to individuals to teach in high-need subject areas, such as mathematics, science, special education, or bilingual education, or for high-need geographic areas such as urban schools.
How do elementary and secondary teaching certificates differ?
Elementary school teaching credentials are usually general, which means the teacher can teach a wide variety of subjects. Middle and secondary school teachers specialize in a specific subject, such as English, Spanish, mathematics, history, or biology. Aspiring secondary school teachers either major in the subject they plan to teach while also taking education courses, or major in education and take subject courses.
What are teaching certificate endorsements?
Endorsements qualify middle school and high school teachers to teach subjects that are not covered in their teaching credential. Generally an undergraduate major meets the requirement of a teaching endorsement. Otherwise teachers will need to take several required courses to qualify for an endorsement in a particular subject.
What is an alternative route teaching certificate?
Alternative route certification is specifically for individuals who have not completed a traditional 4-year certification program through an accredited university, but seek an alternative way to attain a teaching certificate. Many are career changers, or have special skills, life or industry experience that would make them effective teachers. In almost every case, candidates have achieved their bachelor's degree, just not in the field of education. Alternate route certification has become increasingly common in recent years as a means of entering the profession. Each state varies in its procedures and requirements for attaining alternate route certification. Check your desired state's Department of Education website for details.
What are the requirements for attaining a teaching certificate in my state?
Each state sets its own requirements for certification, but most require teachers to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college and most require teachers to pass a state-licensing exam. Most states have several levels of credentials for teachers and varying certifications based on the age group or subject area taught. In order to find out, you'll need to research what your state currently requires for a teaching credential. Find your state's department of education web site.
http://www.alleducationschools.com/faqs/statedepartment.php
Can I teach in another state if I already have a teaching certificate?
Many states have reciprocity agreements that make it easier for teachers licensed in one state to become licensed in another. There are over 40 states that have agreed to allow teachers to transfer their license from another state to a new state. However, some states consider this transfer only provisional and require individuals to earn the new state's license within the first couple of years of teaching in the new state. To find out if your state has a reciprocity agreement, view our list of state department of education web sites.
http://www.alleducationschools.com/faqs/statedepartment.php
If I have a teaching certificate from another country can I teach in the U.S.?
Most states do not accept licensure from foreign countries, but you may qualify for a provisional teaching certificate, which allows you to teach while completing the education courses that you lack. After you complete your required coursework you'll become fully licensed, which may take only one or two semesters of full-time study.
Source:
www.alleducationschools.com
