Becoming a teacher is both challenging and rewarding, which is probably why more mid-career adults than ever are going into teaching as a second career. Whether fresh out of college, or coming into teaching from another field, you must be certified to obtain teaching employment at any public school in the U.S. Every state has its own requirements for different types of teacher certification, but there are core teacher certificates throughout the country. All states and localities require that teacher candidates possess at a minimum, a four year college degree that includes courses in teaching theory, and that the candidate pass a teacher certification examination. The exact examination(s) that need to be taken will vary based upon the specific type of teaching certificate.
The different teaching certificates qualify a teacher to work in a specific subject or grade level and include:
*Initial certificate: This is the certificate that is issued upon completion of a four-year college degree in education and satisfactory performance on teacher certification exam(s). The exact exams to be taken may vary by the endorsement or teaching area.
*Standard certificate: Teachers who have been in the classroom for four years and completed specific continuing education requirements are eligible for this certification. The pay scale for a standard certificate is generally higher than for the initial.
*Masters teaching certificate: This is issued to teachers who have obtained a Master's degree in education through a college or university. Again, teacher's pay increases at this level.
* Substitute certificate: Regulations regarding substitute teaching vary greatly from state to state, and within localities. Many states require a specific amount of college education and successful completion of a course in classroom management. Long-term substitute jobs, such as working for someone on maternity leave, often call for experience in the specific subject, and possibly a four-year college degree.
* Early childhood certificate endorsement: An endorsement is added onto your teaching certificate stating that you have passed certification exam(s) related to that specific field. Early Childhood certification qualifies teachers to work with children from birth through third grade. Coursework for this certificate emphasizes child development.
* Elementary school certificate endorsement: A teacher must pass an elementary subjects certification exam and possibly one in specific subject areas besides. This endorsement qualifies teachers to work with children in grades 1-5 (or up to 8th grade in a self-contained classroom.)
* Middle level school certificate endorsement: This endorsement indicates successful completion of a middle school (grades 5-9) teacher's certification exam. Most middle school teaching jobs also require endorsement in a specific subject such as math, science or English.
*Alternative Route to Teacher Education (ARC): The ARC program was created in the late 80's to address the severe teacher shortage in the U.S. IT provides a means for adults with college degrees in other areas to obtain teacher certification without obtaining a degree in education. The program provides teacher training and student teaching opportunities. Many states have their own versions of the ARC program, and can go under different names such as TAPP (Teacher Alternative Preparation Program).
Many traditional colleges now offer at least a few of their teaching courses in a distance-learning format, and some have complete degree programs online. For this reason, more working adults are pursuing teaching as a career. Whatever type of teaching certification you are interested in, you can likely complete some of your coursework via the Internet. The best source of information on specific licensing requirements and routes to certification is your State's Department of Education. DOE websites generally offer many resources related to certification, including listings of colleges that offer accredited degrees, links to ARC programs and to the licensing agency for your state.
Author Resource:-
Former teacher and test expert Robert McKenzie has published widely on teaching and exams. Visit his website for more information on Teacher Certification exams.
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