Teacher Resource Sites
Steps to Teacher Certification by John Parks
Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers available. Along with parents, educators support and guide an entire generation of children as they make their way into adulthood. Few careers come with such tremendous responsibility, yet few careers are as enjoyable as mentoring school-aged children.
Those considering a career in education should follow the appropriate steps to certification. Certification is the professional recognition given to college or university graduates after they complete necessary coursework in a certain subject or division. It helps to have a bachelor’s degree in the subject you wish to teach, but teachers must also be certified in order to teach in most states’ public school systems.
Many colleges and universities offer online certification programs that are approved by their state’s Department Of Education and meet state reciprocity requirements across the nation. It’s important to select a program that will equip you with the latest instructional methods and terminology, as well as offer you convenience and flexibility. The latest educational practices are technologically innovative and data-driven, and it’s imperative to choose a program that will provide you with insight into these methods and resources.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in your chosen subject, many certification programs will supplement your content knowledge with educational courses designed to focus on teaching, assessments, and learning styles. Career-changers and people who wish to teach a subject for which they don’t hold a bachelor’s degree are also eligible to benefit from these programs. They might have to take additional undergraduate courses in their chosen field, and most universities that offer certification programs also offer these undergraduate courses. If the course is not available at the school, you may complete the course at another accredited institution.
Once your college or university grants your certification, you will need to obtain a teaching credential or license from the state in which you wish to teach. Many states require a passing score on certain teaching exams, such as the Praxis series of assessments. The Praxis I measures a teacher’s pre-professional skills and covers mathematics, reading, and writing. The Praxis II is a content-based test for the subject area you wish to teach. Some states also require teachers to take the Praxis III exam during their first year of teaching. As part of this assessment, a trained official observes a class and conducts pre-observation and post-observation interviews.
While most states require a passing score on the Praxis I exam, different requirements for the Praxis II and III assessments vary by state. Prospective teachers should research the state requirements for licensure before applying for a position. Several states, such as California, New York, Florida, and Georgia, require educators to pass a state-specific exam instead of the Praxis. It can be difficult to become a teacher in another state if that state has a different set of requirements for licensure. Some states offer reciprocity agreements that will allow schools to recognize licenses from different states. However, these agreements are only temporary in some areas and teachers are asked to pass the state requirements after the first year of teaching. Prospective educators can find the reciprocity agreements on each state’s department of education web site: http://www.alleducationschools.com/education-careers/article/department-of-education.
Teaching is one of the most important and gratifying careers available. Educators make a powerful impact in the lives of children by mentoring generations of future leaders.
For more information on programs for teachers, visit http://teacherprepprograms.com.
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