Apply for a regular teaching certificate. They also cost teachers about five times more than state-run programs, as of publication. Note, however, that some states do not allow reciprocity for alternative routes to certification in elementary education (or other areas). Three of the largest and best-known national programs are the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), which offers online alternative preparation programs in the 11 states where it is accepted; Teach for America, which is an alternate route to certification in over 25 states and metro areas; and TNTP Teaching Fellows, which offers programs in eight states and metro areas. To teach the middle grades, the bachelor’s degree earned typically includes a major in the subject to be taught. According to the National Education Association, in the next ten years 2.2 million new teachers will be needed to fill expected vacancies. Apply for your professional teaching certificate. Career and technical education, or CTE, is a broad area that covers subjects such as agriculture, business, information technology, and health sciences. Earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or licensure in an approved career and technical education subject (requirements vary widely by subject area). Submit applications for provisional teaching programs, emergency licensing, and special programs to the program itself or the school district. Secondly, the student teaching experience tends to begin earlier in the program than in a comparable university-based program, often as early as the first semester. The steps to licensure by portfolio evaluation typically mirror those of the teaching by equivalency route, above, with the added step of submitting a formal portfolio before applying for your teaching certificate. Pass the NBPTS certification exam for your desired certificate area(s) and submit your professional portfolio. Complete any additional requirements attached to the certificate issued, such as educator testing. Many aspiring teachers begin preparing for their careers by earning a bachelor's degree in education in a program that also licenses graduates to teach. Once all requirements have been met, apply for a regular teaching license. Teach as a provisional educator during the time that the certificate issued is valid. Look for job openings online in local newspapers, district websites, and major education publications such as Education Week. You can obtain a license regardless of which bachelor's degree … Sometimes states waive degree requirements. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, Teach: Teaching License and Certification, University of New England: Masters in Education Comparison Guide, National Center for Alternative Certification: Advanced Search, U.S. Department of Education: Federal Student Aid Available for Individuals Enrolled in Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification. In addition to university-based alternative teacher preparation programs, there are many national and regional transitional alternative certification programs. Begin supervised teaching as you pursue district-based teacher preparation and/or a formal professional development plan. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Elementary school teachers train young students in a range of subjects using creative lessons and activities. However, teachers may use alternatives routes to the become the head of a classroom. More locally-based programs include the Academy for Urban School Leadership in Chicago, New York City Teaching Fellows in New York, the Arkansas Teacher Corps, and the Mississippi Teacher Corps. Get a teaching support position in a public school. Earning a graduate degree in an education program is one path to licensure. However, in states that have portfolio evaluation or experience equivalency pathways, teaching under this type of certificate may help individuals launch their teaching careers. All trades are in high demand, including electricians, carpenters, plumbers, hair dressers, veterinary technicials, computer technicians and others. Seeking teaching opportunities in areas where there is an extreme shortage of teachers might help ensure that you find employment quickly. The first step for any prospective teacher should be to research state licensure requirements.