How to Become a Certified Teacher
What Training and Certification Do Pre-Service Teachers Need?
So, you've made the big decision to commit yourself to becoming a teacher. So, what is the next step? You must get certified. This usually means academic training (see the websites below) and internal state procedures and regulations. Each state has its own specific rules and regulations for teacher certification, but most require a combination of some or all of the following:
The First Step - Formal Academic Training
- The minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. General elementary teachers need a major or minor in education and must have taken college level courses in math, science, English and social studies. To become a secondary teacher, one usually is required to major in their subject area.
- Completion of an accredited education preparation program. The National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education has a job vacancy board in addition to a state by state accredited institutions of teacher training colleges. Traditional teacher education programs of such colleges and universities are designed so that you can work towards the major or minor coursework while you are also taking teacher preparation courses. These programs also include practicum (a required number of hours) and a student-teaching internship, usually a semester in length.
Statewide Assessments and Testing
Once you have completed your formal level of training, you can provisionally teach but are still not considered a certified teacher. Each state requires teachers to pass a series of tests that evaluate their basic liberal arts knowledge as well as their teaching skills.
- Many states use the PRAXIS series. Some states allow you to take the test within a year or two of being granted a provisional license. This home page website gives you tips and information about the procedures involved in the Praxis tests and what you need to do to prepare for them.
- Name checks and fingerprinting. Many states now require applicants to complete a criminal background check and fingerprinting process. Obviously, this is to ensure that only citizens without any track records are placed in classrooms with children.
There are of course, online degrees and online education for teachers who wish to pursue online education courses. Many of these are accredited online education programs, which are becoming more and more popular for the working population especially those who are considering a career move to the education field.
Becoming a certified teacher can be a long and arduous procedure, but by keeping informed on the requirements and planning your preservice teacher training, you are well on your way to making more informed decisions.
