Teacher Licensure: Study Resource & Degree Program Information

General Information About Teaching Licenses

Each state establishes different requirements for teaching licensure and certification. Most states ask teachers to complete the same requirements, even if the state licensing differs in some states.

Anyone who wishes to attain a license to teach must hold a bachelor’s degree and, in some states, a master’s degree. Aspiring elementary school teachers need to major or minor in education or have earned a Masters in Education. Secondary subjects need a degree in the area planned on teaching. For example, a biology teacher must have a B.S. in biology. Graduates also need to have completed an approved and accredited education program fulfilling the student teaching and practice requirements prior to applying for licensure. Finally, teachers must pass either a state exam or the PRAXIS exam, both designed to measure basic academic and subject-based knowledge. Certifications are usually good for up to five years, wherein afterwards the teacher needs to renew the license.

Alternative teacher certifications are becoming more commonplace as states attempt to attract more teachers to areas with teaching shortages. These programs establish special licensing procedures. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in the subject they wish to teach, pass state examinations and complete a teacher preparation program, possibly working as a supervised teaching intern. The state then issues a teaching credential for that state.

Earning A Bachelor Of Arts In Education

A Bachelor of Education degree prepares undergraduates to teach at any level of education. This degree is usually awarded as a major, minor or with another bachelor’s degree in a different subject, often the one the student wants to teach. For example, someone who wants to teach English could double major or major in English with a minor in education.

Masters Of Education Degree

For those who want to do more than just teach or want to earn a higher salary, students should apply to a School of Education, a branch of study within a university devoted to educational academia and management, to earn a Master of Education degree. This program teaches learning methods, pedagogical theory and evaluation, concentrating on a specialization such as administration or counseling. Those who want to work in a postsecondary educational institution need to earn a master’s first.

Doctorate Of Education Degree

A Doctor of Education degree or D.Ed. prepares students for administrative and specialized fields in education. D.Ed. candidates have to develop a thesis dealing with research methods, pedagogical theory and applying those theories into classroom practices. This degree is necessary for students looking to become administrators or educators at a higher-level institution.

Choosing A Teacher’s License

In order to earn a teaching license, teachers-to-be need to earn a four-year degree and attend a teaching preparation program, which normally extends a typical college career by an extra year. All teaching programs need to be accredited by the state and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). Students should also look at the location of the program, its ranking as a top school or not and how many graduates were employed right out of school.

There are many positions available in specialized teaching fields, such as coaching a school’s athletic team. Becoming a substitute teacher requires an entirely different set of certification conditions. Contact the local school district and take any tests necessary before filling out an application.

Teaching Certification Exams

Teachers are required by state law to have passed various certification examinations before being eligible to teach in a classroom. The tests vary depending on the state, but the teacher-in-training will have to take either the nationwide PRAXIS exam or a state exam. For example, California law requires teachers to take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), along with single-subject and multiple subject assessments. No matter what kind of test a graduate takes, it will be based on academic and subject knowledge necessary to know in order to teach.

Other Teaching Options

Private and independent schools do not have to adhere to the same certification requirements at the state, making them another option for those who want to teach but have not yet attended a teaching preparation program. Working as a teacher’s aide is another way to become acquainted with the classroom without having to go through the process of earning certification. Teacher’s aides are instruction staffs who work in small groups to tutor students, assist with classroom management and provide overall support in the classroom, such as acting as a translator or watching over students in a computer lab.

Career Opportunities For Teachers

Being a teacher entails more than just lecturing to a classroom. Teachers can choose a specific focus to teach or broaden their horizons with a general background in an area of study. They can participate in outside programs, like helping run the school newspaper or running an after-school debate team. Bilingual teachers speak in two languages during class in order to communicate lesson plans effectively to two groups of students. Special education teachers educate elementary through secondary school students with physical and learning disabilities. Vocational education teachers train students to work in various technical and career-oriented fields, such as auto repair, communications, health care, business and information technology. Some employers may offer internships, which gives teachers a chance to build a relationship between the school and business while overseeing a program dedicated to placing students in jobs out of high school.

Teachers can also go back to school or work with a program that will pay them to go back and earn a Master’s in Education. This degree is important for those who want to become administrators, such as a high school principal or college counselor.

Earning Potential For Teachers

Teaching is one of the more secure careers available, since after three years, a teacher can obtain tenure status, making it a stable and reliable career. It is also one of the most in-demand professions, as there is a severe shortage of teachers, especially in low-income and rural communities.

There is a predicted 12 percent growth in schoolteachers’ employment in the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, creating nearly 500,000 new positions. Elementary, middle and secondary school teacher median annual salaries range from $43,580 to $48, 690, with beginning teachers earning an average of $31,753. Salaries increase when teachers go back to school for a higher degree.