Most of us can remember a teacher or counselor who made a positive impact on our lives. This nearly universal experience shows how teachers play an indispensable role in supporting and sometimes even influencing how young people decide to live their lives.
Teachers make up a significant portion of the U.S. workforce: K鈥12 teachers at both public and private institutions constitute . While nearly all teachers are required to have a bachelor鈥檚 degree, degree programs can vary and additional certifications and licenses are often required.
Here, 澳门天天彩开奖记录鈥檚 (UOPX) regional development specialist Crystal Perez and enrollment representative Brittany Keegan provide information on how听certifications and endorsements听can help teachers grow their careers and enhance their earning potential.
Learn more about our education degrees.
In the past few years, many states have either temporarily or permanently altered their requirements to make it easier for those interested in teaching to begin their careers early. This comes, no doubt, in response to the recent exodus of teachers from the classroom. As many as , according to an ABC report, which cites data from the Government Accountability Office.
To address the high number of vacancies, some states and school districts have been reevaluating their hiring practices. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen an 鈥榚mergency permit鈥 process put in place [in some states, even temporarily],鈥 says Perez, 鈥渋n which a school district will hire a teacher who is not yet certified but is on track to complete a certain number of courses in the next few years.鈥
Emergency permits could allow teachers to begin their careers sooner rather than later.
鈥淚 had a student the other day who has five years to take her certification [after graduating],鈥 Keegan says. 鈥淪tates have different timelines for teachers to complete [state certification requirements], but overall, we are seeing more and more students take advantage of emergency [and temporary policies] so they can begin their teaching career鈥 as soon as possible.听
read similar articles
But what certifications and endorsements are typically required? It depends on the state.
Every state requires a unique combination of degrees, certifications, in-classroom experience and/or assessments before awarding licensure. However, it鈥檚 nearly universal for all teachers to at least hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree.
For people interested in teaching, the first place to start researching requirements would be their state鈥檚 Department of Education website. 鈥淪tates use different lingo,鈥 Keegan says. 鈥淪ome call them licenses, others call them certifications.鈥 For most states, the terms are interchangeable. Also, it鈥檚 typical that state licenses must be renewed every five years.
Keegan explains that new teachers typically have more steps than those who have already received licenses in the past. Before entering a classroom, they may have to:
One important exam is the Praxis庐 test, which measures teachers鈥 knowledge of the subjects they intend to teach. According to the National Education Association, exams are pass/fail but provide additional information to the test takers about their performance relative to other aspiring educators who take the same exam.
The Praxis tests are not the only assessments that states use to certify teachers. Some states require teachers to pass separate, state-specific competency exams.听
Praxis is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service nonprofit corporation NEW YORK Rosedale Road, Princeton, NEW JERSEY 08541
read similar articles
After teachers complete licensure requirements, they can start enrolling in classes to receive additional endorsements.
Most states offer incentives such as weighted compensation to teachers who hold endorsements. Perez views endorsements as 鈥additional specializations, such as being able to teach bilingual classrooms, becoming a certified ESL teacher or reading specialist.鈥
Considering the way licensure varies from state to state, it鈥檚 not surprising that receiving an endorsement is equally individualized. 鈥淪ome states just require university credits,鈥 Perez says, 鈥渨hile others require assessments, and still others want practicum听丑辞耻谤蝉.鈥
Perez and Keegan reiterate how important it is for teachers seeking endorsements to review information on their specific state鈥檚 requirements.听
Explore continuing teacher education at 澳门天天彩开奖记录.
For some, the passion for teaching comes later in life. Perez has seen a number of mid-career professionals decide to switch, maybe even from corporate roles to teaching high school.
In Perez鈥檚 experience, 鈥many come from a business background inspired to teach high school pre-business or economics class,鈥 she says. 鈥淥thers are experienced IT technicians, electricians or welders looking to become certified teachers in vocational schools.鈥
For these individuals, Keegan suggests they volunteer as a paraprofessional in their local school district to get a feel for the classroom.
Whether you鈥檙e just starting out or you鈥檙e a veteran teacher, most educators subscribe to the notion that you should always be learning. This is true in the general sense but also in a practical one: To achieve state license recertification, teachers need to stay on top of continuing education.
At UOPX, continuing teacher education (CTE) classes help teachers prepare for recertification (licensure renewal) as well as find professional growth opportunities.
And it鈥檚 not just about checking boxes. Participants learn alongside other educators who communicate about their own experiences, Keegan notes.
鈥淪tudents in these [CTE] courses can develop a community and share resources,鈥 Keegan says.
CTE courses fall into the following categories:
Assignments often require participants to implement teaching strategies in their classrooms, so even seasoned educators can learn a lot.
Education, after all, is all about lifelong learning.
William Ordeman is a lecturer of business communication and a PhD candidate studying communication, borders and public health. Before entering higher education, he led marketing initiatives for several global enterprises as a marketing automation specialist. He has since published an edited book, written several articles, and continued to teach writing, public speaking and employment training to his students. When not plugging away at his dissertation, Ordeman is likely playing his drums or reading a sci-fi novel.
听
want to read more like this?
September 09, 2021 鈥 8 minute read