Become a Teacher
Today's classrooms present teachers with more challenges and therefore
demand a deeper understanding of successful classroom practices. Dedication and
a desire to help children are important, but teachers also need a strong
academic background and solid professional preparation.
Whether you are a high school student exploring the possibility of entering
the teaching profession, a college student on his/her way to becoming a teacher
or a professional looking to change careers, below you will find the necessary
steps and websites that will guide you to become a teacher.
Chose a Pathway
There are traditional and non-traditional pathways to teaching.
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Four- or five-year college degree programs in
elementary education or secondary education which lead to certification upon
graduation. These programs can vary greatly depending on individual
university requirements.
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Post-collegiate programs for people who hold a
bachelor's degree and wish to enter the teaching field, generally for one
year to obtain certification.
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Alternative licensing and certification
programs in states where there is a shortage of teachers in a particular
field. These programs tend to be short-term and intensive in order to get
professionals into the classroom quickly. (See below for more information
about these programs.)
To explore educational institutions outside your state, the National Council
for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) publishes the Annual Guide to
Accredited Institutions that describes the institutions it accredits. Copies
are $15 each.
Teaching Certification Requirements
Contact the state Department of Education where you would most like to teach
and ask for information on requirements for certification (they should be able
to mail you an information packet).
Teaching Certification Application
Upon completion of your state's certification requirements, submit your
application for certification to the state. Usually, you can complete and
submit a form during the final semester of your program to your school, which
will prompt a record review and the school will then forward your application
to the state's department of education.
State Teaching information links
Alaska Teacher Certification http://www.educ.state.ak.us
Arizona Teacher Certification http://www.ade.state.az.us/certification
Arkansas Teacher Certification http://arkedu.state.ar.us/teachers/index.html
California Teacher Certification http://www.ctc.ca.gov
Colorado Teacher Certification http://www.cde.state.co.us:80/index_license.htm
Connecticut Teacher Certification http://www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/cert/index.htm
Delaware Teacher Certification http://www.teachdelaware.com
D.C. Teacher Certification http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/home.html
Florida Teacher Certification http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00022/home0022.htm
Georgia Teacher Certification http://www.gapsc.com
Hawaii Teacher Certification http://doe.k12.hi.us/personnel/teachinginhawaii.htm
Idaho Teacher Certification http://www.sde.state.id.us/certification
Illinois Teacher Certification http://www.isbe.state.il.us/teachers
Indiana Teacher Certification http://www.ai.org/psb
Iowa Teacher Certification http://www.state.ia.us/educate/programs/boee/index.html
Kansas Teacher Certification http://www.ksbe.state.ks.us/cert/cert.html
Kentucky Teacher Certification http://www.kyepsb.net
Louisiana Teacher Certification http://www.doe.state.la.us/DOE/asps/home.asp?I=CERTIFICATION
Maine Teacher Certification http://www.state.me.us/education/cert/cert.htm
Maryland Teacher Certification http://www.msde.state.md.us/certification/index.htm
Massachusetts Teacher Certification http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html
Michigan Teacher Certification http://www.michigan.gov/mde/016077-140-5234_5683_14795---00.html
Minnesota Teacher Certification http://education.state.mn.us/html/intro_licensure.htm
Mississippi Teacher Certification http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/license
Missouri Teacher Certification http://services.dese.state.mo.us/divteachqual/teachcert
Montana Teacher Certification http://www.opi.state.mt.us/cert/index.html
Nebraska Teacher Certification http://www.nde.state.ne.us/TCERT/TCERT.HTML
Nevada Teacher Certification http://www.nde.state.nv.us/licensure
New Hampshire Teacher Certification http://www.state.nh.us/doe/Certification/teacher.htm
New Jersey Teacher Certification http://www.state.nj.us/njded/educators/license
New Mexico Teacher Certification http://sde.state.nm.us/divisions/ais/licensure/index.html
New York Teacher Certification http://www.nysed.gov/tcert/homepage.htm
North Carolina Teacher Certification http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/licensure/lifaq.htm
North Dakota Teacher Certification http://www.state.nd.us/espb
Ohio Teacher Certification http://www.ode.state.oh.us/teaching-profession/Teacher/Certification_Licensure/default.asp
Oklahoma Teacher Certification http://sde.state.ok.us/home/defaultie.html
Oregon Teacher Certification http://www.ous.edu/aca/tchred.htm
Pennsylvania Teacher Certification http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/site/default.asp
Rhode Island Teacher Certification http://www.ridoe.net/teacher_cert/Default.htm
South Carolina Teacher Certification http://www.scteachers.org/index.cfm
South Dakota Teacher Certification http://www.state.sd.us/state/executive/deca/account/certif.htm
Tennessee Teacher Certification http://www.state.tn.us/education/lic_home.htm
Texas Teacher Certification http://www.sbec.state.tx.us
Utah Teacher Certification http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/cert/require/reqs.htm
Vermont Teacher Certification http://www.state.vt.us/educ
Virginia Teacher Certification http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html
Washington Teacher Certification http://www.k12.wa.us/cert
West Virginia Teacher Certification http://wvde.state.wv.us/certification
Wisconsin Teacher Certification http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlsis/tel/licguide.html
Wyoming Teacher Certification http://www.k12.wy.us/ptsb/index.html
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