Prc Teacher Requirements
Leanna Perr
Some people are certain from a young age that their calling is to be a teacher. Others have fulfilling careers in another field and later decide that they want to become teachers to share their knowledge with the generations to come. In either case, there are a few steps to becoming a teacher that an individual should be aware of as they consider the career path.
Teachers can choose the environment in which they would like to pursue teaching, such as at a university or at an elementary school, or even running an online course for students who are earning their degrees remotely.
Kindergarten and elementary school are where students learn basic skills in subjects such as in reading and math. You will find that many elementary schools incorporate select activities into the school day, such as art and music activities, to help young students begin to expand their minds and widen their knowledge base.
Sixth through eighth grades are considered middle school grades. Most schools hire teachers who have expertise in certain subjects, such as chemistry or mathematics. During this time in their lives, children are becoming more advanced learners and can be held to higher standards of educational performance.
Some teaching positions are expected to be in higher demand than others in the future, particularly those in specialized fields. The health care industry, for example, is facing a shortage of nurse educators who are qualified to teach the next generation of nurses how to provide effective patient care. This shortage has consequences, as some programs may turn nursing students away due to a lack of qualified faculty to teach them.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for preschool teachers is predicted to grow 18 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is significantly higher than the average 8 percent growth the BLS predicts for all professions during this period.
Postsecondary teachers are also expected to have a higher job growth rate compared to the average. The BLS predicts 12 percent job growth for this role, thanks to the growing number of students choosing to attend college.
In addition to the level of teaching, job growth potential is heavily determined by location. Some states need teachers more than others, and employment opportunities may be greater in inner-city or rural areas.
Teacher salaries vary widely based on multiple factors, the main one being the state in which you live and teach. Whether you work in a private or public school, or you teach summer school, the subject you teach, your experience level, the grade you teach, and the degree you hold are other variables that contribute to teacher salaries.
Securing a job with a great salary is made simpler when you have an alumni network across the country. An extensive network provides insight into many different teaching jobs and school systems. When you graduate from AU, you become part of a diverse network of talented students from all over the United States and more than 150 countries.
If you do pursue an undergraduate degree in something other than education and come to find that a degree in education is required of you, there are other options available. A common alternate path is pursuing a higher education graduate degree that will provide you with the knowledge and skill set to successfully take a state licensure exam. Thus, the undergraduate degree you earn will not be an impediment to your teaching career.
As you begin to explore teaching programs, you will see that there are multiple degree options in education alone. It is suggested to move forward with the degree program that is most tailored to your interests and goals in teaching. Some of the most popular teaching degrees are in special education, physical education, education administration, secondary education, and early childhood education.
Equally as important as an undergraduate degree is having hands-on experience in the classroom. This is the part of becoming a teacher that would prove to be tricky if you earn a degree in a field other than education; however, it is not impossible.
Teachers must have a certain number of hours supervising in an educational environment to take the exam to earn a teaching license. This can be done during undergraduate studies, through an internship at a school, or during the time between graduation and starting full-time employment.
American University requires students in both the on-campus and online MAT programs to obtain over 600 hours of hands-on classroom experience to graduate. We work closely with online students to find collaborative student-teaching experiences in partnership with high-quality teachers in locations near their homes.
Along with completing the required steps to becoming a teacher, public school teachers must obtain licensure or become certified. Certification follows grade level, with separate licenses for preschool through third grade, first grade through sixth (or first through eighth), and seventh grade through 12th.
It is important to note that private school teachers are not required to be licensed by the state. However, many private schools mandate that their teachers hold valid state certification. It is generally recommended that all teachers obtain the appropriate license or certification of their respective states so that they will not be limited in their employment options.
American University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, both on-campus and online, for students with no background or preparation in education who intend to earn licensure in elementary education (grades 1-6).
Another way to pursue professional development in teaching is to obtain National Board Certification, a voluntary and advanced teaching credential. To earn this status, teachers must complete a rigorous peer-reviewed certification process that includes submitting videos of their teaching and student work samples, as well as passing a three-hour exam.
A doctoral degree is a good choice for those who desire to enter the highest administrative levels of education, such as by becoming a superintendent of a school or a professor of higher education or another subject area. The degree could also support an educational goal for students wanting to pursue research, curriculum development, or high-level governmental positions.
Students who take doctoral courses can expect to learn about the newest research and studies in education. It is the highest level of in-depth learning, providing students with a skill set that will help them pursue new responsibilities. Quality control, research analysis, strategic planning, assessment techniques, and data management are some of the many skills that a doctoral degree in education will provide.
Generally speaking, it takes an individual about four to five years to become a teacher. This timeline represents the time required to complete the minimum qualification for the teaching profession at an elementary, middle school, or high school level.
Before you take the steps to become a teacher, you should consider several elements when selecting a program. The first element is to make sure a program is accredited, as accreditation provides proof that a college or university can sufficiently prepare students for their chosen field. A degree from an unaccredited institution could negatively impact your career.
Teaching is more than a noble profession. It provides an opportunity to have a significant impact on the lives of others and to influence how society moves forward in areas such as scientific research, the arts, and government policy. This can make teaching one of the most satisfying professions to pursue.
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For the Professional certificate in the classroom teaching service, individuals must complete at least three years of acceptable teaching experience or its equivalent (540 full-time days). Full-time and part-time experiences are acceptable. Once an individual has been issued a Professional certificate, the experience requirement will be satisfied for any future Professional classroom teaching certificate applications. Descriptions of acceptable and unacceptable teaching experiences are provided below.
For certain experiences, a valid and appropriate teaching certificate must be held during the experience. An appropriate certificate is a certificate that matches the grade levels and subject area of the teaching assignment.
Experiences that require a valid and appropriate certificate include, but are not limited to: employment in a public school, BOCES, Early Intervention provider, or other position that requires certification in New York State; and employment in a public school in another U.S. state or U.S. territory. Please see the following list of acceptable teaching experiences for examples.
Substitute teachers in New York State who hold a valid teaching certificate or are working towards certification (i.e., completing at least six semester hours of college coursework per year), and are employed by a school district or BOCES for more than 40 days, must be employed in the area that they are certified or seeking certification, respectively.
Substitute teachers in New York State who do not hold a valid certificate, and are not working towards certification, cannot have more than 40 days of acceptable experience in a school district or BOCES in a school year except as described on the Substitute Teaching webpage.
This pathway requires the candidate to complete a bachelor's degree and an approved teacher preparation program at a Wisconsin college/university. Upon completion, the Wisconsin college/university will endorse you for a Wisconsin license.
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