To teach in most specialties, a degree and state certification in that endorsement area is required. To know if education is really the right career path for you, make sure you have an understanding of what makes a good teacher and that you have the skills and characteristics compatible with teaching. To be a good teacher, you must enjoy being around other people and interacting with them, especially young people.
Teaching is a social job that involves constant interaction with others. Good teachers are also patient. If you lose your temper easily, a school setting may not be the right workplace for you. Teachers are flexible and good at quick decision making. Teachers must be strict to an extent and able to enforce rules, but they also need to pick their battles.
Most importantly of all, teachers care. They care about their students and student success. Without this characteristic, being a teacher will become a chore after a while. If you feel passionate about a particular content area or about learning in general and you truly care about others, you have the potential to become a great teacher. To really understand the job and to decide if it is right for you, find a way to get into the classroom.
Experienced teachers can tell you what their careers are like and that is an excellent place to start. If you are still interested, contact local schools to find out if you can volunteer or spend a day or more shadowing a teacher. As a volunteer, you may be able to help out in a classroom as an assistant. While shadowing, you may be able to visit different classrooms and grade levels to get an idea of what different teachers do. You can also consider substitute teaching as a way to introduce yourself to the teaching profession. Now that you have examined the characteristics of a teacher and observed teachers in action, you should take a look at the practical considerations.
Think about salary , the education you will need , certification requirements , and the availability of jobs in your target area before making a final decision about a teaching career. For expert advice from current teachers about what it is like to be a teacher and more, read our teacher career interviews.
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Choosing a School with a Teaching Preparation Program Once you are certain that teaching is the right career for your future, the next step is to select a certification program. In each state in the US, you must be certified in order to work as a teacher in a public school.
It is important that you consider the rules laid out by the state in which you hope to live and work so that you can get the correct certificate.
While it is possible to transfer a teaching certificate from one state to another with certification reciprocity , it is not always an easy process. Before you select a school and a certification program , make sure you understand what your options are. You can find current rankings of accredited teacher preparation programs by state through the National Council on Teacher Quality. Depending on your state, you may have many options, or just a handful, but either way, this will give you a starting point to make your choice.
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It is also important to know what types of preparation programs are available and which one will meet your needs. Whichever route you follow, be sure that the program you choose is appropriately accredited.
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Accreditation for teacher certification schools is discussed in further detail below. Not all teacher preparation programs are created equal. Some are of a higher quality than others and an important indicator of a good program is accreditation. Be sure that you select a teacher certification program at a school that is accredited by a regional accrediting agency, since every state requires regional accreditation for teacher certification.
There are also national accreditations that signal quality in teacher preparation, such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation CAEP. To earn this accreditation, a school must prove that it meets high standards and graduates teachers of excellent quality.
In many states, a teaching program must also be approved by the board of education for the state in which the program is located to qualify graduates for a teaching license. To further narrow your choices, consider logistical concerns such as cost and location. Calculate the total cost of tuition and other associated expenses, like room and board.
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If you can choose a school that is close to home, you may be able to save money by qualifying for in-state tuition and living locally instead of on-campus. Consider whether or not you will be looking for scholarships, financial aid, or loans, and find out what each school has to offer you. Another important practical consideration is timing. Some schools offer accelerated programs to get you certified and into the workplace quickly. If you need to work at another job while pursuing your certification, look for a program that offers coursework in the evenings and on weekends or online.
Finally, once you have narrowed your choices down to one or two schools, it is a good idea to speak with individuals who graduated from the program. They can give you valuable insight into the positives and negatives of the institution and the certification program. Each school you are considering should be able to get you in touch with graduates.
Be sure to ask about the instructors, the ability to get a position after graduating, and anything else that may concern you. Testing Requirements for Teachers To enter a teaching program at a university or college, you must meet certain requirements. Those requirements vary by program.
You can also read more about certification requirements in general or by state on our Certification Guide. Many schools require a test for entry into a teaching program. The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests , or the Praxis Core, is used by many schools as an entry exam for teacher preparation programs and is also required in many states to earn teacher certification.
The Praxis Core is designed to assess basic skills in math, reading, and writing. Some Praxis exams are offered year-round and others are only offered during certain testing windows. You can register online by creating a Praxis account. This means you must take another exam. This series of tests is actually several exams by subject area.
You will take the subject tests for your particular area of certification. For instance, if you are applying for certification as a secondary social studies teacher, you will take the social studies Praxis Subject Assessment. You may take more than one subject area test if you are applying for more than one type of certification.
As with the Praxis Core, the subject area tests will also be taken by computer and can be registered for by logging into your Praxis account. Many states require prospective teachers seeking endorsements in grades to earn a passing score on this exam. The CKT measures both subject area and specialized content knowledge for teaching in the elementary grades. It measures how well prospective teachers can apply their content knowledge in the classroom.
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As implied by the name, these Praxis tests are only for those who will be teaching at the elementary level. As with the others in the Praxis series, this exam is also taken by computer. There are states that do not require the Praxis exams for teachers, but may require it for other types of school positions such as administrators, speech pathologists, or school psychologists.
To find out what tests you need to take in your state, visit the department of education website for your state, the Praxis website , or our Teacher Certification Requirement Information by State guide. Scholarships and Financial Aid Once you have decided to become a teacher and have begun to select a program for certification , it is time to think about tuition.
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College can be expensive, but there are ways to ensure that you can afford your education. Begin by choosing a college or university that has reasonable rates, but also think about looking for scholarships and financial aid opportunities. With a little help, you can afford to earn your degree and certification.
If you can qualify, scholarships are a great way to pay for your education. Unlike loans, they do not need to be paid back. Scholarships tend to be competitive, so be prepared to showcase your skills, awards, honors, and qualifications on your application.
Check for scholarships particular to your state as well as those offered at the national level. These grants have a service obligation attached to them, so make sure you will be able to meet those conditions.
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Otherwise, your grant will turn into a loan. The requirements include teaching for at least four years in a high-need field. In addition to scholarship opportunities, you should consider financial aid options. Every college and university has a financial aid department. An advisor can guide you through the process of finding, applying for, receiving, and paying back loans and aid.
You can always apply for a private loan, but government-backed student aid is usually a better choice. Your financial aid advisor can help you make this decision. This will help you determine what type of aid you qualify for and what types of grants and loans you may be able to apply for.