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Alternative Teaching Certification
from: Kyle BesserTo become a public school teacher, teaching certification is required. Traditional education majors spend four years taking the required coursework and education credits to earn certification. Now there is another option for those who qualify.
New programs for alternative certification for teachers and fast-track teaching degrees are making it much easier to become a teacher. Since the mid 1980s, there has been a steadily increasing demand for teachers. In 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act further amplified concerns about this shortage by increasing teacher accountability.
Additionally, according to the National Center for Education Information (NCEI), some key trends continue to affect the education system and teacher shortages.
*The number of students continues to rise, particularly at the high school level.
*Teacher retirements are increasing; 50% of all teachers are over 50 years of age.
*From 30% to 50% of new teachers leave teaching within their first 5 years.
*Fewer students at traditional colleges are enrolling in education programs.
Because of critical teacher shortages, particularly in the inner cities and rural areas of the United States, an alternative teaching certification was created. Alternative teaching certification, which is also called emergency certification or accelerated certification makes it easier to become a teacher. A teaching degree is no longer required. If you have a bachelor's degree in another field, an alternative certification for teachers will fast track you into teaching.
Alternative teaching certification has radically changed the teaching landscape. The NCEI reports that more men, non-whites and older individuals with long careers are now becoming teachers. Most alternative certification programs offer flexible or compressed scheduling, which allows individuals who are already working an accessible way to earn certification.
Alternative certification teacher continuingeducation programs are designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree and do not want to return to college to earn a full education degree but who do need some teachercontinuingeducation additional coursework and classroom experience to qualify for certification. Either the alternative certification teacher program or the states may establish other qualifications, such as grade point average or other suitability standards.
When the non-profit Center for Education Information surveyed many colleges and universities in 1999, they found that 65% of schools that offer education degrees were offering at least one program for those interested in getting certified to teach but did not have a teaching degree.
If you are considering earning your certification through an alternative certification teacher program, the NCEI suggests several guidelines to consider when choosing a teacher continuing education program:
1. The teacher continuing education program is designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree.
2. Candidates for the teacher continuing education program must pass a rigorous screening process.
3. The teacher continuing education program is field based.
4. The teacher continuing education program includes coursework or equivalent experiences in professional education studies before and while teaching.
5. Candidates work closely with mentor teachers.
6. Candidates must meet high performance standards to complete the teacher continuing education program.
There are not enough qualified teachers in many subject areas. Alternative certification for teachers programs help individuals become teachers faster. Non-traditional teaching candidates who have work experience or are specialized in their field and are ready for a career change can now bring their real life experience to the classroom.
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