If you want to become an elementary school teaching in the States then you need to jump through a few hoops. The exact steps that you need to take to become an elementary teacher is very much dependent on the State in which you are planning to teach, however there are commonalities between States and that’s what I want to talk about here.
It’s also worth mentioning that while there are many “must-haves” to become an elementary teacher, there are also a few “should-haves” that will help your chances of getting a job in the shortest time possible. I will cover both the must-haves and the should-haves in this article for you.
The first thing you must have is a bachelor’s degree. You don’t necessarily have to have a bachelor’s degree in education – you can have a degree in any subject that you like. However, it must be said that a bachelor’s degree in education would help your chances of getting a job quickly, so it is something to consider. When choosing your degree program you’ll probably notice that some include what’s called a “teacher education program”. These teacher education programs are designed to give you teacher training while you are studying your major subject. The advantage of studying a degree program that includes teacher training is that at the end of your degree, you’ll have all the qualifications you need to enter yourself for the State exam. As soon as you pass the State exam then you’ll be a fully qualified teacher.
If you can’t find a degree that includes an approved teacher training program or you graduated a while ago and your degree program didn’t include the teacher training element then there is no reason to worry. You can simly enroll in what’s called an alternative teacher certification program. It’s hard for me to describe an alternative teacher certification program because program is unique. The purpose of these programs is to give anyone the opportunity to train as a teacher in preparation for their teaching certification. This includes teaching coursework and fieldwork where you’ll actually be in control of a class in a school. Alternative teacher certification programs come in all shapes and sizes – some are predominantly online based (which is great for those that have a full-time job or other commitments during the day) and some offer far more in the way of hands on teaching training. When choosing a program you really need to consider your situation and what it is you’re looking to get out of the teacher training program.
Finally, once you’ve got your bachelor’s degree and have been through an approved teacher education program you’re going to need to take the certification exams. These vary dependant on the state in which you wish to work, however most tests are pretty similar. Once you pass these final exams you’ll be able to apply to become an elementary school teacher as a fully qualified teacher in your state!
If you’d like to learn more about how you can become an elementary school teacher then be sure to visit my blog where I go into much more detail about the whole process
