Fast Track Teacher Certification in Louisiana
Do you have a bachelor's degree and want to become a certified teacher in Louisiana? Find out what alernative educational options you have for obtaining your teaching credentials.
Overview of Fast Track Teacher Certification in Louisiana
Louisiana offers three different options for those who are interested in fast track, or alternative, paths to receiving teaching credentials. A practitioner teaching program, master's degree program, and certification-only program are all ways you could earn your teaching credentials. You'll need at least a bachelor's degree, and you'll need to take the same Praxis exams you would if you were pursuing a traditional certification path. Find out more details below.
<table border="1"><tr><td>Education Required</td><td>Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td>Exams Required</td><td>Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators; Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching; Praxis content exams</td></tr>
<tr><td>Certificate Validity</td><td>Initial certification for five years</td></tr>
<tr><td>Certificate Extension</td><td>Certificate extended for three years if you teach without any 90-day or semester-long gaps</td></tr>
<tr><td>Average Louisiana Salary* (2018)</td><td>$50,540 for kindergarten teachers, $48,740 for elementary school teachers, $49,960 for middle school teachers, and $51,810 for high school teachers</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Growth* (2016-2026)</td><td>7-8% for kindergarten through high school teachers, nationwide</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---PractitionerTeachingProgram">Practitioner Teaching Program</h3><p>After earning your bachelor's degree and finding a teaching position, your first alternate option is to enroll in a practitioner program. This intensive student experience is sometimes offered online, and some courses can be taken during the summer. You'll also complete an internship and a seminar to finish the entire program in one year.
</p><h3 id="section---MasterSDegreeProgram">Master's Degree Program</h3><p>If you prefer more traditional classes, you can enroll in a master's degree in education or the subject you plan to teach. You will need a bachelor's degree to enter the program, and you'll spend one year combining graduate courses, an internship, and a research project. Depending on the program, you may be able to work at the same time and/or obtain certification in several different teaching areas. You may be able to take classes online as well.
</p><h3 id="section---CertificationOnlyProgram">Certification-Only Program</h3><p>One of the quicker routes to obtaining teaching credentials in Louisiana is a certification-only program. This is designed for people who have already obtained a bachelor's degree but don't have the time or desire to pursue a second full degree. Certification programs can be offered during weeknights to accommodate a work schedule. You'll start an internship or residency just like traditional undergraduates who earn a degree in education. Once you gain acceptance into the program, you are eligible for a teaching credential that temporarily allows you to instruct students on your own while pursuing your formal certification.
</p><h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3><p>No matter which way you choose to pursue a teaching certification in Louisiana, you'll need to pass several Praxis exams. You'll start out with the Core Academic Skills for Educators, which is divided into writing, math, and reading sections. You can break these into multiple appointments or take them as one big test. There will be other requirements for exams depending on your grade level and subject; for example, a fifth grade math teacher would need the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5-9 and Middle School Mathematics tests, while a high school art teacher would take the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 and Art: Content Knowledge exams.</p>