Understand the basics of teaching certificates, from initial licensure to advanced endorsements. Discover how to qualify for a certificate in your state and field.
A teaching certificate is a key credential you’ll need if you plan to work in a public school classroom. It shows that you’ve met your state’s requirements for becoming a teacher, including education, training, and demonstrated teaching skills.
Requirements for certification vary by state, but they typically include earning a bachelor’s degree, completing a teacher preparation program, and passing required exams. Understanding how certification works is an important step as you explore how to become a teacher and move toward licensure.
Teacher Certification Defined
Teacher certification, also called teacher licensure, is the credential that permits educators to instruct students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. All states require teachers to obtain certification to work in public schools, and some private schools also prefer to hire certified teachers.
To become certified, you're required to complete a bachelor's-degree curriculum from an accredited teacher-training program and a student-teaching internship. You may then be required to pass a skills test, such as the PRAXIS examination. Certification generally must be renewed every 4 to 8 years, depending upon the state.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisFieldOfStudy">Important Facts About This Field of Study</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Prerequisites </td><td> Passing a background check is required for certification</td></tr>
<tr><td> Common Courses </td><td> Foundations of teaching, assessment methods, curriculum development</td></tr>
<tr><td> Online Availability </td><td> Fully online programs available</td></tr>
<tr><td> Continuing Education </td><td> Most states require some amount of continuing education hours for teachers to maintain licensure, specific requirements vary by state</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$62,120 <i>(Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and Special Education school teachers)</i></td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>4% growth <i>(Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and Special Education school teachers)</i></td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---AlternativeCertification">Alternative Certification</h3><p>There are also other routes to gaining teacher certification. Alternative certification is available to aspiring educators who did not complete teacher-training programs but who hold bachelor's degrees in the subjects they wish to teach. To gain licensure, you may be required to take additional coursework in education while earning 1 to 2 years of experience in classroom instruction under temporary licensure. Some states only require you to complete 1 to 2 years of graduate-level coursework to gain licensure.
</p><h3 id="section---CertificatePrograms">Certificate Programs</h3><p>Different from state-mandated certification, a certificate is awarded to graduates of educational programs that are offered by colleges and universities. You may earn a graduate-level certificate to qualify for alternative teacher licensure. Or, you might pursue a certificate to supplement a bachelor's degree or gain formal training in a specialty of the field, such as early childhood education or autism spectrum disorders.
</p><h3 id="section---GraduateLevelCertificate">Graduate-Level Certificate</h3><p>Graduate-level certificate programs introduce aspiring teachers who already hold bachelor's degrees to the basics of teaching. Much of the curricula consist of lectures, workshops and on-the-job training. You can expect to learn how to plan a curriculum, develop your own teaching style and evaluate student performance. Student-teaching experience is an integral part of certificate programs. You'll instruct students in classrooms under the supervision of licensed teachers and might be required to pass an exit examination or evaluation in order to graduate.
</p><h3 id="section---EarlyChildhoodEducationCertificate">Early Childhood Education Certificate</h3><p>A certificate program in early childhood education is designed to prepare students for teaching or teaching assistant positions in child care facilities or classrooms. You may start out learning how to educate infants and young children then advance to coursework in child health and safety, behavior, development and community involvement. Some programs offer courses in special education or exceptional-student instruction. Early childhood education certificate programs typically incorporate a field-experience component.
</p><h3 id="section---AutismSpectrumDisordersCertificate">Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the amount of students in special education programs has decreased. However, children with disabilities are being diagnosed and placed into special education programs earlier, and teachers rotate out of the specialty frequently (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). Certificate programs in autism disorders aim to qualify teachers to instruct children with autism. Courses may include autism disorder types, early intervention, positive reinforcement and special needs education. You can expect to learn how to adjust your teaching methods and curriculum to students' specific needs. You may also be required to complete a teaching practicum that provides you with hands-on experience instructing autistic children in classroom settings.</p>
