Become a Kindergarten or Elementary School Teacher in Oklahoma

<p>Kindergarten and elementary school teachers work with young students at the start of their academic life. These teachers have a number of different daily responsibilities, and there are quite a few different requirements for becoming a teacher in the state of Oklahoma. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> A Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree, <br /> Completion of a Teacher Education Program</td></tr> <tr><td> Exams Required </td><td> OGET, OSAT, OPTE</td></tr> <tr><td> Certification Renewal Period </td><td> 5 Years</td></tr> <tr><td>Renewal Requirements</td><td>Submit application form and fee</td></tr> <tr><td> Mean Salary (2018) </td><td> Kindergarten - $40,060, Elementary - $40,530*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 7% (Nationwide)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>*Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>Kindergarten and elementary school teachers work with students to help them learn important lessons and basic knowledge that they will utilize in their lives and their continuing academic path. These teachers have quite a few different daily responsibilities, including enforcing and making different classroom rules, engaging students, assessing progress, creating relevant lessons, and contacting parents when it is necessary. Teachers may also be required to attend events such as open houses or parent-teacher conferences, but that depends on the district that they are teaching in. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationRequirements">Education Requirements</h3> <p>For those wishing to become kindergarten or elementary school teachers in the state of Oklahoma, the first step is to earn a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. It is also necessary for candidates to graduate from a college or university that has an approved teacher education program. It is important that candidates obtain and keep copies of their grades/transcripts and other academic programs completed, as they will be needed when applying for an initial teacher certification. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>Before a teacher can become certified in the state of Oklahoma, there are three different exams that they will need to pass. The first exam is the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET), which is used to assess critical thinking and general education knowledge. The second exam is the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT), which is based on a specific subject matter. The last required exam is the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination (OPTE), which is used to gauge professional skills and knowledge. </p> <h3 id="section---AdditionalRequirements">Additional Requirements</h3> <p>After completing the necessary schooling and passing all three of the required exams, there are still a few more additional requirements before it is possible to start teaching. Potential teachers will need to have their fingerprints taken and ran through a database to check for previous criminal activity. Teachers will also need to pass a background check and have it on file. After completing all of the above requirements, teachers can finally apply for their first certification. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationRenewal">Certification Renewal</h3> <p>To continuing teaching in either kindergarten or elementary school in Oklahoma, it is necessary for teachers to renew their certification. To do this, a teacher will need to complete the Application for Renewal of Oklahoma Standard Certificate form, and pay a $50 renewal fee to the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Applications can be found of the Oklahoma State Department of Education's website.</p>