Becoming an Elementary Teacher in New Jersey

<p>Elementary school teachers in New Jersey can have classes for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. You can become a teacher for these students by earning a bachelor's degree, participating in a student teaching experience, and passing several Praxis exams. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td>Bachelor's degree in elementary education with concentration in a subject area, teacher preparation program</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams Required</td><td>Basic skills assessment; Praxis Content Exam in elementary education</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Validity</td><td> Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing issued after completing exams and teacher education program; no extension required in New Jersey</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Extension</td><td>Standard Certificate issued to teachers after finishing two years of training in the Provisional Teacher Program (PTP)</td></tr> <tr><td>Average New Jersey Salary (2018)</td><td>$70,660 for elementary school teachers*</td></tr> <tr><td>National Job Growth (2016-2026)</td><td>7% for kindergarten and elementary school teachers*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>Elementary school teachers are in charge of some of the youngest students in an educational building. You will focus on instructing your students in a number of different subjects while they learn the fundamentals of socialization and lesson structure during their formative years. In one classroom, you could cover language arts, social studies, and math all in one day. You will see many of the same students all year, as most elementary students spend their days in a single room. You'll ensure that each student safely enters and leaves the classroom, and provide supervision during lunch breaks and recess. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationAndTrainingRequirements">Education and Training Requirements</h3> <p>To become an elementary school teacher, you can earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education. An an undergraduate in New Jersey, you may have the option to pair another major with your education studies. You could choose to study psychology, biology, or language arts at the same time as your pedagogy and theory courses in education. As you make your way through the degree program, you will enter a student teaching program. This lets you teach a class of your own (with supervision) before you branch out and become a certified teacher. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>The number of exams you need to take as you are ready to graduate may differ depending on the tests you took before you entered a college or university. If you already have satisfactory scores on the ACT or SAT, this will take care of the basic skills assessment for New Jersey teacher certification. Otherwise, you will need to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam, a three-part series of tests in reading, math, and writing. You have the option of taking all three sections in one appointment or breaking them into multiple sessions. As an elementary school teacher, you should also take the Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects exam. Like the Core Academic Skills test, you can take each section (reading and language arts, social studies, science, and math) separately, or combine them into one session. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationRequirements">Certification Requirements</h3> <p>To gain a provisional certificate, which allows you to teach as a full-time educator, you'll need to finish your degree, pass your exams, and apply for a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing. The provisional period lasts for about two years, during which time you will be closely evaluated by your employing school district. After you have met their standards of excellence, you can gain the lifetime Standard Certificate. There is no need for renewal of this credential.</p>