Becoming an ESL Teacher in Connecticut

<h2 id="section---RequirementsForACertifiedESLTeacherInConnecticut">Requirements for a Certified ESL Teacher in Connecticut</h2> <p>The Connecticut State Department of Education issues an Initial Certificate to first time educators. To attain this certificate, the candidate will need to complete an approved educator preparation program and pass the required tests for their subject area. The general requirements for the Initial Certificate are summarized in the table below. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td> Master's degree</td></tr> <tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td> Praxis</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification Renewal Period </td><td>Three years</td></tr> <tr><td>Requirements for Renewal </td><td> Submission of application form and $200 application fee</td></tr> <tr><td>Average Salary (2018) </td><td> $66,200 (adult basic and secondary education and literacy teachers and instructors in CT)*</td></tr> <tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 10% (teachers and instructors nationally)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---GeneralAcademicRequirements">General Academic Requirements</h3> <p>Those who are interested in earning an Initial Certificate as an ESL teacher must complete an approved educator preparation program from an accredited college or university. While these are generally offered at undergraduate and graduate levels in most areas, the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) programs are only available at the graduate level in Connecticut. There is a database of accredited institutions that offer approved TESOL educator preparation programs on the Connecticut State Department of Education website. </p> <h3 id="section---AssessmentRequirements">Assessment Requirements</h3> <p>To achieve certification, prospective ESL teachers must complete the Praxis Core Assessments that cover the areas of Reading, Writing and Mathematics. As an educator that will teach from PK-12, the candidate will also need to pass the Praxis English to Speakers of Other Languages content assessment. Candidates will be allowed to register online through their Praxis account. Once registered, the candidate will be able to take the assessments at an approved testing center. </p> <h3 id="section---BackgroundCheckAndSelfDeterminationStatements">Background Check and Self-Determination Statements</h3> <p>As a prospective educator, the candidate will need to submit their fingerprints so the State Police Bureau of Investigation can provide the Connecticut State Department of Education with the candidate's criminal history. The application form also requires the candidate to answer questions regarding any convictions, dismissals or previous revocation of a professional teaching certificate. If the candidate confirms that any of the stated actions have occurred, they will need to provide a statement of explanation with the application form. </p> <h3 id="section---ApplicationProcess">Application Process</h3> <p>As a first-time applicant, the candidate must start the application process by contacting their college or university so they can submit the application for initial certification by mail. The completed application form must be submitted with official transcripts as well as a money order or cashier's check for the $200 application fee. The application package must be sent to: </p> <p>CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION </p> <p>Bureau of Educator Standards and Certification </p> <p>P.O. Box 150471 </p> <p>Hartford, CT 06115-0471 </p> <h3 id="section---CertificateInformation">Certificate Information</h3> <p>The Initial Certificate is valid for three years and educators with this certificate can renew it by submitting the relevant application form online and paying the $200 renewal application fee. The fee can be paid by check or using a credit card when applying through the online portal. Educators can also upgrade their initial Certificate to a Provisional Educator Certificate by completing the Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) program offered by approved providers in Connecticut and have at least ten school months of teaching experience.</p>