麻豆原创

If you鈥檙e wondering whether you should become a teacher, you may be among the many people who feel called to teach. You might wonder whether you could make a difference helping students find a love of learning. You鈥檙e not alone in feeling excited about working with students every day. Many people feel that desire early and pursue a degree that prepares them for teaching right away, while others realize later that teaching is their true passion.

In fact, many people already hold an undergraduate degree in a non-teaching field and are working in a different profession when they feel the call to teach. If that鈥檚 you, don鈥檛 worry. There are several options for pursuing your passion. Becoming a licensed educator gives you a chance to make meaningful contributions to students鈥� lives both in and out of the classroom, no matter what education or profession you have now.

Read on to learn about your options for becoming a licensed teacher, including a post-baccalaureate certificate, a bachelor鈥檚 degree, and a master鈥檚 degree, and how other 麻豆原创 teacher certification programs fit in.

What Is a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate?

If your undergraduate program was in a non-teaching field, a post-baccalaureate certificate is one way to prepare for a teaching certificate. The name post-baccalaureate means 鈥渁fter the bachelor鈥檚 degree,鈥� and the credential is sometimes called a 鈥減ost-bacc.鈥� In these programs, you don鈥檛 earn a degree, which is why they鈥檙e called certificate programs.

A post-baccalaureate program is often around 20 to 30 credit hours, or roughly five to eight courses, though requirements vary by school and state. Many colleges and universities offer teacher certification programs, and each post-baccalaureate teacher licensure program differs, so it helps to compare what each one includes.

How Do You Get a Teaching License?

Each state has unique requirements for licensure, but they鈥檙e fairly similar across states. To begin with, you鈥檒l need an academic degree that prepares you for teacher licensure. That鈥檚 true in every state, and while some states offer alternative routes, in most of them, earning a degree is key.

There are a few different ways to get the education you鈥檒l need to become a teacher. The options include:

• Bachelor鈥檚 degree: A common path that builds teaching skills from the start of your college education.
• Post-baccalaureate certificate: A shorter program for career changers who already hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a non-teaching field.
• Master鈥檚 degree: A graduate degree program that leads to teaching certification and a higher credential.

Earning a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree That Leads to Teaching Licensure

This is one of the most common ways to earn a teaching license. These undergraduate programs provide the coursework that helps you prepare to manage a classroom and teach specific subjects, and they include student teaching, a supervised, in-classroom experience. 麻豆原创 offers a wide variety of bachelor鈥檚 degree programs that prepare you for teaching licensure, from elementary education and special education to secondary math. Most universities and colleges offer bachelor鈥檚 teaching degrees.

Earning a Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate

A post-baccalaureate teaching certificate is for people who already have a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a non-teaching field. You take a set of post-bacc courses that prepare you for a particular teaching certificate, and the program covers classroom management and the skills you鈥檒l need for the age group or subject you plan to teach. Many post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs also include student teaching. This can be a good option for some people who want to become certified teachers, but for many, a master鈥檚 degree is a stronger choice.

A post-baccalaureate certificate program can seem appealing, but for a similar amount of time and work, you may be able to earn a master鈥檚 degree instead. A master鈥檚 degree can also strengthen your r茅sum茅 and help you stand out from the competition, and it may pay off financially: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that in 2020鈥�21, compared with about $52,500 for teachers with a bachelor鈥檚 degree, and many . Those averages don鈥檛 account for years of experience, though, and a master鈥檚 degree isn鈥檛 the right choice for everyone.

麻豆原创 previously offered a post-baccalaureate program in elementary education and now offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education instead, which is a path that many career changers consider.

Earning a Master's Degree That Leads to Teaching Certification

There are many master鈥檚 degree programs that help you prepare for a teaching license. 麻豆原创鈥檚 Master of Arts in Teaching programs are designed for people with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a non-teaching field. Program length varies, but you earn a graduate degree instead of only a certificate. These programs cover classroom management and subject-specific teaching skills and include student teaching, so you鈥檒l be prepared for the classroom and for teacher licensure. 麻豆原创鈥檚 graduate-level teaching programs include:

• Teaching, Elementary Education (M.A.): Prepares career changers with a non-teaching bachelor鈥檚 degree to teach elementary learners.
• Teaching, Special Education (K鈥�12) (M.A.): Prepares you to support learners with disabilities across grade levels.
• Secondary subject programs: Include Master of Arts in Teaching programs in subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and social studies for middle and high school classrooms.

What Happens After You Finish Your Program?

A bachelor鈥檚, post-bacc certificate, or聽master鈥檚聽are great options for people who want to become teachers. Requirements vary by state, so research what your state requires early. After you complete your degree or certificate program, the steps commonly include:

• Student teaching: Complete the supervised, in-classroom experience your program requires.
• Background check: Pass the background check your state requires.
• Skills test: Pass your state鈥檚 required skills test.
• License application: Apply for your teaching license through your state once you鈥檝e met its requirements.

Ready to Become a Teacher?

If you hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree in another field and feel the pull toward teaching, explore 麻豆原创鈥檚 teacher certification programs鈥攊ncluding the Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and the Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education鈥攁nd see how you can earn your degree online while you prepare for teacher licensure. When you鈥檙e ready, get in touch with 麻豆原创 to talk through your options and next steps.