teaching certificate

mullet81 · #1 09-23-2003, 12:43 AM

Has anyone out there ever graduated from college with a degree in something like, oh sociology (not that it's mine or anything

) and then went to get a teaching certificate b/c they couldn't find a career in their field and they didn't want to pursue a Masters or PHD at this point?!

If so, what was the process like? How long did it take to get the certificate? How sucessful were you at getting a teaching position?

Thanks!

kateshort · #2 09-23-2003, 10:08 AM

You need to check with your state's requirements.

Before I could get my Illinois certificate, I also needed to pick up a few credits of hard science, since my Psych with Lab counted as a science credit at Valpo, but counted as social science credit for the state of Illinois. So I needed to take 4 extra credits worth of science classes. I also needed to take a class on American government, including taking the Illinois constitution test.

Usually, you'll need to have an exceptional child class (LD/BD/gifted/etc.), psychology of education, philosophy of education, methods of teaching english/math/history/etc., and perhaps also a middle school methods class and an adolescent development class (which I needed to take when I got my Library Media endorsement to my 6th-12th grade teaching certificate). We may have also had a research methods class during our group teaching semester (1 month co-teaching and observing each other teach writing in a middle grades classroom).

Different schools will also have different observation and student teaching requirements. I know in Illinois you've got to do 100 hours of observation in your field before you can begin your student teaching. Then you need between 9-18 weeks of student teaching, depending on whether your school is in a quarter or semester system and what your state requires.

If you can't contact the state directly, you can also check in your local phone book for a regional office of education. Call any local high school and their secretaries should be able to provide you with State and ROE phone numbers if you absolutely can't find them on your own.

And YES, you can be hired if you pursue a degree later on! Right now a math student teacher at our school is doing just that-- he's got five boys aged 6-18 or so. Our careers/PE/computers teacher also came to education after being in the business sector. It may be harder to break in as a history teacher, though. Depending on your credits in undergrad, it may be easier to take a few extra classes to also be endorsed in psychology or speech or anything else you can snag 18-30 credits in. Being able to direct a club or coach a sport (or multiple sports!!!) is a MAJOR foot in the door.

And be aware that some education programs to get you a teaching certificate end up being Masters' programs anyway! It'll be *work*, but it can be rewarding...

If you're not sure, you definitely should see if you can observe for a day in a local high school, seeing if teaching is indeed right for you. Lots of people start the classes, then realize that they can't stand the lesson planning or the discipline.

Good luck!

CatStarESP4 · #3 09-23-2003, 05:40 PM

I have considered getting a teaching certificate while I still lived in New York. I now live in Arizona and considered that option for a while and still considering it. I am trying to decipher their requirements for a cetificate and if I need one.

I have a BA in Sociology myself and was briefly in grad school pursuing the masters.

A friend of mine also has degree in Sociology. He took the Caltest (an exam for those who want to go into teaching) and is now a substitute teacher. My mom asked me if I would consider taking it, but it is only available in California.

Eirene_DGP · #4 09-26-2003, 11:18 AM

I am currently in a teaching certification/ Masters program and basically it does depend on the school you are looking to become certified at. Some schools will allow you to be a non-degree seeking student and only take the education classes you need for certification. The only problem with that is you will have to appeal the school for fin aid if your state does not have a grant/conditional loan for that. The teaching certification itself will take 3 semesters. The first semester is for the fundamental education classes and gives you time to take the Praxis I. The second semester is upper-level education classes and Praxis II. The final semester is your student teaching "experience".

Kristin AGD · #5 09-26-2003, 11:41 AM

I am currently considering getting my teaching certificate. Getting tired of the business world. Texas has several accelerated programs. You can do your student teaching while getting paid the teacher's salary. Kinda like a paid internship. You have to complete you coursework at local universities at night. The programs I am checking out are Region 10, UT-Dallas, & Dallas ISD. They all have websites that explain the program.

kdonline · #6 09-26-2003, 11:50 AM

I graduated with a Journalism degree & then a couple years later, decided I wanted to "save the youth of America..." (okay, that dream lasted 10 years..)

Anyway, you have to find out what your state requirements are for certification - and if (if any) of your current classes count towards whichever certification you're after.

For example, I am in Florida. I decided I wanted to get certified to teach Learning Disabled high school kids. None of my undergrad courses were "accepted" - so because of this, I decided it would be worth the extra money & time to just get a Master's Degree. Shortly after, I added Journalism to my certificate, whch I ended up teaching my last few years in the system. the MS took me 2 years (actually, just under a year & a half, but the internship added a couple of months).

On the other hand, a good friend who got her degree in Recreation decided she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher & not go for her Master's. She just took classes for maybe 2 semesters, interned for another & got her certification.

Call your local university/college & see what they say. You're not the first person to ask that question. And often, they have programs for people who already have degrees and/or work experience.

Good luck!

(BTW, I haven't taught since 1999, but I took enough inservice courses that I am now certified through 2009...never know when I might want/have to teach again!)

Starlet · #7 10-12-2003, 11:02 PM

I'm so glad someone brought this up! I just graduated in May with a B.A. in journalism, but am now considering going into teaching or becoming a reading specialist. I'm going to apply to become a substitute teacher at a private school (I understand that you don't need a teaching certificate for private schools to sub) and see if teaching would really be the field for me.

AchtungBaby80 · #8 10-12-2003, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starlet
I'm going to apply to become a substitute teacher at a private school (I understand that you don't need a teaching certificate for private schools to sub) and see if teaching would really be the field for me.

You don't need a certificate, at least in Kentucky, to be a substitute teacher in public schools. Here, some private schools don't even require a certificate to be an actual teacher. Since I started subbing I've figured out how much I actually like it, so instead of going for just a master's I'm trying to get into a certification/master's program. I have a meeting with a lady at the university on Tuesday, actually, to see if I qualify for this program, so I'll let you know if I learn anything exciting, OK?

The1calledTKE · #9 11-06-2003, 05:17 PM

In Georgia all you need is a degree and a 1 month training period. Then ur on probabtion for 2 years. If you did well you get your teacher certificate.