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| Perhaps you thought about a career in education but wound up pursuing
a different professional path. Now you’re feeling a pull to the classroom.
If this sounds like you, you are not alone. An increasing number of professionals with considerable life experience, career achievements, and academic backgrounds relevant for teaching are now turning to alternative licensing as a means to earn what they need in order to teach without having completed a teacher preparation curriculum. Alternative certification programs are available in most states and have proven effective in helping states address teacher shortages. Alternative licensure programs were designed to enable individuals from various occupational and life experiences become classroom teachers, thereby increasing the quantity and diversity of individuals in the profession. While programs vary from state to state, most programs require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, five years of professional work experience, coursework required for the desired teaching area and qualifying scores on the Praxis II or a similar exam prepared by the individual state to assess content knowledge. Most alternative licensure programs consist of an intensive induction into curriculum and instruction methods, course content related to state and federal learning standards, differentiated instruction, and classroom/behavior management. Alternative programs are offered by approved colleges and universities and school districts. In some programs, applicants work in the classroom and participate in professional development workshops throughout the academic year. In some states, a mentor is assigned to each new teacher. For information on specific alternative teacher preparation programs and requirements, visit your state’s Department of Education Web site. Links to each state’s licensure program are listed below. As you take your place in the classroom, be sure to take advantage of the beginning teacher resources available to you as a KDP member. From the Teacher Hotline to our various publications and conferences, KDP is your partner as you begin this rewarding and exciting career! |
| Certification and Licensure by State Find out what it takes to teach where you live or where you plan to live. Search for licensure and employment information alphabetically by state. |
| • | A-F |
| • | G-L |
| • | M-R |
| • | S-Z |
