Online English teachers can make up to $20 per hour. Companies typically pay teachers via PayPal, bank wire transfer, or Payoneer.
The profession of teaching is noble and can bring many rewards. It is a fulfilling career that offers numerous benefits. Most teachers love those spontaneous classroom moments when students finally “get it.”This job is extremely satisfying and offers immense professional and personal growth potential.
What is an Alternate Certification?
Alternative certification is designed to get people with bachelor’s degrees in subjects other than education into the classroom much more quickly. If you have the qualifications and a deep desire to become a teacher, you don’t necessarily have to pursue the traditional four or five-year degree route. Instead, you can opt for an alternate certification program that could enable you to become certified in just a year or two.
Alternate certification programs are often offered in states with a shortage of teachers but can also be found nationwide. The requirements vary by state, but they usually involve an accelerated university program and a teaching mentorship to teach alongside a more experienced teacher. In some cases, the accelerated training includes an online component, making it possible for people with busy lives to earn their teaching credentials on their terms.
Career and technical education (CTE) teachers are another group that benefits from these accelerated teaching programs. CTE focuses on cooking, computer programming, or auto repair suited to specific industries. To be eligible, prospective teachers usually have a degree or industry experience in the subject they wish to teach and must pass state teacher certification exams. Some states also offer online teaching certificate programs that allow people to start training with a temporary certificate. At the same time, they take educational courses and take on a mentor to qualify for full certification.
What are the Benefits of Alternate Certification?
The traditional path to becoming a teacher typically requires a 4-5 year post-secondary degree program. This route to teaching certification was designed to prepare prospective teachers and give them the credentials to be professional educators.
However, the fact is that many college and university students need to be majoring in education these days. It is a lamentable reality since young minds need to be educated in math, science, and foreign languages. Fortunately, alternative teaching certificates have been introduced to help people with bachelor’s degrees in other fields become teachers.
These teaching certificates are designed to allow those with non-education-related bachelor’s degrees to teach, especially in subjects that experience teacher shortages. Alternative teaching certificates are typically shorter than a traditional route to teacher certification and may even be completed online or part-time. These programs can also be an excellent fit for those who have already invested time and money into another field but find that teaching is their true calling.
Another benefit of these alternative certification programs is that they can be done while still working full-time and supporting yourself and your family. Rules vary by state, so it’s essential to research how to obtain an alternative teaching certificate in your specific location and subject area of expertise.
How do I Get an Alternate Certification?
If you want to teach, you need to get certified. If you’re going to teach well, you need to know much about the subject you plan to teach. You also need to understand what makes a good learning experience for students and how to provide that.
While some teaching degrees require a bachelor’s degree in education, some jurisdictions allow teachers without a teaching degree to gain certification through alternative programs. Typically, these address teacher shortages by widening the potential teaching pool.
For example, California offers intern programs to help teachers prepare for the classroom while addressing its current severe teacher shortage. Once the program is complete, the teacher gets a preliminary teaching credential that allows them to teach in the same areas as those with a traditional bachelor’s degree.
This type of program is excellent for those who find their passion in shaping the minds of tomorrow but don’t have four years to re-learn all that they learned during their undergraduate studies. It’s also great for career professionals outside of education who are now compelled to teach but need more time and expense to return to school and pursue an entire teacher certification program. The flexibility offered by these programs also means that they can be completed at your own pace, meaning you can work full-time, travel, or care for kids and still make progress toward becoming a fully licensed teacher.
How do I Get a Teaching License?
Depending on your state’s certification requirements, several pathways exist to become a certified teacher. For example, some states offer a streamlined process for those with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education or those who have taught abroad.
Another route is called teaching by equivalency. To take this path, you must complete a teaching program that includes student teaching or practicum under the supervision of an experienced educator. Then, you must pass your state’s required educator exams or submit a teaching portfolio.
If you already have a master’s degree, you may be eligible for an accelerated or intensive teacher preparation program. This way, you can earn your license and start teaching sooner than if you pursued a traditional post-graduate education.
Many teachers also decide to earn a master’s in education later to add a new subject area, deepen their knowledge and skills, or boost their salaries.
