The road to obtaining a teacher salary can be somewhat of a long one. Those who are interested in obtaining licensure and certification should make sure that they understand the process from the beginning. There are several routes available that a person can take to become a teacher. Someone who is interested in receiving a teacher salary can choose to enroll in a state approved teacher preparation program at a college or university.
Admission requirements and the cost can vary. Before choosing a school, thought should be given to which grade levels and subject the prospective student desires to teach. The student can enroll in a program that will allow them to receive a credential to teach early childhood grades, elementary grades, the middle grades, high school grades, or a special subject. Upon graduating from an approved program and passing any mandatory exams, the student can receive a teaching credential. There are also alternative ways for a person to obtain a teacher salary.
If a person wants to teach in an area in which there is a high need, they may be able to get an emergency or temporary license. For example, math and science, and special education are considered high need areas in many geographic locations. People who have been working for a while and are interested in making a career change can follow the procedures set by their state in order to teach. This alternative route to teaching is most often available to people who have obtained bachelor degrees in fields other than education. Each state has their own requirements for getting a teaching certificate. A bachelor’s degree is from an accredited college is a standard requirement.
Passing a state license exam is required in most states as well. There can be additional requirements depending on the subject and grade level that the prospective student would like to teach. For examples, teaching young children will most likely require passing specific classes that would not be required for those who would like to teach high school students and vice versa. It is a good idea for a person interested in obtaining a teacher salary to do their own research to find out what will be involved with them reaching their goal.