Before receiving a degree in elementary education teaching, students must be certified to work at the elementary school level. All states require students to achieve a specific number of credits in both the field of education and in other subjects across the curriculum. Some states will require teachers to have a specific grade point average (GPA) in order to be considered for a position, and others will make all potential candidates go through some sort of technology training program.
In addition to being certified, teachers must also have a license to teach. This rule usually only applies to those who want to teach in public schools. Once again, different states have different requirements. Some teachers need to prove that they are competent in the areas of reading and writing, as well as in their subject area. Others require tests that evaluate performance in teaching positions over a designated period of time.
All states require some sort of student teaching program. Students generally work on this component during the last semester before they receive their degrees. A student is assigned to work with a teacher at a local school. At first, the teacher alone does the teaching and the student teacher observes. Then the teacher begins to integrate the student teacher into his or her position, until the point where the student teacher is generally doing most of the educational instruction in the classroom.
While you might not be judged on your personality early on in the game, you eventually will be if you do not display a good attitude during your time as a student and a teacher. Elementary school teachers need to have a high level of patience, since they are often dealing with students who are young and new to the school environment. Furthermore, they need to be able to stay organized.