The NEA's own Academy offers its members online continuing education, facilitated or self-paced, for credits your school system may accept for salary advancement or for renewal or extension of certification, and that degree-granting institutions may accept as transfer credits. The catalog includes courses for teachers across levels from pre-kindergarten to higher education, and includes administrative and paraprofessional roles, in nine curriculum areas plus instructional technology. In addition, NEA has partnered with Walden University, Western Governors University, and UMass Online to offer online master's degree programs.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), one of the primary accreditation organizations for education programs at all levels, developed a program of partnerships between teacher-education institutions and schools from pre-kindergarten through secondary levels to promote collaborative learning for both students and teachers. The program was field-tested in 19 schools across the U.S., each in partnership with one of the 656 schools of education accredited by NCATE.
Although it is generally not required for state certification to teach, it is becoming more common for future teachers to gain master's degrees before they begin their careers. Students who have earned their bachelor's degrees in subject area fields may study an additional year or two for a master of arts in teaching (MAT) to gain certification. Certified teachers may also go for master's degrees in subject areas to advance their careers.
A doctorate in education (Ed.D.) may qualify an individual for a number of careers, from teaching or school administration to clinical psychology, inside or outside of school systems. A Ph.D. in education may prepare you to become a teacher of teachers or an upper administrator in a school system. Ph.D.s in subject matter areas can add to your marketability to teach advanced secondary students in those areas, or to teach at the post-secondary level.