Required courses for alternate certification depend on the state, institution offering the alternative teaching program, courses completed in a bachelor's degree program and the grade level and subjects you want to teach. The institution evaluates your transcripts and the courses you completed in your undergraduate program to determine the courses you need to complete for state licensing. Differences in alternative teaching programs can be seen by reviewing course requirements in such states as Kansas, North Carolina and Illinois.
The state of Kansas awards an alternate teaching license only for teaching secondary students. The courses required for the alternate teaching program vary by the university or college. As an example, Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas requires students to complete 27 hours of coursework in two years. Courses include: Introduction to Teaching; Understanding the Learner; Becoming a Reflective Teacher; and Understanding the Foundations of Education. Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg Kansas, Kansas requires students to complete 36 hours of coursework for a Master of Arts in Teaching. Courses include: Advanced Educational Psychology; Individuals With Exceptionalities: and Multicultural Approaches to Diversity in the Classroom.
The state of North Carolina determines an individual program plan of study based on your education and experience. As an example, to fulfill the coursework requirements at East Carolina University, a lateral entry teacher may be required to take such courses as: Fundamentals of Reading; Introduction to American Education; Introduction to Diversity; and Classroom Organization and Management. Other courses may include: Language Arts in the Elementary School; Social Studies in the Early Childhood; and Mathematics and Methods for Grades PreK-2.
The state of Illinois requires an intensive course of study for individuals wishing to obtain alternative teacher certification. Institutions such as Benedictine University, Illinois State University and University of Illinois at Chicago offer alternative teaching programs accredited by the state of Illinois. Eastern Illinois University offers courses to fulfill the education requirements such as: Methods of Teaching in the Discipline; General Teaching Methods; and Foundations of Teaching. The University of Illinois in Chicago offers an early childhood alternative certification program that includes courses such as: Development in Infancy and Early Childhood; Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in Early Childhood Education; and Collaborating with Families, Professionals and Community.