Most public and private educational systems require that their teachers be licensed by a state Department of Education. However, in areas in which there are teacher shortages, individuals who hold college degrees can be hired without a teacher license provided that their degree qualifies them to teach a specific subject and that they can pass the criminal and personal background checks required by the state and hiring district. These individuals are then given a certain amount of time to earn their state teacher's license.
Teacher certification programs that are designed to allow those who have already earned a bachelor's degree to complete the teacher certification process are called alternative, or non-traditional, certification programs. These programs are available through most public and many private universities. Some online universities also offer alternative certification programs, but candidates will need to contact their state's department of education to determine whether an online program will qualify for teacher licensure.
Alternative certification programs are designed for individuals who already have a college degree but would like to move into classroom teaching as a career change. As such, the programs are primarily made up of classes that are specific to the art and science of teaching rather than content-area classes. These include classes in teaching methods, educational psychology, classroom management and discipline, dealing with special populations, and the theories and legal issues of education.
Although the content of most alternative certification programs is similar, the structure will vary from state to state and university to university. Most universities which offer alternative certification provide a program in which the probationary teacher works in the regular classroom during the day and attends classes one or more evenings a week. Others may offer Saturday classes or provide an intense and shortened set of courses taken during the summer between school years. The number of hours spent in the classroom varies from program to program, but is generally similar to the number of education course hours required by traditional programs.
Prospective teachers interested in locating an alternative certification program can do so in several ways. The first, and generally easiest, is to contact the state Department of Education either over the web or by telephone. Most Departments of Education maintain an office dedicated to alternative certification. This office will be able to tell a prospective teacher what he or she needs to do to obtain certification and direct him or her to the nearest alternative certification program.
A second way is to contact the Education department at a local college or university and ask for the office of alternative certification. This office will be able to provide the prospective teacher with information on the various alternative certification programs available in the state. It will also be able to provide information on financial aid for alternative certification and specific course schedules.
A third way is to do an internet search. Many states have created websites specifically for prospective non-traditional teachers. Most of these sites are titled "Teach_____" with the state's name in the blank. The sites provide information on the variety of alternative certification programs available in the state. They may also include listings of school districts with openings that are willing to hire a prospective teacher who is not yet certified. On these sites, prospective teachers can submit their information and an individual from either the state Department of Education or a local university will contact them to get the process started.