Traditional teacher certification programs include a student teaching component where candidates receive hands-on experience in the classroom, practicing the methodology they learn before they are responsible for their own classrooms. Traditional teaching students also benefit from working with an experienced teacher and adopt helpful tips and ideas from their observations. This experience is valuable and often not available, or not easily accessible, to individuals pursuing alternative teacher certification. To gain similar experience, alternative teacher certification candidates may want to try substitute teaching, volunteering in classrooms or arranging to observe in a classroom locally.
Individuals obtaining teacher certification through alternative routes may find that they will have to complete extra steps, once they begin teaching, before they are "highly qualified" in their state or before they are granted full certification in their teaching areas. States commonly have a mentoring requirement that must be adhered to and completed within a certain time frame for those teaching with alternative certification. It is also possible that individuals will be issued an interim teaching certificate until additional requirements are met. Teachers newly certified through an alternative method may not initially be eligible for interstate reciprocity. Call your state's department of education to find out what applies in your state.
One of the reasons alternative routes to teacher certification were adopted by states was to help fill teaching positions due to a shortage of certified teachers. While there are still some areas that have a demand for new teachers, many areas are actually cutting back the number of teachers they hire due to financial constraints. The economy has made it difficult for public schools to fund their needs and as states continue to cut money from education, schools are making cuts -- which are bad for teachers with alternative certification. Experienced teachers with traditional certification are even having a tougher time finding a job.
Alternative certification programs are designed to quickly bring professionals from other career fields into the teaching profession. While many of these programs are rigorous and have exams comparable to the PRAXIS exams, candidates do not spend years in a classroom studying teaching methodology. As a result, the preparation from an alternative teaching program, while adequate, is not as comprehensive as a traditional program. This challenge can be overcome or lessened by a student's effort to learn more on her own. There are plenty of books and teaching materials at public libraries, university libraries and available to purchase. The internet is also a great resource for researching best teaching practices.
Colleges and universities offer ample opportunity for their students to network with others pursuing similar career interests, experienced faculty and local public schools. Traditional students often build relationships with their advisers and mentors. This creates a helpful network for graduates from traditional teacher certification programs. These students often graduate with references, a college recommendation and a portfolio. While those completing alternative certification are provided opportunity to get to know their peers, it often requires more effort, limits the network to peers in the program and is less personal. Individuals can overcome this challenge by creating their own portfolios, finding ways to network in the schools they are interested in teaching at and obtaining strong references on their own.