Chapter 2 Becoming a Teacher 47
degree and approved teacher education program within four years.
However, some states require one or two years of education courses after
completing a bachelor’s degree.
A certifi ed teacher receives a teaching license or teaching certifi cate.
Through this offi cial document, the state verifi es for schools that the per-
son is qualifi ed to teach. A teaching license specifi es the grade levels, and
sometimes subject areas, for which a teacher is qualifi ed. For example,
teachers may be licensed to teach at the early childhood level, the elemen-
tary grades, the middle grades, or secondary school. A specifi c subject area,
such as music, may be identifi ed. Not all private schools require teachers to
have a teaching license, but most do.
College and university teacher education programs are usually keyed
to the licensing requirements of their state. What if you plan to teach in
a state other than where you go to college? It is important to know the
specifi c requirements of the state where you will be teaching as early as
possible. You can work with your advisor to develop a plan. States usually
have reciprocal agreements with some other states regarding teaching
licenses or certifi cations. This means that they agree to honor teaching
credentials issued in another state with which they have an agreement.
A teaching license is a formal document, issued by a state, verifying
that a teacher is qualifi ed to teach at specifi c grade levels or particular
subject areas. Teaching licenses are issued for a specifi c time period. Then
they must be renewed. States typically require teachers to document addi-
tional education or training to have their license renewed. Some require
that teachers eventually obtain a master’s degree, such as a Master of
Education. This is a graduate degree and requires the equivalent of one or
two years of full-time course work. Many teachers begin working on their
master’s degrees part-time shortly after they begin teaching.
If your goal is to teach at the college level, you may need to complete
a master’s degree to teach at the community college level. This degree is
usually not in education, but in a particular subject area or specialization.
To teach at a four-year college or university, a doctoral degree may be
required. This, too, is usually in a specialized area.
Getting Started
Now that you have seen the big picture, where do you begin in your
quest to be a teacher? Taking the class you are in is your best guide to explor-
ing the teaching fi eld. Observe what you see around you. Look for examples
of effective teaching and learning. Take advantage of every opportunity for
learning. Gain experience working with different age groups.
There are several other keys to beginning the path toward teaching:
defi ning your career goal, creating a personal portfolio, and developing a
philosophy of teaching. Together these will help you get started.
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