Due to teacher shortages in many parts of the country, many states have
approved an alternative method to become a certified teacher. This route is
best for someone who already holds a bachelor’s degree, but does not have the
required teaching education hours.
Alternative licensing allows you to earn your teaching certificate in a
short time period, usually within a year or two, and often allows you to
actually hold a paid teaching position while you complete your studies. In
order to be eligible for one of the alternative certification programs, your
degree needs to be in the subject area you are planning to teach. So, if you
have a regular bachelor’s degree in English and decide you would like to be an
English teacher, you could apply to one of the alternative programs.
If you choose this path to teaching, you usually will need to have secured a
teaching job in a school with the understanding that you will complete the
alternative program. This is possible in areas where there is a teacher
shortage. You will also have to pass the state teaching test, sometimes prior
to being accepted by the program and sometimes afterwards.
Generally, during the first year of your teaching assignment you will also
complete intense coursework in education teaching methodology through an
approved program. These programs are offered both online or on a college campus
after hours and on weekends, for your convenience.
Additionally, you also will need to complete the student teaching component,
but since you will be teaching already you will be able to count those teaching
hours toward your internship. Most programs will ask you to select a teacher
from the school where you are teaching to act as your mentor and liaison with
the alternative certification program. Like the traditional programs, a
supervisor from the program may also observe and evaluate you while you are
teaching. Again, once the coursework and internship are successfully completed,
you can apply for your teaching certificate.