Alternative teaching certification

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An Alternative Teaching Certification is a license that is awarded to someone who has not earned a traditional bachelor's degree in education, but still possess a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. In the United States, Alternative Certifications are offered in forty-eight states and the District of Columbia.

Alternative Certification programs first appeared in the 1980s. A decline in the number of students seeking a degree in education was creating a shortage of teachers in American elementary and high schools. States began to search for a way to recruit and train people who had already earned a four-year degree and wanted to become teachers.^[1] While the requirements for an alternative certification vary from state to state, there are certain commonalities found in the programs. A prospective teacher is usually required to complete an accelerated university program, pass the state licensing test, and submit to a series of interviews. He or she must be able to demonstrate a mastery of educational methods, and participate in a mentor program with a teacher who has completed a traditional education degree.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ Feistritzer, Emily (1 February 2006). Alternative Teacher Certification. National Center for Alternative Certification. Retrieved on 25 October 2006.
2. ^ Overview of Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification. National Center for Alternative Certification (1 February 2006). Retrieved on 25 October 2006.