Help a friend become a teacher.

May 14, 2007 11:57 AM

FriendSwitchingCareersFilter: What is the most efficient route for someone to be able to become a teacher in Tennessee or Alabama? Anyone change careers INTO education and would like to give their perspective?

A very dear friend of mine is 37, has a B.S. in Business from a small (accredited) liberal arts college. He has worked in management in manufacturing for about 15 years. He is growing more and more unhappy each year, and realizes he is in a dying industry. After a few years of reflection, he has decided his heart's desire is to become a High School teacher. I am fully supportive of this and want to offer any assistance I can.

What would be the most efficient way for him to meet the minimum requirements for sitting for the Teacher's Examination and then fulfilling the requirements for a Teaching License in the states of Tennessee and/or Alabama?

What I mean by this is, will it be necessary for him to return to school to receive a B.S. in Education? Or can he take a few requisite classes and then be eligible to sit? Is student teaching a requirement for becoming a teacher, or is it just a requirement for education programs themselves?

Also, if you have a license in one state, are you automatically licensed in another, kind of like driver's licenses? In other words, if you meet the requirements for AL and you get your license, and then move to TN, are you still a "licensed" teacher?

Bonus points to anyone who has changed careers INTO education and can give perspectives.

Extra special bonus points for suggestions on how he can continue to support his family while achieving this. Distance/online programs are fine, even encouraged.

posted by Ynoxas to education (9 comments total)

My mom became a teacher after ten years of staying at home with us kids (before that, working in publishing). However, as she was becoming a teacher, my dad's job was evaporating, so she ended up being the primary wage earner within a year of getting her credential.

I can't say much about Tennessee or Alabama. I can say that licenses for teaching generally do not transfer from state to state. In places where teachers are scarce, there are programs for "emergency credentials" where, after passing an exam, you can get into the classroom immediately and earn your credential in two years at night school. My mom does not have a degree in education and few of her colleagues do.
posted by crinklebat at 12:05 PM on May 14, 2007

Check out the National Center for Alternative Certification.
posted by Otis at 12:10 PM on May 14, 2007

If I were your friend I would contact several districts where he might be interested in teaching and find out what they recommend. Also, try to contact teachers in those districts to get the official story.

My wife recently completed her BA in history and began teaching high school. There are certifcations through colleges (i.e., education major or subject major with education minor), and alternative certifications. While alternative certs sound inviting, my wife suggested a friend in a position similar to your friend's that he go for a certification through a college (not "alternative certification").

While school districts here in Texas say they will accept (and even help you get) alternative certs, they prefer you get the real thing and it keeps your status clear- once you're certified, you're certified, no alternative, interim stuff.

By talking to the specific districts your friend is interested in, he can find out what the best local alternatives are. I wouldn't trust only the official party line of the district though; talk to teachers as well.

If your friend can go to school nights, he can probably get certified while keeping his current job. An alternative is to quit his current job and sub, but my guess is that the pay will be very much less than a normal teacher's wages.
posted by Doohickie at 12:20 PM on May 14, 2007

Ynoxas, my boyfriend did this a few years ago. He didn't have a BS in education, but his experience in the field of computers allowed him to get certification and teach computer networking in Tennessee high schools.

For further info on alternate certifications in Tennessee go here.

Good luck to your friend.
posted by teleri025 at 12:39 PM on May 14, 2007

Another term for alternative certification is "lateral entry," which might help in Googling.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:09 PM on May 14, 2007

If there is an area of real need (like maybe Special Education), your friend might be able to get hired on some kind of provisional license.

This was my route into education in Virginia. I was hired as a teacher after taking 2 required night classes, and have been working towards my Masters in Teaching while working fulltime as a teacher. I've been able to keep making $$ and I get do my homework on a real live class.
posted by john m at 2:49 PM on May 14, 2007

Some states accept teaching certificates from other states, others don't. It will depend on the state.

Under No Child Left Behind, you must have at least 18 college hours (of your bachelor's or graduate degree) in the secondary school subject you want to teach.
posted by rcavett at 7:16 PM on May 14, 2007

In Texas, there are numerous online alternative certification programs for those who already have at least a bachelor's degree; I would imagine other states have similar programs. Go to the website of the department of education for your state.
posted by rcavett at 7:21 PM on May 14, 2007

Thank you all. I have forwarded this thread to my friend. We appreciate all the responses.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:04 PM on May 14, 2007