| Those college and university students who | | | | certificate to fall back on. Alternative |
| want to pursue careers as teachers will be | | | | Route Teaching Courses While all public |
| required to concentrate on teaching courses. | | | | schools in the US, under the "No Child Left |
| While the specific teaching courses they take | | | | Behind" act, require their teachers to have |
| may differ from college to college, all of | | | | Bachelor's Degrees, some states offer |
| the teaching courses will fit into a few | | | | "alternative route" teaching certificates for |
| broader categories. Elementary and | | | | those who begin one career and decide to |
| Secondary Teaching Courses If you are | | | | switch to teaching. These certificate |
| interested in becoming an elementary school | | | | programs will accept professional experience |
| teacher you will have to either major or | | | | and college degree in areas other than |
| minor in education with a preponderance of | | | | education towards qualification for a |
| teaching courses to get your bachelor's | | | | teaching certificate, but most will also |
| Degree. If you get a bachelor's Degree in | | | | require you to take some teaching courses. |
| some other field, you can still qualify for a | | | | Once you have completed the teaching courses, |
| teaching career by getting taking several | | | | you will take the state exams and participate |
| post-graduate level teaching courses and | | | | in any mandatory student teaching or |
| getting your a Master's Degree in Education. | | | | supervised teaching to get classroom |
| If you intend to teach on the secondary | | | | experience. You can find out what teaching |
| level, you will have to narrow your focus and | | | | curses are necessary in your state by |
| get a Bachelor's Degree in the area on which | | | | visiting its Department of Education website. |
| you wish to concentrate--math, history, | | | | For more info see on Teaching. You may even |
| English, political science, art--any field | | | | be able to get academic credit for your work |
| for which you have a passion and which you | | | | and life experiences in an education degree |
| would be happy devoting your life to | | | | program which includes teaching courses and |
| teaching. You'll supplement the coursework | | | | move from that to a teaching career. Check |
| you do in that specific field with teaching | | | | with the admissions programs at each college |
| courses and student teaching to prepare you | | | | or university in which you are interested to |
| for getting your teaching credential when you | | | | find their policies on accepting work and |
| graduate. You can also major in something | | | | life experience for credit. |
| unrelated to education, and then go for a | | | | |
| year of teaching courses in a post-graduate | | | | You can also find more info on Teaching |
| program. You will then have the choice of | | | | Credentials and Teaching Degrees. is a |
| looking for a career in your chosen field, | | | | comprehensive resource to known more about |
| and if it does not pan out, have a teaching | | | | teaching jobs. |