Alternative Teacher Certification Programs in Secondary Education
Not everyone gets into the field of education at the start of their career. After earning a Bachelor’s degree, you may have realized that your passion lies in teaching. Luckily, there are alternative certification programs in education that can save you from having to repeat your undergraduate courses. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in another field and you are interested in teaching at the high school level, you may want to look into alternative certification programs in secondary education.
Since you already have a Bachelor’s degree in another field, you should only need to take education courses to earn your alternative secondary education certification. If your Bachelor’s degree is in a teaching subject area, such as mathematics, psychology, or art, you may be able to complete your education even more quickly. Contact the schools you find on our site to learn more about your options.
The courses you take as a secondary education student may help you explore the psychology of secondary education, the ways in which adolescents learn, and how to connect with your students. Courses that may be part of your curriculum include Advanced Studies in Education and Learning, Content Area Literacy, Psychology of Education, and Educational Applications of Computers for Teaching. You may also take courses that look specifically at your previous area of study and how to bring your knowledge into the classroom. Since you only need to take your education courses, you may be able to complete an alternative certification program in one year or less. Quite a bit of that time may be spent in a high school classroom, as you need to meet practicum requirements and a student teaching requirement.
Career Information for Secondary Educators
The field of education is growing, but the amount of graduating teachers is not growing at the same rate. As a result, there may be quite a few scholarships and grants available for those who return to school for their teaching license. The Ford Foundation supports secondary education with grants and scholarships. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teachers for America’s Future provides financial support to those teaching in STEM fields. if you have student loans, you may be able to get them forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Job growth in this field may be steady for several years to come. Through 2022, O*Net expects a 6% increase in secondary education jobs. The average salary for a high school teacher is $55,360 per year (O*Net, 2013).
Your prior education and experience may put you in a great position to change the field of education and touch the lives of students. Earning your teacher certification is the first step. Use our school listings below to contact alternative certification programs in secondary education.
