FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  1. Who is the intended audience for Alternative Teacher Certification Routes?

    Individuals who already have a bachelors degree and want to become a teacher.
  2. What does “Alternative Teacher Certification” mean?

    Alternative teacher certification, alternative routes to teacher certification and alternate routes to teacher certification are used interchangably throughout this website. The terms refer to alternatives to the traditional state-approved college-based teacher education program routes for certifying teachers. Click here for more information.
  3. Are all alternative routes to teacher certification the same?

    No. To see how they are different, click here.
  4. What states have alternative routes to teacher certification? What type(s) of alternate routes do they have?

    Go to > Search > Quick or > Advanced on the menu to discover types of programs for each state.

    To see the different classifications of alternative routes, click here.
  5. What are the entry requirements and the program requirements for any given alternate route? How long does the program take?

    Go to > Search > Quick or > Advanced on the menu to discover entry and program requirements.
  6. How can I quickly see what the entry and program requirements are for the Class A and Class B alternate routes?

    Entry Requirements - Go to: http://www.teach-now.org/ENTRY%20REQUIREMENT.pdf

    Program Requirements - Go to: http://www.teach-now.org/PROGRAM%20REQUIREMENT.pdf
  7. What if I want only to participate in an alternate route that has been specifically designed for people who decide they want to teach after getting a non-education degree and want to begin teaching right away?

    Click here and then select the state you are interested in by clicking on it. Then, once you are on the state’s page you are interested in, look at the first header on the page. Under Alternative Teacher Certification Routes in the State, the programs with an “A” or “B” are these programs.
  8. What if I want to participate in a program designed and primarily administered by a college or university?

    Go to >Search > Keywords and enter: Primary administrative responsibility college.
  9. How can I find what colleges and universites have alternative teacher preparation programs?

    Click here and then select the state you are interested in by clicking on it. Then, once you are on the state’s page you are interested in, look at the third header on the page. Under Information, click on “Institutions of higher education that have developed alternative teacher preparation programs leading to a teaching license.”
  10. What colleges and universities have any kind of teacher preparation program?

    Click here and then select the state you are interested in by clicking on it. Then, once you are on the state’s page you are interested in, look at the third header on the page. Under Information, click on “Institutions of higher education that have any teacher preparation programs leading to a license to teach.”
  11. What if I want to get a Master’s degree, as well as a teaching certificate?

    Click here and then select the state you are interested in by clicking it on it. Then, once you are on the state’s page you are interested in, look at the first header on the page. Under Alternative Teacher Certification Routes in the State, the programs with an “E” are these programs.
  12. What if I already have a teaching certificate and want to know if I can teach in another state?

    Go to: Home > Reciprocity Across State Lines
  13. How do I find out what terms and acronyms mean?

    Go to: Home > Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
  14. How can I find out how many alternative teacher certificates a particular state issues?

    Click here and then select the state you are interested in by clicking on it. Then, once you are on the state’s page you are interested in, look at the first header on the page. Under Alternative Teacher Certification Routes in the State, it will list how many routes that state offers.
  15. How many new teachers does each state hire per year?

    Numbers of Newly Hired Teachers, by State: 1985 to 2004 http://www.teach-now.org/Tables2004/frmTable8_StateClassification04.pdf
  16. How do I contact the state(s) if I am interested in getting more information?

    Go to: Home > State Contacts for Alternative Teacher Certification Routes
  17. Where can I find the latest news on alternative teacher certification?

    Go to: Home > Read the News
  18. Where can I find the latest research findings on alternative teacher certification?

    Go to: Home > Research
  19. Where can I find information at the federal level regarding alternative teacher certification?

    Go to: Home > Resources > Federal Links
  20. Where can I find other resources, such as publications and/or organizations that offer information on alternative teacher certification?

    Go to: Home > Resources > Publications or > Links to Organizations
  21. How can I contact the National Center for Alternative Certification?

    Go to: Home > About Us > Contact Us
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