SUMMARY OF ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASSES A & B
ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION ROUTES, State-by-State: 2004

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alabama
Name of Program Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Approach
Class B
Year Began 1992
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience 24 months professional and/or work experience in field or related fields in which certification if sought
Courses Minimum 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours of academic credit or equivalent nonacademic credit in field or related field of teaching.
Other Candidate must be candidate for employment by local board or nonpublic accredited school
Alabama
Name of Program Preliminary Certificate Approach
Class B
Year Began 1997
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Local superintendent applies for Preliminary Certificate in speech and language impaired and other teaching fields
Arkansas
Name of Program Non-Traditional Licenusre Program
Class A
Year Began 1988
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average minimum 2.5 GPA
Tests Praxis I and II
Prior Experience Summary of work history (resume)
Courses  
Other Three professional references, Cover Letter, NTLP application
California
Name of Program District Intern Certificate
Class A
Year Began 1983
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests Pass CBEST basic skills test. Pass subject area portions of state-approved exam
Prior Experience  
Courses Complete approved program of study (or pass subject area portions of state-approved exam).
Other Bilingual teachers must pass oral language component of state exam. Knowledge of U.S. Constitution
California
Name of Program Early Completion Intern Option
Class A
Year Began 2001
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests Show subject matter content proficiency by passing exam (or completing coursework). Complete written assessment of teaching knowledge and subject matter pedagogy.
Prior Experience  
Courses Show subject matter content proficiency by completing coursework (or passing exam).
Other Character fitness (fingerprints)
Colorado
Name of Program Teacher in Residence
Class B
Year Began 1999
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average No minimum requirement
Tests Pass state's required assessments in content (endorsement) area
Prior Experience None
Courses Demonstrate subject matter knowledge necessary for teaching in endorsement area through transcript review (30 semester hours), or portfolio review.
Other Pass background check, including fingerprinting
Colorado
Name of Program Alternative Teacher Program
Class B
Year Began 1991
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average No minimum requirement
Tests Pass state's required assessments in content (endorsement) area
Prior Experience None
Courses Demonstrate subject matter knowledge necessary for teaching in endorsement area through transcript review (30 semester hours), or portfolio review.
Other Pass background check, including fingerprinting
Connecticut
Name of Program Alternate Route to Teacher Certification
Class B
Year Began 1988
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average minimum 3.0 GPA
Tests Passing score on PRAXIS I or on an approved substitute exam; passing score on subject area test, PRAXIS II or ACTEL
Prior Experience Experience in an educational environment with children of age group one wishes to teach
Courses Major in or closely related to field to be taught.
Other Prospective middle school teachers, secondary school teachers and special area (art and music) teachers must have the subject-area semester hours required for certification
Delaware
Name of Program Delaware Alternative Route To Certification (ARTC)
Class B
Year Began 1997
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests Pass state’s basic skills tests (currently Praxis I). When approved by the State Board of Education, pass subject matter tests in teaching field.
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Satisfactory health and criminal background checks. Employment by LEA or charter school to teach secondary subject designated by state as critical need area.
District of Columbia
Name of Program D. C. Teaching Fellows
Class B
Year Began 2001
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Application, cover letter and resume
Florida
Name of Program Alternative Certification Program
Class A
Year Began 2002
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 2.5
Tests Meet specialized requirements in subject
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Obtain employment in a FL public or private school with a state-approved system for demonstration of professional education competencies
Georgia
Name of Program Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program (TAPP)
Class A
Year Began 2001
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average minimum 2.5 GPA
Tests Pass the Praxis I test requirements
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Criminal background check. Teaching job offer from a local school system.
Hawaii
Name of Program Alternative Licensing Program in Special Education (RISE)
Class B
Year Began 1991
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 2.75
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Special ed full-time contracted teaching position with State Dept. of Ed. Complete admissions file at Chaminade University.
Idaho
Name of Program Secondary Field Centered Teacher Training Program: An Alternate Route to Certification
Class B
Year Began 1990
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 2.0
Tests  
Prior Experience Have completed degree at least five years previously
Courses Hold academic credits comparable with current major and minor requirements for secondary endorsement(s)
Other Fingerprinting and background check
Kentucky
Name of Program Alternative Route -- Local District Certification Option
Class B
Year Began 1990
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 2.5 or 2.0 with "exceptional life experience" related to teaching
Tests Pass written tests of knowledge in specific teaching field (must have completed a 30-hour major/minor, or have 5 years' experience in the field)
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Candidate must have been offered employment in a district which has an alternative certification program approved by the state's Education Professional Standards Board
Louisiana
Name of Program Louisiana Alternative Teacher Certification Program: Practitioner Teacher Program
Class A
Year Began 2002
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 2.5 or 2.2 minimum with successful work experience
Tests Pass the Pre-Professional Skills Test on the Praxis unless a Master's Degree has been attained
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Submission of an official transcript to a LA college or university with an approved teacher ed program or to a state-approved private practitioner program provider; Meet other non-course requirements established by the college or university
Maryland
Name of Program Resident Teacher Certificate
Class A
Year Began 1991
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 3.0
Tests Praxis I and II tests
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Criminal background check. Teaching job offer from a local school system.
Massachusetts
Name of Program Massachusetts Institute for New Teachers (MINT)
Class A
Year Began 1999
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 3.0 in major subject or overall 3.0 or top 10th percentile on a national recognized exam (mid-career professional exempt from above)
Tests Pass both sections (communication/literacy skills and a subject area)of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL)
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Mid-career professionals (someone who graduated from an undergraduate program five or more years before applying) are not required to meet the academic eligibility requirements.
Massachusetts
Name of Program The Preliminary License
Class A
Year Began 1995
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Candidate must only document knowledge of the subject matter to be issued a license.
To See The Full Description of This Alternate Route Click Here!
Minnesota
Name of Program Alternative Preparation To Teacher Licensure Program
Class B
Year Began 1991
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests Pass Pre-Professional Skills Tests in reading, writing, and math
Prior Experience Experience in field related to subject to be taught; document successful experiences working with children
Courses  
Other Candidate must be hired by a school district
Mississippi
Name of Program Teach Mississippi Program
Class B
Year Began 2003
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other  
To See The Full Description of This Alternate Route Click Here!
Mississippi
Name of Program Mississippi Alternate Path to Quality Teachers
Class B
Year Began 2003
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average 2.5 for individuals graduated less than 7 years; 2.0 if graduated from college 7 years or more
Tests Pass the Praxis I test requirements
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other  
To See The Full Description of This Alternate Route Click Here!
New Jersey
Name of Program Provisional Teacher Program
Class A
Year Began 1984
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average minimum 2.5 GPA; minimum 2.75 GPA for those candidates graduating after Sept. 1, 2004
Tests Praxis II Subject Assessment for subject area; for elementary Ed, NTE General Knowledge
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Applicant must be offered employment.
New Mexico
Name of Program Alternative Licensure
Class A
Year Began 2000
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average B.A. with 30 semester hours of grad or undergrad credit in field to be taught OR Master's with minimum of 12 hours in field to be taught OR Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree that corresponds with the subject area and level of instruction
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other  
New York
Name of Program Alternative Teacher Certification - Transitional B
Class A
Year Began 2000
Degree B.A. with major in field to be taught for secondary; in liberal arts and sciences for elementary teachers
Grade Point Average 3.0 or written recommendation from college
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other  
South Carolina
Name of Program Program of Alternative Certification for Educators
Class B
Year Began 1984
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests PRAXIS II
Prior Experience 2 years of post-baccalaureate experience
Courses Major in an initial certification subject
Other Employment by an LEA; successful completion of a pre-service institute
South Dakota
Name of Program Alternative Route to Certification
Class B
Year Began 1985
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average minimum 2.5 GPA
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses Holds college major in the subject area to be taught or has five years experience in a related field
Other Must not have had student teaching experience. Must be employed by LEA willing to cooperate in alternative route program
Texas
Name of Program Alternative Teacher Certification
Class A
Year Began 1985
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average minimum 2.5 GPA
Tests Demonstrate acceptable college level skills in reading, oral and written communication, critical thinking and math
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Complete screening activities to determine appropriateness for certification sought; if seeking bilingual education/English as a second language certificate , must give evidence of oral and written language proficiency
Utah
Name of Program Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL)
Class A
Year Began 2002
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience Must be employed by district/school
Courses  
Other  
Utah
Name of Program Utah Transition to Teaching Alternative Program (UTTAP)
Class A
Year Began 2002
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other Background clearance check
To See The Full Description of This Alternate Route Click Here!
Washington
Name of Program Alternative Route 3 under Partnership Grants Program
Class B
Year Began 2001
Degree B.A.
Grade Point Average GPA may be considered as a selection factor
Tests Pass state content test and basic skills exam, when available.
Prior Experience 5 years' experience in the work force
Courses  
Other Priority for teachers in subject matter or geographic shortage areas. Also nonshortage secondary teachers. Experience with students or children (demonstrated by reference letters, letters of support from previous employers). Meet age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements.
To See The Full Description of This Alternate Route Click Here!
Wisconsin
Name of Program Alternative Programs Leading to Initial Educator Licensing
Class B
Year Began 2001
Degree Requirements defined by programs; vary from program to program
Grade Point Average  
Tests  
Prior Experience  
Courses  
Other