Preschool and Elementary/Children’s School Teacher Education

The education and certification (license) requirements for preschool (kindergarten, kindergarten, preschool) and elementary (elementary) school teachers are set by state governments, which require several tests (subject area, etc.) before entry into teacher education and again after graduation. teacher education, but before certification. While state regulations vary, there is a growing uniformity, driven in part by the federal No Child Left Behind Act’s requirement for highly qualified teachers. The basic requirement is completion of an established baccalaureate (undergraduate) program of study to qualify for entry-level certification, as well as satisfactory supervised practice and proficiency examinations.

Prior undergraduate study must be completed at an accredited institution in almost all states. While initial certification can be obtained with a bachelor’s degree, most states offer higher levels of certification based on experience and additional education, and many teachers at this level already have or will soon have a master’s degree. Continuing professional education is required for certification.

Secondary school teacher preparation

The basic pre-certification requirements for secondary school teachers are the same as those for elementary school teachers. The main difference is that middle school teachers are certified as competent in one or more academic or professional subjects and spend their careers concentrating in those subjects, whereas elementary school teachers, especially for younger grades, may be comprehensively certified to teach a full elementary course. or may specialize, especially in teaching the more differentiated upper elementary/middle school grades. All states certify teachers by subject specialization as well as by grade level/division.

Special education teachers are trained in most states in specialized programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and are also separately certified. Special education teachers are also certified in their specialty, such as teaching the deaf, teaching the visually impaired, etc., as well as the severity of the disability they are trained to work with. While the minimum academic requirement is a bachelor’s degree in special education or a related field (e.g., developmental psychology), most teachers have a master’s degree, and many obtain a higher qualification called an education specialist degree.

Higher education teacher preparation

State law varies with respect to the requirements for public postsecondary teachers, but public teachers are not considered public employees, and it is the responsibility of the individual institution and its teachers to determine academic and professional standards and requirements for teaching positions and to recruit and promote. department or school. State law, even for public institutions, is limited to ensuring that institutions do not discriminate in hiring or violate other employment or labor laws.

Requirements imposed by educational institutions may vary depending on the level at which teachers must teach, the subject or area of study, whether research must be conducted, whether professional licensure or qualifications are required, and whether the position is filled. or part-time and full-time. Accredited institutions also follow any faculty standards established by the regional accrediting association to which they belong and any standards established by the association that accredits programs in a particular field.

Higher education faculty members are expected to have the necessary experience and qualifications to teach and, where applicable, to conduct research and consultation in the discipline or professional area of their specialization. The general requirement is either a terminal research degree (PhD or equivalent) in the subject area of specialization or, for some professional and clinical faculties, a relevant professional qualification plus experience in successful practice and applied research.