Teacher License

All teachers need to obtain a license, before applying for any job. Not to lose an opportunity, learn how to get an educator license.

What is an educator (teaching) license?

All teachers know that the license is somehow a permission credential. Without it, the state won’t allow you to work legally. They give it to you to operate as a teacher within a particular area. You can use it either in your state (province, country) or out of state.

Who needs to get a teaching license?

In fact, a teaching license is one of the essential things you need to have. Nowadays, no educational institution will hire you without seeing your license. You need to do everything perfectly to get your desired job.

These are some of the specialists who need to have teaching licenses: teachers of kindergarten, English teachers, math teachers, teachers of physical education, science teachers and so on.

Is there a difference between a certified or licensed teacher?

There is no big difference between these two. Usually, people use the certification to refer to the license that is for teaching in public schools. Some states don’t put any difference at all.

Another type of certification is the National Board Certification. Teachers who already have state licenses can apply for this one. As states provide licenses we can’t name this one a license.

National Board Certification

The NBPTS or a National Board Certification is also a credential for teachers. It is for teachers who are already certified by the state. Educators need it for proving that they are already expert teachers. In fact, those who obtain this certificate, get higher salaries.

How do you obtain a professional teaching license?

All graduates apply for a professional teaching license after they are done with a four-year degree. It is probably the most responsible and decisive stage in the career of a newborn teacher.

There are special endorsements which indicate the teaching material of a licensee. The validity of a professional teaching license is 5 years. Each state has its reciprocity limits. If a licensee is from another state, he/she should gain a temporary educator certificate in that state.

Bachelor’s degree holder proof

Teachers, who want a professional license, must hold a bachelor’s degree from any licensed institution. They will have to major in subjects (like math or history) to complete an educator certification program.

GPA availability

If an educator wants to get certified, he/she must hold a certain GPA. Each state requires different quantities of GPA. You had better check the minimum GPA with your local institutions. It can sometimes be higher than common (3.0) GPA.

Student teaching approved hours

All students have to complete content coursework which actually lasts 32 semester hours. Besides that, applicants should also take teaching approved hours. These hours are part of a course which is called “clinical”. Actually, students will have to spend 30-35 hours per week while teaching in classrooms.

Examinations and grades

There are several exams that licensees have to take. For each exam there is a special passing grade. You need to gain all the required scores to obtain your license. Some of the exams are the following:

An Academic Proficiency test is for checking your basic skills. For it you need to get approximately 240 scores to pass. The ACT exam’s passing grade is 22 scores. Another one is the SAT exam, for which you need to gain about 1030-1110 passing scores.

Background check

Before entering any educational institution, there is a need to have a background check. It is for making sure the person hasn’t been in any criminal affairs within the last 7 years. This is a critical step and no one can get a license without passing the check.
Appliance

Before you apply for the professional educator license, you need to consult the State Board of Education. There may be some documentation and other requirements you’ll have to meet.

After checking you can send your application via mail or electronically. Your application then will be approved and you’ll receive your license.

Fee payments

The application fees vary from state to state. You need to check it before applying for the license. Remember that you need to pay the fees online.

Moreover, you have to register your license to make it valid. You can register your license in more than one region. For registration, there is also a need to pay fees.

How do I get a copy of my teaching license?

To get a copy of your teaching license you need to contact the university or college that issued it. This differs from state to state.

Which tests do I need to take to get an teaching license?

Each state requires an educator license applicant to pass some tests. The tests are necessary to check the basic knowledge and skills of the licensee. With the help of testing, many institutions check whether the educator has appropriate qualifications or not.

There is no similar type of testing between states. Every state has its standards, different from others. Here are the tests currently used in the process of an educator certification:

National Evaluation Series testing

NES is a testing program which estimates the basic knowledge and qualification of an aspiring teacher. It is a rather modern and computer-based testing type. It includes a wide set of subjects, from math or English to scientific and technological skills.

Each state has its NES testing standards and claims. You had better check them with your state’s board of education beforehand. Yet, not every state requires this testing while applying for an educator license.

Praxis Series testing

In case of Praxis testing, more than forty states use it to evaluate skills and knowledge of the applicants. Besides, it determines whether they can obtain a certification or not. There are different standards and passing scores in each state.

How do I get a diabetes educator license?

Firstly, you should have a practice in that sphere to get a diabetes educator certification. Experience plays a great role. The certification will give you many opportunities to build an advanced career. If you want to be a leader in that field, this certification is what you need.

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators has established several requirements for licensees. To become a legal diabetes educator you need to meet all the requirements.

In the end, you must also take a certification examination. The exam consists of 200 different questions with multiple choices. You have more than 4 hours to answer them. After you pass the examination you’ll receive your certification immediately.

The requirements include:

1. Discipline requirement: the availability of any medical licenses or certifications intended for healthcare professionals. Dieticians or social workers correspond to this requirement. People with special qualifications (for ex. physiologists) can also meet this requirement.
2. Practice experience requirement: requires people who have a professional experience of at least 2 years. Moreover, they must also have 1.000 hours of education in diabetes over the past 4 years.
3. Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education requires 15 hours of continuing education. It should be completed during the two-year period when applying for the certification exam.

Can I work as a teacher without getting an educator license?

Indeed, being a certified teacher has its advantages and pluses. However, you can work as a teacher, even without it. This will also be a good experience for your future career. The more you work with students the better you’ll become in your specialty.

Here are the main cases when you can do teaching jobs without certification:

1. Teaching jobs in public schools

This job is for substitute teachers. The requirements for this job include any college degrees or credits. You won’t have to provide any certification.

The job is also for teacher aides. They may be assistants of teachers and can work under their control. They may also work without a teaching license and provide only high school diplomas.

2. Teaching in a foreign country

Teaching overseas is one of the best options if you want to get a really good experience. You don’t need any licenses just have a basic knowledge of the subject. Many schools are seeking good specialists around the world.

You can teach foreign languages or other subjects. Besides, this will give you many opportunities for your further career. One or two years of practice teaching may be enough to become much more experienced.

3. Teaching at private or charter schools

Although most independent schools require certifications from teachers, there may be some exceptions. As the state government doesn’t fund such schools they operate in a different way. They don’t put any limitations and restrictions.