A U.S. Department of Education and Department of Defense program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed.
Is Teaching For Me?
Seeking a teaching credential varies state-to-state. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to understand the requirements in the state or states where you would like to teach. This provides the platform from which you can determine grade, level, school/district and the training route. In addition, moving a teaching credential from one state to another state is not always easy.The more you know about the processes and procedures, the better.
Explore teaching as a profession to help determine whether it meets your personal and professional goals and expectations. Review the video, "So you want to be a teacher?"
Getting Involved
How do you know for sure what level and grade you would like to teach?Have you spent time volunteering at a local school or with young people in community forums?
Getting involved with a local school and district is a positive and productive way to explore the profession of teaching before you invest time and resources to the credentialing process. To get involved, you can volunteer time or even substitute teach.
Substitute Teaching
Substitute teaching (subbing) is a great way for you to explore the profession of teaching. It allows you to work at various grade levels, content areas, and even research different schools and districts. Many states now require a substitute teaching application. However, you can check with the principal or the human resources department in the school district near you for more details.
Here are some articles and resources related to subbing that may be of interest to you:
Substitute Teaching:Tricks of the Trade
Substitute Teaching: An Insider's View
The Substitute Teaching Institute
Because each state individually controls and regulates the teacher credential process, it is important for you to know where you want to teach. It is important for you to gather your credential documents to facilitate this discussion.
Becoming a teaching requires (1) an evaluation of the content, or the “what” you will teach, (2) taking the appropriate pedagogy modules or courses, or the “how” you will teach, (3) having field experiences such as student teaching, practicum units, observations, or work as the teacher-of-record, (4) passing state testing requirements, and (5) completing any unique state requirements, such as specific courses or background checks.
Once you are ready to apply for a specific provider pathway, you will need to submit official copies of your transcripts and training records. Until then, we can work with unofficial copies.
In collecting, please include:
- Transcripts from all colleges or universities you attended
- Test score reports from DANTES/DSST or CLEP
- Army: AARTS transcript
- Navy or Marine Corps: SMART transcript
- Coast Guard: Transcript from the Coast Guard Institute
- Air Force: CCAF transcript
- If you have had corporate training, an ACE transcript
- Copies of all DD214 forms