Alternative Teacher Certification

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

In 2008, Texas reported a need for 82,000 new teachers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts teaching to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the next 5-10 years. The need for teachers is highest in math, science, special education, foreign languages, technology applications, and bilingual education.

I was a substitute teacher in San Marcos for several years. I liked walking into a new classroom each day and enjoyed helping students of all ages. With my work background in training, staff development and working with at-risk students, I was in demand at several schools. There was a time that I seriously considered becoming a certified teacher.

The alternative teacher certification involves becoming licensed without receiving a traditional bachelors' degree in education or other traditional teachers certification programs. It was created to allow those who did not focus on education during their bachelor studies to more easily acquire their teacher certification.

I remember researching alternative teacher certification programs in Texas. The program was expensive and demanding, not flexible enough to hold a paid position as a teacher while pursuing certification. Now, there are online programs that allow you to complete your coursework on your schedule.

University of Southern California Rossier School of Education offers an innovative combination of interactive online education with field-based experiences in your local area. It is possible to complete an accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree within one year! Read about this internationally renowned research institution and get an overview of the alternative online teaching program information.