Phase 1: Prepare at a Professionally Accredited School of Education

Preservice preparation is the first step toward becoming a teacher. By attending an accredited school of education, you will gain a foundation of knowledge about teaching and learning as well as opportunities to practice teaching your chosen subject under supervision.The teaching profession’s accrediting body is the National

Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (www.ncate.org). After receiving your undergraduate degree, you will need more professional development (Step 2) to gain the complete set of knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the classroom.



Phase 2: State Licensing—Novice and Professional Licensing

Earning a beginning license, commonly known as a novice license, is the second step to becoming a teacher. In most states you must pass a test of subject matter knowledge and sometimes an additional test of pedagogical knowledge. The novice license will provide you with an opportunity to start teaching for a designated period of time. In addition, you may also be required to go through a mentoring program or attend professional development activities before earning your professional license.

More and more states are now using a tiered licensing system which includes mentoring programs and extended clinical practice (such as professional development schools). This system helps provide beginning teachers with the support and assistance they need to become successful and to help ensure that they will continue teaching after their first year.

The process described above is not unlike what beginning professionals in nearly all other fields experience as well! Practitioners in established professions must first gain a foundation of knowledge by graduating from a professionally accredited profession. For example, after graduating from a preparation program, engineers, social workers, and psychologists must work under supervision for a lengthy period before being awarded a professional license.

Phase 3: Advanced Certification and Career Development

Professional teachers must keep up with advances in the field throughout their career and engage in continuing professional development to broaden their knowledge and skills. Successful teachers continuously work on improving their teaching ability reviewing research and available data on student achievement to find out which teaching methods work. For career advancement, advanced certification is available to teachers through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org). Certification incentives include formal recognition, a larger salary, and leadership opportunities.

The three phases of teacher preparation and development above correspond to three quality assurance mechanisms for the field: professional accreditation; state licensing; and advanced certification. All established professions use these mechanisms to assure public trust in the professionals who are licensed to practice.

Editorial supplied by "National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education" (NCATE)

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education explains the steps necessary to become a highly qualified and effective classroom teacher. Colleges and universities and other alternate providers now offer opportunities for adults interested in pursuing teaching to enter a post-baccalaureate program; college undergraduates may enter a 4-year or 5-year program.

www.ncate.org