Alternative routes to certification are programs that prepare people to be public school teachers outside of a traditional undergraduate or graduate program. Often those who enroll in alternative route programs are professionals in other fields looking to change careers.

Alternative route programs allow people to begin classroom teaching after a few months of training, which they might follow-up with summer and evening courses. Programs vary from U.S. state to state.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM EDUCATION WORLD:

• Liberal Arts Grads And Career Changers Finding More Paths Into Public School Teaching
• Alternative Routes to Teaching: Do They Get You There in One Piece?

OTHER RESOURCES:

• U.S. Department of Education: Strengthen Teacher Quality-Innovations in Education-Alternate Routes to Teacher Certification
  Guidelines for and examples of effective alternative route to certification programs from the U.S. Department of Education.
• National Center for Alternative Certification
  An overview of alternative routes to certification programs and analyses of programs in different states.
• National Center for Education Information: Profile of Alternate Route Teachers
  This study looks at people who have completed alternative route programs, their backgrounds, and reasons for entering teaching.

Article by Ellen R. Delisio
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World