# Teacher training in the USA **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353 "2003-12-01T21:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Theom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@Theom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theom)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/1 "2003-12-01T21:54:22Z")
How does one train to become a teacher in the USA? I am a UK citizen with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, huzzah! ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/2 "2003-12-01T22:00:30Z")
It depends what state you want to teach in, and what level you wish to teach. In general, a couple of years of school in addition to your bachelor’s and an exam to get your state certificate to teach. ---
**Author:** ![Theom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@Theom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theom)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/3 "2003-12-01T22:04:23Z")
Do you know where I can get some literature about it? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/4 "2003-12-01T22:28:58Z")
Ask and ye shall [receive](http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-teachus-geninfo.html) . That cite is from the department of education. You will need to get certified, and pass a test called the Praxis I believe. Google Praxis and see what you get. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/5 "2003-12-01T22:37:17Z")
You have better luck getting information through the specific college you’re looking at than through the department of education. In general, though, it’s a bachelor in the field you’ll be teaching, plus 7-10 education classes, then a semester of practice teaching, then the Praxis test, then continuing evaluation (Praxis II) through your first year of teaching. Depends a great deal on the state. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/6 "2003-12-01T22:54:38Z")
No cite on this, but I’ve heard that some locales are so desperate for teachers that little more than a bachelor’s degree and a clean criminal record will get you in front of the leaders of tomorrow. So, the point is that this is something that varies greatly by jurisdiction, maybe even within the same state. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/7 "2003-12-01T22:58:41Z")
Private schools are free to hire pretty much whoever they want to teach, regardless of certification. You might want to look into teaching at a prep school or private day school. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/8 "2003-12-02T01:25:39Z")
Nearly every state now has “alternative certification” program, where someone with a degree can be hired, and then spend a probationary year as a teacher (usually with some supervision by an established teacher) while also doing coursework in the evening at the nearest university. The content area and paedagogy tests are also given out during the school year. Also was “Teach For America” cut this year? And was it replaced by similar state programs. The school district that I live in actively recruits abroad for mathematics and science teachers, but there is a demand for every single field. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Insufferable\_Jerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@That\_Insufferable\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Insufferable_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/9 "2003-12-02T01:40:01Z")
Lose all common sense, wear your ass as a hat, forget that the students in front of you are humans, think that teachers know best and then go here… [http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml](http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml) ---
**Author:** ![pippi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@pippi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pippi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-training-in-the-usa/216353/10 "2003-12-02T04:19:02Z")
Or you could check out [this](http://www.montessori-ami.org) instead. I just finished Montessori training last year, and I chose to go that route precisely because I didn’t want to be the type of teacher described above! Most Montessori job opportunities are in private schools, which, as already mentioned above, usually do not require a masters degree. Teachers for ages 6-12 and above are highly sought after - there is a real shortage of them. And, because it’s an internationally recognized diploma, you could even go through training in the UK and get a job here. (This is my second post, and they’ve both been on this topic. They’re not paying me to proselytize, I swear! I just haven’t become jaded yet…)