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State Examples
Arizona
Alternative certification programs were developed in Arizona after the state board of education revised its teacher certification policy in 1998. The revised policy allowed institutions other than four-year colleges and universities to offer certification programs. ACPs in Arizona provide both residents and out-of-state students with a path to teacher licensure in elementary, secondary or special education. These programs require that candidates hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to admission. Candidates enrolled in the secondary certification program must already have a minimum of 24 credit hours in the content area in which they are seeking certification. An internship is required except for emergency certified teachers who have taught full-time for more than two years.
Participants enrolled in Pima Community College’s Advanced Certificate in Teacher Education program can complete their Arizona teacher certification in two years (4). Qualified candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and meet other institutional requirements. Courses are offered every six weeks, and can be taken onsite, online or through television or video. Online classes can be taken in Pima’s computer lab, at home or at work, but may require students to take exams on campus in the test center. Students enrolled in online classes log in to the Pima server to view their weekly assignments, lectures, grades and class notes. They can also email or chat online with their classmates or instructor. An interesting requirement of Pima’s program is the development of an online teacher portfolio which demonstrates students’ skills and comprehension. These portfolios can be shared with other students or used for job interviews or back-to-school nights. Pima’s ACP costs approximately $1500-2000 for in-state residents, depending on the type of certification (elementary or secondary) they want to earn.
Rio Salado College is one of ten community colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Its post-baccalaureate program has provided more than 800 participants with the skills and support to transition successfully into the public school system. Like Pima, the program offers participants flexible and affordable teacher certification (5). It was recognized as the "innovation of the year" by the League for Innovation in the Community College.
Rio Salado’s program is self-paced, with new courses offered every two weeks and an option to finish courses early. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited four-year institution. Participants are expected to complete online coursework, a nine week internship, and "master teacher seminars" before they are eligible for licensure. The seminars are available on video tape for out-of-state and international participants. Rio Salado’s faculty are available to help teacher candidates identify local schools in the community where they can fulfill their classroom practicum requirements. Upon completion of the program, students receive an Arizona teaching certificate, which is recognized by many other states as valid teacher certification through reciprocal licensure agreements. Enrollment in Rio Salado’s ACP is approximately $1800-2500 for in-state residents, again depending on the type of certification sought.
New Jersey
New Jersey has developed an innovative alternative route to teacher certification called New Pathways to Teaching. The program is a collaborative effort between New Jersey City University (NJCU) and the Community Colleges of New Jersey (CCNJ). It allows individuals with a degree in a subject other than education to earn teacher certification. Most participants have already secured employment as teachers, although some may still be transitioning from other careers. General eligibility requirements include a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher for the last degree earned, and a passing score on the Praxis II exam in the subject area they wish to teach.
The first phase of the program consists of a 45-hour summer pre-service program including guided classroom observations. The second phase lasts one year, and consists of 165 hours of coursework and a one-week summer institute. Students have the option to take the program for certification purposes only, or can apply 15 credits toward a master’s degree in teaching from NJCU. Curriculum and coursework for the credit and non-credit programs are identical at all participating institutions, but differ in cost. The total tuition for students who enroll in the non-credit certification program is $2400, while that for credit certification is $5400. Courses may be taken at any of the 18 participating community colleges or at NJCU. (6)
Texas
Since 1995, Texas has trained 19,000 candidates through alternative routes. In 2002, 27% of teachers had completed an alternative certification program. In 2004, 22 community colleges had approved programs. Alternative certification programs in Texas must demonstrate their ability to address standards required of all teachers, provide year-long internships in the classroom on a full salary and collaborate with districts, institutions of higher education and regional education service centers to plan their programs. Texas does not require that all ACPs offer the same number of credit hours, but all programs must include some combination of classroom instruction, observation and field experience.
Blinn Community College’s TEACH program offers a 15-month alternative certification program composed of three phases. It begins with initial training in education theory and classroom management, which then leads to a paid, full-time teaching internship in a public school. Over the school year, participants must complete 100 hours of online training, plus any additional content-area training necessary for certification. At the end of the school year participants attend a two-day follow-up session. TEACH provides support throughout the internship with onsite observations and feedback. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5, and must pass the Texas Higher Education Assessment test. Program costs total $3500.
Collins County Community College District (CCCCD) is a leader among community college alternative certification programs. Recognizing the growing need for qualified teachers, CCCCD was the first community college in the nation to develop an alternative route to teacher licensure. The program was established by the Texas State Board for Education Certification in August 2000 (11), and is offered to both traditional alternative certification candidates and emergency certified individuals who have already been placed in a classroom. Applicants are expected to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college, with at least 24 credit hours in a certification content area.
Noteworthy features of the CCCCD program include flexible scheduling and enrollment, small class sizes and mentorship opportunities. The CCCCD program is composed of several modules, each with a different pedagogical emphasis. CCCCD also offers several fast-track options, varying from a nine month weekend program to an intensive, all-day summer program. Each option culminates with a year of supervised teaching in a Texas public school. The CCCCD has also developed a master’s degree program in conjunction with Texas A&M University that gives the participant graduate credit for some of the courses taken at the community college. Tuition and fees for the CCCCD program run upwards of $4000. However, the Teach for Texas Alternative Certification Conditional Grant program can off-set costs for full-time teachers seeking alternative certification through an approved program.
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