School:Education/Becoming a teacher
Introduction
editIf someone has ever given information to someone else, then they are a teacher. In other words, everyone is a teacher. But most societies have schools that are considered official, and have some type of accreditation to qualify the school as being official. If you want to teach for one of these schools, you will need to fulfill certain requirements.
Wikiversity
editTeaching at Wikiversity does not require any credentialing, anyone may teach here. But this does not mean that there are not requirements of teachers on Wikiversity.
Anyone teaching on Wikiversity should:
- Be willing to have the information they share be for the good of the world, and not wish to claim any of it as intellectual property. All written information posted on Wikiversity is released under the GNU Free Documentation License
- Be willing to collaborate. Wikiversity's strength is that all material posted can be edited by any user. So all teachers on Wikiversity need to be willing to have their information changed.
- Prove their information in the marketplace of ideas. As with other WikiMedia projects, such as Wikipedia, ideas that potentially may not be agreed upon by all participants should be discussed in the discussion pages. Having a degree or credential does not give anyone any more or less say upon an idea. All ideas must have their accuracy proven.
Australia
editNew South Wales
editTo become a teacher in NSW you must hold an appropriate bachelor degree from a tertiary institution. I completed a Bachelor of Education, though you can complete a 1 year Diploma of education, if you already hold a graduate degree in another field.
To teach in the state system, you will need to apply to the Dept of Education and Training. If you are in your final year of an education degree, they will usually come to you and give you a short interview. Once accepted, you will not need to apply again, as you will register to apply for positions in certain districts or schools and be placed on a waiting list for the next available position. To teach in the private or independent sector, you will need to apply directly to the schools. I believe the system has changed for the state schools, and one can apply directly to the school for a full-time position.
For all teachers who haven't held a position before term four 2004, you will be considered new scheme teachers, and have to apply for accreditation from the NSW Institute of Teachers. There are requirements you will need to meet as well as an annual fee.
Canada
editIn the Canadian system of higher education, teachers are generally selected for entry into a bachelor's degree in Education, whether at the primary, or intermediate/secondary level following their graduation from a four-year undergraduate degree; for example, a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Arts.
The Canadian education system relies heavily on the use of so-called "teachables" that are obtained throughout the progress of the undergraduate degree. Requirements vary from province to province, but most people who have completed an undergraduate degree with a major and minor in teachable areas will be certified to teach those classes. For example, a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry might lend itself toward teacher certification post Bachelor of Education Intermediate/Secondary, and a career teaching (most likely high school) biology, or chemistry.
In certain areas of the country, exceptions are often made regarding what certifications are actually required for various teaching paths. For example, someone who can perform well on a Canadian Government administered French Language Proficiency test might be allowed to take over a French class. Other examples exist and, as is certainly understandable, necessity for teachers breeds such exceptions.
Primary and Secondary teachers face similar degrees, however, with primary B.Ed. programs, there is a focus on areas of cognitive development that are more relevant to early childhood, as opposed to adolescence in the intermediate/secondary categories. Furthermore, courses in developmental psychology are usually required for primary school candidates.
After the B.Ed., most teachers (if they directly exited high school, and entered directly into University without interruption) will be aged 23 and up. Teacher certification must then be sought through the various educational authorities in the various provinces, as this is a provincial responsibility in Canada. Requirements are similar, but do indeed vary by province.
England
editIf you want to be a primary teacher, the most common route is a three or four year undergraduate specialist degree. Alternatively, you can do a degree in a subject followed by a one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Competition is high for primary teacher education courses, you will improve your chances if your subject is one that is taught on the National Curriculum.
For secondary teachers there are several possible routes to becoming a teacher. The most common route is a first degree in a subject related to the National Curriculum followed by the one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education. It is still possible to take an undergraduate degree, three or four years, but these are declining. Most PGCE courses attract a student bursary, paid by the government, although some subject do not qualify for this.
Another option is an employment-based route, the most common of these is the one-year Graduate Teacher Programme. To be eligible for this you need to have a degree in a subject related to the National Curriculum and find a school willing to employ and train you. You then work at the school, for which you are paid, whilst undergoing training. The training varies from school to school, in some it is very good whilst in others it is minimal. This is a demanding option but does offer an income whilst training.
Whichever route you take, in order to become a teacher you are required to meet the Standards for Qualifying to Teach, which are set out by the Training and Development Agency (TDA). At the end of your period of training, if you meet the Standards, you gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and are allocated a teacher number by the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE), which you will need in order to be employed by a state school. In your first year of teaching, which is known as your induction year, you are a Newly-Qualified Teacher (NQT). At the end of the year you again have to meet the Standards for NQTs before you gain full teacher status.
United States of America
editTeaching in the US isn't as straight-forward as in many other countries that have a single Department of Education structure. In the US, every state has different standards for certification. It is highly suggested that if you are looking to teach in the US, to contact the individual state's Department of Education in order to obtain the requirements for licensure. Typically, the requirements center around a 4 year Bachelor's degree in Education/Content or a Bachelor's degree in Content plus a Master's degree in teaching.
California
editFor California Public High Schools and Adult Education programs the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is the body that regulates who can become a teacher. Further, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Schools is the organization that actually accredits High Schools and Adult Education programs.