Professionals looking to apply their experience to a career in education can choose an alternative teaching certificate as way to get into the classroom faster than most traditional programs. According to Tulsa World News, the 2011 Profile of Teachers in the U.S. survey by the National Center for Education Information found that 33% of first-time teachers hired at public schools in the country since 2005 became educators through a process other than a college campus-based certification program. Many professionals have found that an alternative program is a good way utilize their degree while adding a teaching certificate to their resume. In order to become certified through a non-traditional program, candidates must accumulate 270 hours of professional development or 18 semester hours of college coursework in education within the first 3 years of teaching. Other requirements may vary state-to-state. Alternative certification program are available in nearly every state and help prepare professionals to teach in high-demand subjects including math, science and special education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities for teachers are expected to grow by 13% through the end of the decade. |