Alternative certification programs are for people who already have a four-year degree.
Since the mid-1980s, many areas of the United States have experienced a shortage of qualified teachers. The fast-track or alternative certification program was designed to encourage professionals from other areas to enter the teaching field.
Alternate Route to Licensure
Many states use the Alternate Route to Licensure program to license teachers. For example, New Jersey requires teaching candidates to complete 24 hours of study in pedagogy at an approved college. The candidate must also pass the necessary state tests before accepting a teaching position. After two years of supervised teaching, the candidate can apply for a standard teaching certificate.
Teach for America
Teach for America is a national program that recruits professionals with a four-year degree to work in low-income and underperforming schools. The program assigns teachers to schools based on need. The teacher is expected to earn a master's degree in education while teaching in the assigned school.
New Teacher Project
The New Teacher Project recruits and trains teachers to work in low-income and high-need schools. It provides new teacher training and certification, as well as a mentoring system to monitor applicants as they work toward full certification.
Tags: Alternate Route, Alternate Route Licensure, four-year degree, Route Licensure, Teach America