Traditional teacher certification programs comprise graduate-level education.
The simple answer to the question "Is it possible to get a teaching certification without a bachelor's degree?" is yes and no. It is possible to get a certificate to teach English in a corporate setting without having an undergraduate degree. It is not possible to achieve teacher certification in the United States without first possessing a bachelor's degree. However, there are nontraditional teacher certification programs that allow those with a bachelor's degree to circumvent standard graduate school programs.
TEFL Certificate
Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or TEFL, is a teaching certificate available to native speakers of the English language. TEFL programs do not require participants to hold a bachelor's degree. Language schools such as the Boston Language Institute offer four-week TEFL programs at locations throughout the world. Students of these programs take courses on language education and teaching methods while learning firsthand through practice lessons taught at affiliated schools. TEFL teaching certificates allow recipients to travel to locations as disparate as China, Ethiopia and Ecuador to teach at for-profit academies and institutes.
Cal State TEACH
Cal State TEACH is a nontraditional teacher certification program. In order to participate in the program, students are required to hold a bachelor's degree. However, program participants are not required to achieve a traditional master's degree in education. Students complete coursework through an online program and gain teaching experience through one of two modules, student teaching or internship. Participants in the program will earn 40 to 46 California State University credits as well as teacher licensure.
Oklahoma Non-Traditional Licensure
Oklahoma Non-Traditional Licensure is a state program allowing individuals with a bachelor's degree and expertise in a certain field to teach prekindergarten through 12th grade. The program licenses only those with expertise in a "critical shortage" field, an academic area in which teachers are in short supply. Licenses granted through the program are known as "Alternative Placement Program" licenses. Middle school and high school subjects for which licensure is available include business, math, journalism and driver/safety education. PK through 12th grade subjects include art, dance, English, music, physical education, foreign language and drama. Career and tech education field for grades six through 12 include agriculture, marketing, career and business technology and family and consumer sciences.
Arkansas Non-Traditional Licensure
The Arkansas Department of Education Non-Traditional Licensure Program licenses participants to teach at public schools in the state. The two-year program comprises one year of classroom work and one year of student teaching. Program participants attend a mandatory orientation before being assigned to a site, or public school. Once on site, teachers complete self-guide instruction modules while observing lessons and participating in education through student teaching. Licensure is granted after completion of the first year of the program. This enables students to be full-time assistant teachers during the second year of the program. The program is graduate level and requires participants have a bachelor's degree.
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