High School Student or Graduate
If you are a freshman just entering high school, a senior about to finish, or a high school graduate, it is not too early to think about which pathway to take to become a teacher. Likewise, it is never too late. No matter when you graduated from high school, you can choose a college path to follow. You will need at least a bachelor’s degree before you begin your teaching career.
Before choosing your pathway, investigate your school choices. Learn the reputation of the school, visit the campus, and meet with faculty of the programs you are considering. Ask about distance learning options and about evening and weekend course options. Careful research will help you make the right decision for your future.
Additional information is provided if you hold a baccalaureate degree and are also:
- A paraprofessional
- A member of the military
- The spouse of a member of the military
- A skilled tradesperson in trade and industrial fields
Here are the most common routes to teaching:
Two Year College Route First
Enroll in a University System of Georgia (USG) two-year college.
TCC Tidbit: Find out in advance the requirements for admission into the teacher preparation program of your choice. In most cases, these will include a minimum grade point average (GPA) and a passing score on the GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) Basic Skills Assessment.
TCC Tidbit: After completing an Associate’s degree or 60 semester hours of coursework, you may be eligible for certification as a paraprofessional. Working as a paraprofessional provides an opportunity to experience teaching while earning an income.
Complete requirements for admission into a USG teacher preparation program. You may choose to complete an Associate’s degree or to transfer before completing your degree.
Transfer to a four-year college or university with a teacher preparation program.
Enter a USG teacher preparation degree program.
Graduate with a recommendation for certification.
Earn certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Begin your teaching career.
Four-Year College Route
TCC Tidbit: Find out in advance the requirements for admission into the teacher preparation program of your choice. In most cases, these will include a minimum grade point average (GPA) and a passing score on the GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) Basic Skills Assessment.
TCC Tidbit: After completing an Associate’s degree or 60 semester hours of coursework, you may be eligible for certification as a paraprofessional. Working as a paraprofessional provides an opportunity to experience teaching while earning an income.
TCC Tidbit: Early Experiences
Sophomore-level courses for pre-education majors provide opportunities for students to experience schools and teaching. Experiences such as these can help you decide whether teaching is for you and if so, which subjects and grade levels you enjoy.
An Early Community Experience is a volunteer or paid position in which you have an opportunity to interact with children and families while experiencing a variety of communities and cultures that may be different from your own. Programs that encourage or require these types of experiences will better prepare you for the realities of the classroom.
Enroll in a University System of Georgia (USG) four-year college or university with a teacher preparation program.
Complete requirements for admission into the teacher preparation program.
Enter a USG teacher preparation degree program.
Graduate with a recommendation for certification.
Earn certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Begin your teaching career.
Alternate Options for Secondary (High School) Teachers
Some future high school teachers first major in their subject areas and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Then they go on to take post-baccalaureate or graduate courses leading to certification and/or a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. Post-baccalaureate courses are usually graduate courses taken after completing an undergraduate degree, not necessarily leading to a Master’s degree.
Additional Information
Paraprofessional
As a paraprofessional, making the transition to teaching will enrich your professional life and your school through your extensive knowledge of your students and their community. It will also be a step up for you financially. In addition to the salary boost from paraprofessional to professional teacher, you may be able to increase your retirement benefits. You may want to learn more about the state salary schedule. You will also want to investigate retirement options through the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia.
Many school districts and University System of Georgia teacher preparation programs will work with paraprofessionals to help them complete programs while continuing to work. School systems have developed various approaches to enable paraprofessionals to complete student teaching requirements without leaving their jobs. You should consult your employing school system about its willingness to work with you. In addition, some USG teacher preparation programs may assess your skills and experience and allow you some credit toward completion of your field experience requirements.
Member of the Military
Military retirees who need financial support to begin their teaching career can take part in Georgia’s Troops to Teachers Program. The Troops to Teachers Program is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Defense. The purpose of the program is to assist men and women who have served the Nation as members of the Armed Forces and are now seeking a second career as teachers in America's public schools. Eligible service members may receive federal funding to help them meet state certification requirements as teachers and for agreeing to teach in high needs schools. The Troops to Teachers Program is administered through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Spouse of a Member of the Military
Spouses to Teachers (STT) is a Department of Defense program designed to provide military spouses an opportunity to obtain information regarding teaching credentials and careers in public education. This initiative recognizes that teaching is a professional career field of great interest to military spouses. However, the key to becoming a teacher is obtaining teacher credentials accepted by the states in which military families are likely to be stationed.
The Spouses to Teachers Program provides funds (up to $600) to reimburse eligible spouses for costs related to teacher certification testing. Although STT itself will not provide other financial assistance, the Georgia STT state office can provide helpful information on other funding sources at both the state and federal levels.
The goals of STT are to bring together the various elements that are critical to entry into the teaching profession and to provide a reliable source of information and guidance to military spouses. The Spouses to Teachers Program provides military spouses with information about teacher credentialing requirements, advises spouses about available options for achieving certification, and provides other materials to guide them through the process.
The Spouses to Teachers Program in Georgia is administered by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Skilled Tradesperson in Trade and Industrial fields
Trade and Industrial teachers are one of the highest need content areas in schools through out the United States. There is also a growing critical shortage of skilled tradespersons in these fields themselves. As a teacher, you could have a huge effect on filling this important need, while sharing your valuable skills with the next generation of tradespeople.
Trade and Industrial (T&I) teachers instruct students in a range of content areas, including Construction (electrician, carpenter, masonry, plumbing), Cosmetology, Public Safety (law enforcement, emergency medical technician, fire), Automotive Technology, Information Technology and Technology (Computer networking and repair), Healthcare Science and Technology, Graphic Arts (computer graphics and press operation), Drafting, Electronics Occupations, Radio/TV/Mass Communications (Video Editing), and Manufacturing.
The T&I curriculum varies in schools, and is normally a combination of the above content areas. Local resources also influence T&I curriculum; for example, granite cutting is taught in Elberton, Georgia due to the surrounding granite industry. When looking for a T&I position, find out what is taught in local schools and see if your skills match those needs.
Education Levels
Professional and education requirements for certification are different for each content area in T&I fields. Four-year degrees are required in some, while a combination of education and documented professional experience is required for others:
- Individuals seeking certification in agricultural education, business education, family and consumer sciences education, marketing education, and technology education must hold an appropriate undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
- Individuals seeking certification in health occupations and trade and industrial education must have appropriate occupational experience in the field they are seeking certification and the minimum education level required for the field.