Certification

Educator certification is the process of documenting an individual’s qualifications to practice teaching, administration, or special services in a public school. The standards and regulations of certification are dynamic and reflect the complex political and social issues that affect public education in the United States. The underlying purpose for certification is to ensure high-quality, competent educators.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, teachers were hired based on their ability to pass a locally accepted evaluation and the possession of “good moral character.” Over time, states exerted more control over certification, and institutions of higher education developed pedagogy-based programs in efforts to boost professionalism. Typical requirements for new teachers in the 21st century include a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, completion of an approved program of teacher preparation, passing scores on standardized certification exams, and a criminal background clearance. Most states also require recent knowledge or experience, referred to as recency, and there may be additional training mandated in topics such as first aid or identifying child abuse.

Traditional approved programs for teacher preparation consist of coursework in content and pedagogy, along with field experiences including a university-supervised student teaching experience. Alternative routes to certification come in many forms and typically allow a person with a prior bachelor’s degree to start teaching full time while completing pedagogy courses or professional development in a state-approved program. In alternative programs, paid classroom experience replaces the supervised student teaching. These programs may be offered through a university, a school district, or a state agency.

An initial certification program provides the training for the main/first teaching certificate. Additional content areas may be added to the initial certificate in several ways as allowed by each state; options may include completing an additional approved program, passing a list of specific courses, or passing the appropriate state subject area exam. For example, in some states, a licensed elementary K–6 teacher might be allowed to add an endorsement in middle-level math 5–8 by passing a state subject exam.

Certification terminology varies state by state and country by country. Some states issue a certificate while others issue a license, and California issues a credential. Educators must file for a new certificate when they move to a new state. Reciprocity allows some states to issue a certificate if [Page 259]the applicant holds a similar certificate in another state based on comparable requirements.

There is no reliable centralized source for certification/licensure information across all 50 states. Information on requirements in each state can be obtained from local experts, including personnel at state agencies, certification officers at institutions of higher education, and human resources staff in local school districts.

Teacher salaries frequently constitute a major portion of the state’s overall budget, so there are fiscal as well as qualitative reasons for certification. In most states, proper certification is required, so that educational personnel may be paid from the correct pool of money. Supply and demand may affect changes in certification requirements too, as states adapt in order to bring new candidates into the teaching ranks.