You could be teacher certified in less than a year's time. By joining an alternative certification program, future teachers can earn their certification while they teach. By following eight simple steps, you could be on your way to starting a rewarding career in teaching.

Alternative teacher certification programs allow individuals to take classes on nights and weekends while they look for teaching jobs. Program representatives are there to ensure that alternative candidates finish their paperwork, pass their exams, and fill in the needs of their state by becoming an official certified teacher in the classroom.

8 Simple Steps to Teacher Certification:

1. Apply and be accepted to an alternative certification program.
2. Finish all of your program training.
3. Register for your exam, pay exam fees, and pass your state certification exams.
4. Get your teaching job (as an intern on a probationary certificate)
5. Attend monthly classes and complete all certification program paperwork
6. Principal signs off on your certification at the end of the year
7. Pay the necessary state certification fees
8. Receive your official certification in the mail

Step One:

Apply and be accepted to an alternative certification program.

Interested future teachers will need to fill out the program's application, pay any application fees, and meet with a representative to determine eligibility and subject focus. Applicants will then bring in their transcripts, so the program representative can review their college courses for subjects the applicant can potentially teach.

For example, if you have upper level college courses in science, you can teach high school. If you only have the basic core curriculum science classes from your college, you would only be eligible to teach middle school or elementary science.

Step Two:

Finish all of your program training.

Upon acceptance into the program, the representative will determine which classwork you will need to complete. If you are trying to receive your Generalist certification (Science, Math, Reading, and Social Studies for middle school students), then you will be placed in a class with other individuals wanting to become teachers for junior high students.

Most of these programs offer classes in the evenings and several Saturdays because many candidates work while they attend this training.

Step Three:

Register for your exam, pay exam fees, and pass your state certification exams.

While you are in the program, you will want to register for your exam and pass it as soon as possible. You can still get a teaching job as an alternative candidate, but you need to show principals in person and on your resume that you are €highly qualified€ to teach that subject area.

I suggest taking all of the exams that you are eligible for based on your degree coursework, because passing more exams makes you more marketable when you're looking for a job.

Step Four:

Get your teaching job (as an intern on a probationary certificate)

After you get your teaching job, most states will allow you to teach on a probationary certificate. That means that you are not guaranteed the same position next year. If you do not obtain your official certification by the end of the year, the principal doesn't have to hire you back. Whatever you do, you definitely want to finish all of your paperwork and have the principal sign off on it at the end of your second semester.

As an intern, you are exactly like an official teacher in the classroom. You retain the same paycheck and benefits. The only exception is that your certification program will deduct the program fees from your paychecks every month over the course of a year. This may not be typical for all programs, but this is quite common for most.

Step Five:

Attend monthly classes and complete all certification program paperwork

Most programs assign a mentor for each new teacher. The mentor could provide monthly homework assignments to new teacher and will usually appraise them several times throughout the year. Complete all of your paperwork so you can receive your certification in a timely manner.

Step Six:

Principal signs off on your certification at the end of the year

Most programs require that the principal signs off on your paperwork at the end of the year. By doing so, the principal claims that you have satisfied all of the requirements for the program and the school.

Step Seven:

Pay the necessary state certification fees.

Alternative candidates must pay the state fees before they are registered in the state's teacher certification registry and can claim they are officially certified.

Step Eight:

Receive your official certification in the mail.

After a year of hard work in the classroom and completing your program requirements, you should receive your official certification through the mail. This is a time to celebrate all that you have accomplished.

These are the necessary steps to getting that teacher certification and working with children as an official classroom teacher. Follow these steps diligently and stay on task with your workload and you will begin a rewarding career in teaching.