Have you always wanted to be a teacher but you're not sure about going to college for 4 long years? You should get your education certificate and see what it's really like. An education certificate gives you college training and experience without the time or cost of a full blown college degree. Most education certificate programs generally take under a year to complete and some can take only a few months. The main requirement for entering an education certificate program is that you have completed your high school diploma or GED. Colleges, universities, and trade schools offer certificate programs all year, often with open enrollment. Certificate program courses are often taught during the day, evening, and even on weekends. Some colleges also refer to an education certificate as an education diploma. The terms certificate and diploma are used interchangeably but both terms mean the same thing.
Coursework for Education Certificate
The coursework required to obtain an education certificate center around instruction and education. They can include lesson material preparation, childhood development, educational record keeping, instruction in classroom and one on one settings, curriculum development, and teaching skills.
Jobs Available for Education Certificate Holders
The most common job held by those with an education certificate is a teaching assistant or teacher aide, also, sometimes called instructional aides or para-educators. Some education certificate holders also become childcare workers or attendants working in daycares and childcare facilities. Some also become preschool aides and preschool teachers. Teacher aides provide teachers with both teaching and administrative support. They may supervise children in the classroom, cafeteria, school hallways, school events, and on the playground. They can also instruct students in classrooms, small groups, and one on one situations. They may also help the teacher with clerical tasks, curriculum preparation, or other classroom activities. Those working in childcare and preschool environments also provide teaching support but may also be more involved with the general care of younger children.
Earnings for Education Certificate Holders and Teacher Aides
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008, teaching assistants or aides have average salaries around $22,000 annually. The top ten percent of teaching assistants made over $33,000 annually. Another great thing about being a teacher assistant is that many jobs are available part-time. For those working full-time, many school districts offer excellent benefits including health insurance and retirement plans. For those working as preschool teachers, the average wages were around $11.80 per hour with an average annual salary around $24,000.
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