Do you want to be certified to teach in the public school system of the state you live in? Do you already have your bachelor's degree?Then you need to get your post-bachelor's certificate in education. These programs are designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree but want to teach school as a public school teacher and need to get their state teaching license. A few great positives about these types of programs are that they require less time than a full blown graduate degree. Many of these types of programs are also made to cater to individuals who are working full-time already. They often allow students to take classes in the evenings or on weekends if the daytime doesn't work for them.
Courses Available in Education Post-Bachelor's Certificate Programs
It's important for those wanting to teach in the public school system to be sure that whatever education post-bachelor's certificate program they enroll in is specifically designed to ensure that they can obtain their state teaching license when they have completed the program for whatever state they wish to teach in. Programs are designed to obtain a teaching license for elementary education (grades kindergarten through six) and secondary education (grades seven through twelve).
Courses in these programs often focus on teaching styles, curriculum preparation, diversity in the classroom, childhood development, educational evaluation measurement and evaluation methods, and a history of education. Courses in the secondary education certificate program will allow a student to specialize in a specific part of teaching. This may largely depend on their bachelor's degree. Some of these teaching specialties can include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, English, general science, mathematics, history, and physics.
Jobs Available for Graduates with Education Post Bachelor's Certificates
For those graduating from an education post-bachelor's certificate program, the most common profession is teaching. Teaching is generally an excellent job if you want stability and great benefits. Many school districts offer teachers great health insurance and even pension retirement plans. However, with the recent economic recession even the teaching field has been negatively impacted by state budget cuts. Teachers are still needed especially in secondary teaching areas of science, chemistry, and mathematics. According to the United States Department of Labor Statistics, the middle average wage for elementary school teachers in the United States in May 2009 was around $50,000. The median average salary for secondary teachers in May 2009 was around $52,000 annually.