All teachers in every state must be licensed before they can teach in the public school system. Known as certification and licensure, a teacher’s license comes from a state’s Department of Education. The only exception of this rule is when individuals teach at a private school or through a special educational program. Private schools and special programs, such as physical education, do not require a teaching license from their teachers. The benefit of having a license however, gives teachers a wider range of job choices.
One of the tests that state Departments of Education may use to qualify teachers is the PRAXIS test. You might have heard about this test since the same folks that issue the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) issue this test as well. After successfully passing the PRAXIS, teachers are free to teach not only anywhere in the state in which the test was taken, but anywhere in the country as well.
Everything experienced educators believe a new teacher should know is on this test. Because we live in an ever-changing society, the PRAXIS is constantly updated to reflect those changes. What was once deemed “required knowledge” in a science program four years ago for example, is now pretty much defunct. Science and History are two of the most dynamic studies to date, and as a result, they contribute new requirements to PRAXIS tests every year.
This of course makes teacher licensure programs an important part of becoming a teacher. Teacher licensure programs give aspiring teachers important skills needed to educate students. The type of education plays a significant role since the program focuses on skills need to teach art, music, history, science, math, or English for instance.
One thing that the PRAXIS doesn’t provide is the life-long journey of self-education. That’s something teachers have to initiate on their own. The teaching career isn’t like the legal career in which lawyers have to pass a periodic test an exam to remain in the profession. Self-improvement and professional development are two areas that teachers must practice independent of the PRAXIS and state issued certification and licensure.
There’s a lot of chatter these days regarding the direction in which the teaching industry will turn. And there’s an equal amount of talk about what the teaching profession will demand over time. The good news is that today, in this here-and-now moment, teaching continues to be one of the most rewarding careers known. Getting your certification and licensure is the best way to experience that reward.
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