Benefits Of Accredited Online Teacher Certification Programs

If you’re looking for flexibility and convenience, getting your teacher certification online may be the way to go.

These two benefits are among the most popular reasons why individuals head to their computer rather than a physical classroom to earn their teaching credentials in Texas.

However, the best accredited online teaching certification programs offer several other benefits as well that make these programs attractive choices for people with different life circumstances.

Course Availability

Online learning takes the distance out of education. This means you have many more courses available to you.

You can live on one side of Texas, and take online classes offered through a certification program located on the other side of the state.

Flexibility And Convenience

Online instruction provides you with the flexibility to choose when you complete your coursework. Whether you’re a morning person or night person, you choose when studying works best for you.

If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you can do your instruction after the kids go to bed or while they’re in school. If you have a day job, you can keep working until you complete your alternative teacher certification. If you’re retired and looking to do something else fulfilling, you can complete your teaching license requirements around your schedule.

Continuous Support

Going through the process to become a teacher can be frustrating at times, so one of the best benefits an accredited online teacher certification program can offer is continuous support. Providing you with a trainer adviser is mandated in Texas, but look for a program that is proud of its trainer advisers, and shows it by promoting them and their credentials on the program’s website.

Also, check into whether the program offers in-field advisers who are accessible to you throughout the school year. Ones who make periodic classroom visits once you are teaching can provide valuable feedback that will help you grow as an educator.

Non-Bachelor’s Degree Options

School districts are always looking for people with real world experiences to teach in their schools. If you are currently working in the fields of Criminal Justice, Automotive, Cosmetology or Culinary Arts, you do not need a degree to enroll in an accredited online teacher certification program in Texas.

To be admitted into the CAP program for a Career and Technical Education Certificate, you’ll still need to meet certain state requirements. These include five years of full-time wage-earning experience in the past 10 years in the field to be taught for those who do not have a degree, and two years of full-time wage-earning experience for those with an associate’s degree.

More information about these admissions requirements, and any others, can be found in our article, How To Become A Teacher In Texas Without A Degree.

Other Benefits

The best online teacher certification programs go beyond the minimum requirements and offer additional benefits. When researching accredited programs, look for these benefits as well so you can get the maximum value out of your education.

• The program has an extensive network. The goal of any teacher education program should be to put you at the front of a classroom. Look for programs that have built relationships with school districts in Texas, since these programs are often the first to know about any openings. Many districts will even contact reputable certification programs to ask for recommendations of students to hire.

• They offer a combination of training. Online programs include a lot of flexibility, but you can miss out on important opportunities to network and develop professional connections. The best online teacher certification programs offer a combination of online and in-person training, providing you with flexibility but allowing you to take advantage of many of the benefits in-person training offers.

• Test preparation is offered. A great alternative teacher certification program will ensure you’re ready for the Texas Examinations of Educator (TExES) Pedagogy and Professional (PPR) test. Look for a program where this test preparation is not an add-on cost, but instead a standard part of the training program.

Bottom Line

Online teacher certification programs offer a host of benefits, from flexibility and convenience, to online course availability and options for those who don’t have a bachelor’s degree. They’re becoming increasingly popular in the state of Texas … so much so that 49% of all new teachers are prepared through alternative programs.

However, not all online teacher certification programs are the same. It’s important that you find the best fit for you based on the benefits you are seeking and the kind of teacher you want to be.

This experience will form the foundation for your education career, so as you begin to look more closely at programs offered in Texas, you should think of yourself just as much as the interviewer as the interviewee. Our article, 5 Questions You Should Ask An Online Teaching Credential Program, explores some of the important questions you should ask when vetting online teaching credential programs.