Earning a Teaching Certificate Online
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Programs & Resources for Earning Teaching Certificates Online
Earning a teaching certificate online has become a popular option for aspiring educators. Not only does the online program offer in-depth education that can serve students in good stead upon graduation, the online teaching certification is a more flexible program that works well for those who are already dealing with a tight schedule. This guide offers information on teaching certificates that can be earned online, preparing aspiring students to pursue their education in a way that might be more advantageous to them.
Types of Online Teaching Certificates
Teaching certificates prove that a teacher has the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the professional teaching profession. In addition, certificates in a specific area of education can help teachers advance their knowledge, prepare them to move into another area of teaching, set them up for a promotion or pay raise, and expose them to new areas of the educational system.
The reasons for taking an online teaching certificate course are as varied as the individuals who sign up. However, there are some key points to remember when pondering earning teaching certifications online. Here’s why they are so popular:
| Attain a Professional Teaching License Those who want to work in the educational field must have the proper certifications in order to do so. A teaching license is a necessity for those working in public education, and is preferred for those who work in private schools. Students will be prepared to teach in K-12 schools, day care centers, private academies, administration and similar roles. | Career Advancement in the Education Field Earning a certificate beyond the most basic requirements can be a boon to those who want to move up in the field. By earning a certificate in a particular area of teaching, such as special education or technology education, students can open doors to advancement that would otherwise be closed. Over time, they can build on that knowledge with even more targeted programs that help them achieve expert status in their particular area. | |
| Learn New Skills and Teaching Techniques Even teachers who are happy where they are in the system often want to brush up on new things, such as emerging technologies or intriguing teaching techniques. Earning a certification that focuses on those things can help them bring even more in-depth education to the classroom, which leads to better-prepared students. These new skills might even prompt a teacher to look into lateral employment moves within their school, where they can put their new education to the test. | Get Advanced Training Those who want to hone in on one particular area of education and truly make themselves an expert in the field can use advanced training certificates to make it happen. Advanced training in one particular area, such as administration or special education, can provide more depth to their teaching approach, which can not only benefit students, but the school system as a whole. Advanced training is also often a selling point when it’s time to consider promotions or raise requests. | |
| Pursue Education on a Tight Schedule These are all good reasons to pursue a teaching certificate, but why an online program? Online education provides an enormous opportunity for those who are already in the workforce or handling a variety of responsibilities that makes it impossible to sit in a traditional classroom. The flexible nature of online learning allows busy teachers to pursue their additional certifications on their own time and their own terms. This means they don’t have to take precious time away from their classrooms in order to pursue their own educational goals. |
Top Online Programs
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Spotlight: 15 Online Teaching Certificate Programs
There are numerous teaching certificate programs offered online. Each program focuses on a different area of education, beginning with the most basic, all-inclusive certificate for general teaching and working into more in-depth programs. Keep in mind that most programs require students to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and are usually designed to advance the knowledge of those who are already working in the classroom.
MOOCs & Free Teaching Certification Courses
Those who want to earn a great deal of knowledge but don’t want to spend a great deal of money to do so can look to MOOCs and other free teaching certification courses. These courses might end with a diploma or certificate, or simply a certificate of completion; some can be used to fulfill professional development requirements.
| Course | Offered by | Length | Outcome | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Teaching Skills for Educators | ALISON | 10-15 hours | Official ALISON diploma, certificate or PDF | |||
| Introduction to Teaching English as a Second Language | ALISON | 2-3 hours | Official ALISON diploma, certificate or PDF | |||
| The Learning Classroom: Theory into Practice | Annenburg Foundation | 13 short sessions | The ability to create a more structured and powerful learning environment | |||
| Teacher Development: Starter Kit for Teaching Online | Edutopia | Varies; students are encouraged to take an online course of their choice in addition to completing resource material | Prepares teachers to handle education from the online perspective | |||
| Positive Behavior in Schools I: Introduction to Schoolwide Behavior Systems | Public Broadcasting System | 4 hours | Teaches the use of behavioral supports and interventions suitable for classrooms or individual students; might be eligible for continuing education credit | |||
| Program Reviews: Arts and Humanities | Public Broadcasting System | 1 hour | Certificate of completion | |||
| Classroom Video Production | Public Broadcasting System | 3 hours | Certificate of completion | |||
| Careers Education and Guidance | The Open University | 8 hours | Prepares teachers to foster successful school-to-work transitions for their students | |||
| Secondary Learning | The Open University | 11 hours | This advanced course provides teachers of secondary students with a broader wealth of knowledge from which to create their curriculum | |||
| Teaching PE & Health, Elementary Education | University of California Irvine | 2-4 hours | Designed for California teaching candidates, this course focuses on the fitness education of students in grades K-6 | |||
| Early Education and Care in Inclusive Settings | UMass Boston | Eight modules, one per week | Early childhood educators will demonstrate eight core competencies; might be eligible for professional development hours | |||
| Psychosocial Aspects of Visual Impairment | UMass Boston | Four hours per week | Designed for special education teachers who need extra training in dealing with children who face vision loss or impairment | |||
| Intro to Instructional Design | Utah State University | Six instructional videos | This in-depth look at instructional design takes students from analysis and design to implementation and evaluation | |||
| Cooperative and Collaborative Learning | Thirteen Ed Online | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | |||
| Promising Practices in Online Teaching and Learning | Texas Woman’s University/OpenStax CNX | Varies | Prepares students to move into online education | |||
| Introduction to Teaching with Skype | Teacher Training Videos | 1-2 hours | Helps educators understand the various tools that can be used with Skype in distance learning |
Shape your future with an online degree
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