Earn a Top Online Teaching Certificate

Earning a teaching certificate online has become a popular option for aspiring educators. Distance learning offers the same level of education as on-campus programs with added scheduling flexibility and program accessibility.

This guide offers information on online teaching certificates, including details on available pathways, tuition costs, and distance courses.

Online teaching certificates fall into three categories: programs leading to teaching licensure, graduate certificates, and professional certificates.

If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field, an alternative certification program can help you complete the requirements for licensure as a teacher in your state. While some programs offer the didactic component online, you must complete your student teaching or other practical training in a brick-and-mortar classroom.

A graduate certificate usually requires 12-18 master’s-level credits and can help current teachers pursue additional certifications. Some graduate certificates lead to initial teaching licensure. Professional certificates may help you learn new skills but do not lead to initial licensure or add-on certifications.

Other benefits of an online teaching certificate include:

Decide what kind of online teaching certificate you need before choosing a program.

Many schools offer online teaching certificates. 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.

Most programs require students to hold bachelor’s degrees for admission and aim to advance the knowledge of working teachers.

People looking to learn online without spending a great deal of money to do so can look to massive open online courses (MOOCs) and other free teaching certificate courses. These courses might end with a diploma or graduate certificate, or simply a certificate of completion. Some can fulfill professional development requirements.

You can get a teaching certificate from an online alternative teacher certification program, but you must complete classroom training hours in person. Some schools also offer online degrees leading to initial licensure, but you need to complete student teaching experiences in an approved, brick-and-mortar classroom.

Online courses on platforms such as edX, Google, and Coursera help current teachers improve their classroom leadership, management, and instructional skills. A few alternative certification teacher programs, such as the American Board, allow you to pursue licensure online. However, you need to complete in-person teaching hours to earn licensure through these programs.

To become a public school teacher, you need a state-issued teaching license, which requires you to complete a qualifying teacher-preparation degree or an alternative certification program. Some schools offer graduate certificates in teaching, which can also qualify you for licensure in selected states.

To become a teacher in a K-12 public school, you must hold state licensure. Typically, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree leading to initial licensure to meet your state’s requirements. However, if you hold a degree in another field, you may be able to pursue an alternative certification program.

A MOOC certificate can help verify your skills and interests but does not hold the same value as an academic degree or certificate. You cannot become a teacher with a MOOC certificate, and you cannot use a MOOC certificate in place of a master’s degree or doctorate.