How to Become a Teacher

How to Become a Teacher (The Teacher Tiers)

6/23/2020

"Teaching is an instinctual art, mindful of potential, craving of realizations, a pausing, seamless process." - A. Bartlett Giamatti

Overview: Thinking about becoming a teacher or interested in the process of becoming a teacher? You’ve come to the right place! In this post, I will try to answer any questions you may have about the process, discuss the tiered system of teacher certification, and address my recommendations for certification/licensure planning.

Note: Different states have different requirements for teaching licensure and certification. This post discusses only the licensure requirements and processes within Minnesota.

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Unlike many professions, teaching is a journey that extends beyond a bachelor’s degree. To become a successful teacher, you must ideally get a bachelor’s and master’s degree along with a variety of different certifications and take a myriad of courses and qualifying exams. OOFDAH!

But before we get into too many details, let’s start with the basic requirements.

According to the Teacher Certification Degrees website, “Prospective Minnesota teachers must complete a bachelor’s degree and an educator preparation program from a college or university approved by the state. Prospective teachers must also complete the National Evaluation Series (NES) Essential Academic Skills Test and the state’s series of content and pedagogy assessments for educators, the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE).”

In other words, MOST education programs require a prospective teacher to have a bachelor’s degree (in basically any field) and take two exams: the National Evaluation Series (NES) and the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE). For more information on these exams, see the “Additional Resources” section of this post.

However, there are other, less-discussed pathways to receiving your teacher certification. This system has recently been released by the state of Minnesota, and consists of four levels, or “tiers.”

The Teacher Tiers: The Four-Tier System to Teacher Licensure

Infographic on tiered licensure provided in "Sources/Additional Resources" section

Before we get into the discussion of this system, let’s start with an introduction of the basic requirements of the different tiers. . .

Tier 1

Bachelor’s degree (almost any field)

OR one of the following:

AA degree
Professional certification
5 years of “relevant” work experience

Tier 2

Bachelor’s degree (almost any field) AND Minnesota approved teacher preparation program enrollment

OR Master’s degree in “content area”

OR two of the following:

Completed teacher preparation program
Eight upper-division credits in subject area
Training in subject-specific teaching methods
Passing scores on state tests in subject area
Two or more years experience teaching in subject area

Tier 3

Bachelor’s degree (almost any field)

AND passing scores scores (content and pedagogy)

AND one of the following:

Completion of a Minnesota-approved teacher preparation program
Completion of a prep program from another state that includes field-specific student teaching equivalent to requirements of MN programs
Portfolio in a given licensure field
Three years teaching experience at Tier 2 without being placed on an improvement plan
Professional teaching license from another state, license in good standing, and two years of teaching experience

Tier 4

Bachelor’s degree (almost any field)

AND

completion of preparation program
Passing scores (pedagogy and content)
Passing scores on board-approved skills exam
Three years teaching experience in MN
Most recent summative evaluation must not have resulted in an improvement plan

As you can see, the number of requirements rises with each tier. In tier one, prospective teachers need only a bachelor’s degree to get their certification. In tier four, teachers need experience, passing scores on exams, and a degree to get certification.

Most teaching positions in Minnesota accept a tier 2 certification. However, receiving a tier 3 or 4 certification would put you on the right track to becoming a more successful teacher.

In general, the more experience and specified education you have, the better.

My Recommendations

If you are thinking of becoming a teacher, here are some recommendations I have. . .

If you are a High School/College Student

Do your own research. Your specialty may require additional certifications/requirements not discussed in this post.
Get experience working in an educational setting as soon as possible
Aim for tier 3 certification
Strive to get a bachelor’s degree in education or your desired field
For more information on earning an education degree, click here

If you are outside of college/currently have a different profession

Take the path of "Minnesota Alternative Teacher Certification." This path requires. . .

a bachelor's degree (almost any subject)
passing scores on NES and MTLE exams
completion of an alternative teacher preparation program (may be optional in some scenarios)
For more information on Alternative Teacher Certification, click here

If you are Currently A Teacher

Strive to get the next tier of certification. There is no such thing as a "perfect" teacher, but the more experience and education you gain, the more prepared and effective your teaching will be.
Get a master's and/or doctorate degree in your specialization. The more you know about your specific field, the more prepared and successful you will be in the field.
For more information on master's degrees in education, click here
For more information on doctorate degrees in education, click here

If you are thinking about becoming a teacher, I hope this post was helpful!

The path to licensure and certification is long and confusing (I'm still confused). There is always more to do and more degrees and certifications to get. Although becoming a teacher is hard work, it is one of the most valuable, rewarding, and inspiring professions out there.

If you have any other questions about the certification process, explore the "Sources/Additional Resources" page or reach out to a teacher you know!

Comment Questions!

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Sources/Additional Resources

The Minnesota Teaching and Certification Resource

Tiered Licensure Infographic (PDF)

"Minnesota Alternative Teacher Certification" Resource

NES Exam Details and Preparation

MTLE Exam Details and Preparation

Approved Preparation Programs in MN

Application for MN Teaching License

Education Degree Resource

Master's Degree Resource

Doctorate Degree Resource

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