- Teacher Certification Map
- What is an Alternative Teacher Certification?
Learn. Teach. Inspire.
Become a transformative educator when you earn your Master's or EdD online at the USC Rossier School of Education
Sponsored Program
What is an Alternative Teacher Certification?
Alternative certification is a term used to describe a relatively new way to obtain state-granted teaching certificates. It began in the 1980’s, when states first started predicting widespread teaching shortages. It has grown into a well-regarded way for non-certified college graduates to become certified.
Alternative certification, just like traditional certification, is a route that leads to a teaching certificate/license, which is granted by a particular state’s department of education. Smiliar to any certification there is a process; it involves coursework, teaching experiences, standardized testing, and governmental review; then in the end you receive certificates that are documents granted by a state agency.
In general, alternative certification programs simultaneously combine accelerated coursework with classroom experiences and mentoring, and are offered by universities, educational service centers and other organizations. Further, alternative certification programs are designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree. On the other hand, traditional certification programs are offered by universities and colleges to both undergraduate degree holders and seekers; they include more conventional curriculum, program length, and student teaching requirements. Bachelors or masters of arts in education degrees offered by colleges and universities often include a traditional certification program as part of their overall program.
In order to become certified in any state, no matter what alternative certification program the student enrolls in, it is necessary for a student pursuing an alternate route to pass the requisite state teacher certification tests for the area in which they wish to teach. Also, if a student does not meet the state coursework requirements for the subject they wish to teach, the alternative certification program will mandate that they take additional subject area coursework. When all other requirements are completed, an alternative certification candidate must apply for a certificate and be approved by their state’s certification agency.
Alternative certification programs often enable the candidate to hold a paid position as a teacher while pursuing certification. Thus, alternative certification can be an attractive option for prospective teachers who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in education and/or a traditional teacher certification, and who want to save money by working in their field and studying at the same time. However, traditional programs also offer options to those who wish to work while obtaining a teaching certificate.
It is worth mentioning that holding one of the available state teacher certifications/licenses is a necessary requirement for an individual to teach public school in that state. However, private schools have varying requirements, and often allow individuals who don’t have a state-granted teaching certificate to teach at their institutions. Private schools generally have smaller class sizes and fewer disciplinary problems, but offer lower teacher salaries.
Every state accepts at least one alternative route to teacher certification. For more information, click on the states you are interested in on our interactive map. Our information on alternative certification is still in development for some states, but if this is the case, you can find a helpful link to the relevant government website at the bottom of each state’s page. Please note that many different entities of varying quality run alternative teacher certification programs. So, to find the most suitable program, it is important for a prospective student to visit the websites of many different programs.
List state specific alternative certification pages:
- Alabama
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- New York
- New Jersey
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Learn. Teach. Inspire.
Become a transformative educator when you earn your Master's or EdD online at the USC Rossier School of Education
Sponsored Program
{"admissionsEmail": "admissions@rossieronline.usc.edu", "degreeOffering": "usc-mat", "fields": [{"hidden": false, "label": "Which program are you interested in?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching", "value": "MAT"}, {"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching - TESOL", "value": "MAT TESOL"}, {"label": "Master of Education in School Counseling", "value": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"label": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership", "value": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}]}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent", "required": true, "type": 9, "value": {"gdprOnly": "false"}}, {"hidden": false, "mountPoint": 2, "name": "", "type": 7, "value": {"text": "Your personal data will be used as described in our [--link:https://rossieronline.usc.edu/legal/privacy-policy/ target:blank]privacy policy[link--]. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time."}}], "grouping": "usc-mat", "id": 333, "published": "2019-10-08T16:50:44.243Z", "screens": [{"allFields": [1, 0], "conditional": {}, "out": {"0": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}], "version": "1.0.1"}
{"admissionsEmail": "admissions@rossieronline.usc.edu", "degreeOffering": "usc-mat", "fields": [{"hidden": false, "label": "Which program are you interested in?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching", "value": "MAT"}, {"label": "Master of Arts in Teaching - TESOL", "value": "MAT TESOL"}, {"label": "Master of Education in School Counseling", "value": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"label": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership", "value": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}]}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": true, "label": "Degree Offering: usc-mat", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree_offering", "required": false, "type": 12, "value": {"degreeOffering": "usc-mat", "programId": "82"}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": true, "label": "Degree Offering: usc-msc", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "degree_offering", "required": false, "type": 12, "value": {"degreeOffering": "usc-msc", "programId": "83"}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Are you a teacher?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "teacher", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "Yes", "value": "Yes"}, {"label": "No", "value": "No"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "What is your highest level of education completed?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "level_of_education", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "High School", "value": "High School"}, {"label": "Associate\u0027s", "value": "Associates"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s in progress", "value": "Bachelors In Progress"}, {"label": "Bachelor\u0027s", "value": "Bachelors"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s in progress", "value": "Masters In Progress"}, {"label": "Master\u0027s", "value": "Masters"}, {"label": "Doctorate", "value": "Doctorate"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "What was your undergraduate GPA?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "stated_gpa_range", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "4.00 and above", "value": "4.00 And Above"}, {"label": "3.99 - 3.50", "value": "3.99-3.50"}, {"label": "3.49 - 3.00", "value": "3.49-3.00"}, {"label": "2.99 - 2.50", "value": "2.99-2.50"}, {"label": "2.49 and below", "value": "2.49 And Below"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "First Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "first_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Last Name", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "last_name", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Email", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "email", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8- MAT", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "Please contact me about these educational programs.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, 2U, Inc., and its family of companies, work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8- MSC", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "Please contact me about these educational programs.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, 2U, Inc., and its family of companies, work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC-MSC Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba- MAT", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc.[link--], USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about the USC Rossier Master of Arts in Teaching online. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba- MSC", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc.[link--], USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC-MSC Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about the USC Rossier Master of Education in School Counseling online. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "How many years of work experience do you have?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "work_experience", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "0", "value": "0"}, {"label": "1", "value": "1"}, {"label": "2", "value": "2"}, {"label": "3", "value": "3"}, {"label": "4", "value": "4"}, {"label": "5", "value": "5"}, {"label": "6", "value": "6"}, {"label": "7", "value": "7"}, {"label": "8", "value": "8"}, {"label": "9", "value": "9"}, {"label": "10+", "value": "10+"}]}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Which industry are you currently employed in?", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "industry", "required": true, "type": 3, "value": {"defaultOption": "", "options": [{"label": "K-12 Teacher", "value": "K-12 Teacher"}, {"label": "K-12 Admin", "value": "K-12 Admin"}, {"label": "Higher Education", "value": "Higher Education"}, {"label": "Private Sector", "value": "Private Sector"}, {"label": "Government / Non-profit", "value": "Government / Non-profit"}, {"label": "Other", "value": "Other"}]}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Country of Residence", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "country", "required": true, "type": 6, "value": {}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Phone", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "phone", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "Zip / Postal Code", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "zip_code", "required": true, "type": 0, "value": {"text": ""}}, {"hidden": false, "label": "State", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "state", "required": true, "type": 5, "value": {}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "Country of Citizenship", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "country_of_citizenship", "required": true, "type": 6, "value": {}}, {"hidden": true, "label": "", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent", "required": true, "type": 9, "value": {"gdprOnly": "false"}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "US Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00b8- EDD", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 11, "value": {"checkboxText": "USC Rossier\u0027s partner and its affiliates work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields. I would like to learn more about these additional programs and other programs offered by USC Rossier.", "defaultChecked": true, "defaultRadio": "none", "disclaimer": "By pressing submit, I consent to USC Rossier and its partner contacting me using the above information. I may opt out of receiving these messages any time.", "format": "checkbox", "optInValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "smsHiddenConsent": false}}, {"conditionallyRendered": true, "hidden": false, "label": "GDPR Marketing Consent \u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00aa\u00f0\u009f\u0087\u00ba- EDD", "mountPoint": 1, "name": "lead_share_opt_in", "required": true, "type": 8, "value": {"disclaimer": "This personal data is collected and processed by [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc.[link--], USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner.", "leadShareOptIn": {"email": "Please email me about these educational programs.", "leadShareValue": "USC-MAT Marketing", "phone": "", "sms": "", "text": "USC Rossier\u0027s technology partner, [--link:https://2u.com/ target:blank]2U, Inc., and its family of companies[link--], work with multiple universities to offer educational programs in education and other fields."}, "retailOptIn": {"email": "Email", "phone": "Phone", "sms": "", "text": "Yes, I want to receive additional information about the USC Rossier EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership. Please contact me via:"}}}, {"hidden": false, "mountPoint": 2, "name": "", "type": 7, "value": {"text": "Your personal data will be used as described in our [--link:https://rossieronline.usc.edu/legal/privacy-policy/ target:blank]privacy policy[link--]. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time."}}], "grouping": "usc-mat", "id": 333, "published": "2019-10-08T16:50:44.243Z", "screens": [{"allFields": [20, 0], "conditional": {}, "out": {"1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14], "conditional": {"1": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "13": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}]], "14": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}]], "2": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}]], "3": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]]}, "out": {"2": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}, {"allFields": [6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 9, 11, 10, 12, 21, 22, 23], "conditional": {"10": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 7}]], "11": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"op": 7}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 8}]], "12": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "Master of Education in School Counseling"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 8}]], "16": [3, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "19": [1, "", [{"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}]], "21": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 7}]], "22": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 8}]], "9": [1, "", [{"data": "state.no_klondike_gdpr_only_consent"}, {"data": "true"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.no_klondike_carmen_sandiego_region"}, {"data": "eu"}, {"op": 1}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT"}, {"op": 0}, {"data": "state.degree"}, {"data": "MAT TESOL"}, {"op": 0}, {"op": 8}, {"op": 7}, {"op": 7}]]}, "out": {"-1": ["$next", [{"data": "$valid"}]]}}], "version": "1.0.1"}