The Process of Teacher Certification
by Melony Brown
So you think you want to be a teacher? Great! Many don’t realize it takes much more than a desire to educate children to become a teacher. You must decide the age group you wish to teach – preschool age, elementary age, pre teen age, or teenagers – before you take your first class. Or you might be interested in teaching students with disabilities or students with higher intellectual abilities. Additionally, you must decide what subject area you are interested in teaching. There are 120 subject areas from which to choose from when deciding your area of specialty.
Before you begin taking the required classwork for a degree in education, you must take an exam that measures your basic academic skills. The Praxis I measures your basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. Each of the three sections is comprised of roughly 45 questions. The format is multiple-choice, with essay questions for the writing portion of the test. This pre-professional test determines if your academic skills are sufficient to become a teacher. You do not have to take all three sections of the Praxis I at the same time. For example, if you struggle with mathematics, take that portion by itself so you can focus on that subject matter.
The Praxis I test can be administered as a computer based test (CBT) or as a paper based test (PBT). Each testing site decides which form they will administer. Some sites may offer both forms. The testing is only administered in English. Some states allow exemptions for the Praxis I. The exemptions would be made for qualifying scores on the Math and Verbal sections of the Graduate Requisite Exam (GRE). Please visit your home state’s Praxis series information website to see if your state participates in the Praxis I exemption.
Once you pass the Praxis I and are admitted to the teaching program, you can begin taking education classes. Every class you take prepares you for the second part of the Praxis series: the Praxis II test. Therefore, be diligent with note-taking and save your notes, class handouts, and research materials in a binder. You will need a refresher of the material taught because some of the test questions will refer back to classes you took at the beginning of your education program. Education theories and specific knowledge of teaching skills are part of the Praxis II, as well as your chosen area of specialty. The Praxis II test you take will be based on your area of specialty, as well as the age group you wish to teach. It is important for you to visit www.ets.org to locate your state’s requirements.
Below are some tips for preparing for the Praxis II test:
- The Praxis II test is a paper based test (PBT) only.
- No electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, iPods) are permitted during testing.
- Graphing, scientific, or four-function calculators are allowed where permitted.
- If you are taking several areas of the Praxis II test, you may take each section individually. This allows you to study for one subject at a time.
- Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, with no penalty or subtraction of points for answering a question incorrectly. So, attempt as many questions as you can.
It is recommended that you visit www.ets.org to research your state’s requirements for the Praxis I and Praxis II tests. This site also provides excellent study guides and additional tips for successful testing. With a degree in hand and successful completion of the Praxis Series of certification tests, you are ready for your first day of teaching!
