Preparing for a Fulfilling Career as an Educator
INTRODUCTION
Take a moment to think of your favorite teachers in elementary, middle, and high school. What about a teacher who inspired you to fall in love with a subject such as science, literature, or music? Maybe you had a teacher who made you feel special and valued. Think of the difference these educators made in your life. Perhaps you want to play that same role for other young minds.
Teaching isn’t just a job—it’s a vocation. It’s a career path that allows you to make a real impact on countless lives. But is this the vocation for you? Learn more about a career in education and how you can become a teacher, no matter your educational or professional background.
Chapter 1
What is a Teaching License?
Not sure whether a career in teaching is worth considering? Choosing a career is a deeply personal choice, and teaching isn’t for everyone. But if you’re considering becoming a teacher, there are some excellent reasons to follow your passion. Let’s look at five reasons you may want to pursue a teaching career.
1. Lasting Impact
As a teacher, you could make a long-term impact on countless students’ lives. By believing in your students, inspiring them, unlocking new knowledge, and instilling new skills, you can help them realize their potential. Some day, they’ll look back on their school years and think about how you helped shape them as a person and made school more enjoyable and meaningful.
2. Frequent Variety
In teaching, no two days are the same. Even if you teach the same material multiple years in a row, you can switch up your lesson plans or delivery methods to keep things fresh and find new, exciting ways to get through to students and make learning fun.
3. Ample Work Opportunities
At the outset of the 2022-23 school year, more than half of public schools reported feeling understaffed. As teachers retire or leave the field to pursue other careers, opportunities become available for people who are passionate about education to fill much-needed positions.
4. Professional Growth
The education field places a high priority on ongoing professional development. Teachers are lifelong learners committed to expanding their knowledge and refining their craft. If you want to work in a field that will continue to challenge you and encourage your professional growth, then teaching is a great fit.
5. Lasting Rewards
Teaching can be uniquely challenging, but it can also be uniquely rewarding. You can see firsthand the difference your work makes when a concept clicks for a student or as a student walks across the graduation stage, beaming. All of these moments can make your career feel more like a calling.
Chapter 2
What Do You Need to Be a Public School Teacher in Ohio?
The exact requirements to become a teacher differ from state to state, but all states require you to earn at least a bachelor’s degree to become a licensed teacher.
In Ohio, students are required to meet the following requirements:
1. Have a bachelor's degree
As with all other states, Ohio teachers must have a bachelor’s degree. As we’ll see, teachers must also have completed a state-approved teacher preparation program. This may coincide with their degree, but not always. A teacher’s bachelor’s degree may not need to be related to education if you get a master’s degree in teaching and use it as your pathway into the teaching profession.
2. Complete a state-approved educator preparation program
Not just any degree will qualify you to become a teacher in Ohio. You must complete a degree program the Ohio Department of Education recognizes as adequate preparation for teaching.
Education programs should be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Qualifying programs will give students training in areas such as pedagogy, classroom management, curriculum and lesson planning, subject-specific instruction, and more.
3. Pass specific teaching exams
After obtaining your degree, you need to demonstrate your expertise through a series of exams. By achieving a passing score on these exams, you’re one step closer to becoming a licensed teacher. In Ohio, all new educators are required to pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) exam. Depending on your area of licensure, you may also have to take a Praxis® test or a Language Testing International (LTI) language examination.
Instructors and academic advisors can ensure you know which exams you’ll need to pass to receive the specific teaching license you want to obtain.
4. Be cleared by a background check
Because teachers work with children, it’s crucial that these individuals are safe and trustworthy and will serve as positive role models. Fingerprinting and state and federal background checks ensure there is no criminal history that would disqualify you from working as a teacher.
5. Be cleared by a background check
After earning a degree from a qualifying teacher preparation program and successfully passing screenings and necessary exams, you’re ready to submit an application to the Ohio Department of Education to receive your licensure. You’ll fill out an application, pay a processing fee, and submit all the necessary documentation to show you’ve met the requirements for licensure listed above.
Chapter 3
How Do You Make a Career Change to Teaching?
Some people discover their passion for teaching later in life. Maybe you have led training at work and been told you have a knack for explaining concepts with ease. Or maybe you discovered that you love working with young kids and want to make a difference in their lives as an elementary school teacher. Whatever your reason for pursuing a career in teaching, you can make the switch at any time, no matter your educational or professional background.
If you earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to make a career change to become a teacher, you don’t have to start from scratch with a new bachelor’s degree program. Instead, you can build on your existing credentials and earn a master’s degree in teaching.
Earning your master’s degree takes about half the time of a bachelor’s program. For example, the Master of Arts in Education—Professional Educator's License program from MVNU Online can be completed in 22 months, including coursework and field experiences.
Once you've completed an approved educator preparation program, you can go through the other steps discussed above to obtain your teaching license.
Chapter 4
Should Current Teachers Consider Getting Their Graduate Degree?
Chapter 5
What Education Programs Are Available from MVNU Online?
If you want to become a teacher or further your education, you’ll need to determine which education program is right for you. At MVNU Online, the education programs are offered fully online with an in-person field component, allowing you to practice your skills and gain confidence in the classroom.
Options include:
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION — PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSE
Whichever licensure area you choose, you’ll study educational theory, instructional design, leadership and ethics, and more.
Depending on your educational background before starting the M.A.Ed—PEL program, you may be able to complete the 43-credit program in just 22 months.
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION — INTERVENTION SPECIALIST
If you’re interested in working with students with special learning needs, then you may want to pursue an Intervention Specialist license. MVNU Online offers programs for two distinct groups:
- Those looking to earn their initial licensure in special education.
- Current teachers who want to add a special education licensure.
Intervention specialists teach and work with a variety of students, putting their specialized knowledge to use to enhance the learning experience for students with individualized education plans (IEPs). Some responsibilities may include:
- Appropriately placing students in the right classes and learning environments for their needs.
- Creating and re-evaluating IEPs.
- Making adjustments to coursework to meet individual student needs.
- Making adjustments to coursework to meet individual student needs.
- Referring students to specialists as needed.
- Working one-on-one with students who are struggling academically.
The initial licensure program consists of 54 credit hours and can typically be completed in 27 months. The advanced licensure program (for those with a teaching certificate) consists of 30 core credit hours and can typically be completed in 18 months.
Upon completion of these programs, you’ll qualify for your Intervention Specialist for Mild/Moderate (ISM) Disabilities licensure from the state of Ohio. This license can open up a wealth of career opportunities, as there is a high demand for special education professionals throughout Ohio and beyond.
Take the Next Step in Your Educational Journey
If you want to become an Ohio teacher or expand your teaching qualifications, consider enrolling in one of our education programs at MVNU Online. Our asynchronous program structure allows you to balance your coursework with other responsibilities, such as working or caring for a family. Once you’ve completed your online coursework, you’ll be ready to practice your skills through field experience and earn your teaching license.
With frequent start dates for our programs, you don’t have to wait! Whether you want to get an online BA in Elementary Education degree or an MA in Education, you can start pursuing your dream now. It won’t be long before you make a positive impact on students in your community.
Not sure how to get started or what the enrollment process looks like? Explore our checklist, “What to Expect When Applying to MVNU Online”!