How To Become A Certified Teacher | 4 Easy Steps

Teachers are highly influential people in a child’s life, often considered second parents outside the home. Teaching is a fulfilling profession where one can witness how children slowly grow into the person they want to be in the future. It is indeed a noble profession. 

Did you know that there are 85 million teachers all over the world? Studies show that the quality of the teacher directly affects the academic journey of the student. It is undeniable that teachers are one of the vital foundations of society and upholders of the next generation. Without them, children will not have the knowledge they deserve to have, civilization will not progress, and most importantly, people will not be able to unlock and hone the talents and skills they have inside. 

Choosing teaching as a career is not just rewarding but also makes students realize their dreams, develops them into a person that will be capable in the future, and teach them values that they need as they venture into the world or reality. Have you considered becoming a certified teacher? Perhaps you have what it takes to help young minds achieve academic success and prepare them for life.

Becoming a teacher is a long journey that requires much hard work, but seasoned educators will tell you that it is all worth it. We’re giving you a guide to becoming a certified teacher, but first, here’s an overview of the UK Education system.

An Overview Of The UK Education System: 

In the United Kingdom, an estimated 624,520 teachers are currently employed in the year 2022. There’s plenty of room to establish your teaching career there, and you can set your mind on teaching a certain level or age group. Their education system has four parts, namely: 

Primary Education

This is the beginning of every child’s school years in the UK. In this part of education, the age ranges from 5 to 11. Usually, primary education is divided into two subparts: the Infant (5 to 7 years old) and the Junior (7 to 11 years old). 

Secondary Education

1. ears 7 and 8 – These are the first two years in secondary education. A Common Entrance Exam is held to reach Year 9. 

2. Year 9 – This is one of the most critical years, for it is about transitioning from Junior School to Senior School. It can be considered a strong foundation for GCSE programs. 

Both years will take English, Maths, Sciences, Humanity, and Modern Language Subjects.

3. Year 10 and 11 – The last two years of secondary education. At the age of 14, students are already being taught subjects that will help them pass the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), which will happen after two years. 

Further Education

1. A Level Study

At 16, students in the UK are now allowed to take a 2-year program and 3-4 specialized subjects of their choice that will prepare them for A or Advanced Examinations.

2. International Baccalaureate (IB)

In this part, students will take six specialized subjects divided into two parts: three for Higher Level (HL) and three for the Standard Level (SL). They will also take examinations at the end of their courses on every subject they take. Also, you can order essay online and get a quality product written by professionals. It will make your life easier in your studies.

Higher Education

Students are expected to choose the vocational course that they wish to take. They have a variety of colleges they can choose from since all colleges are built to prepare students to pass UK universities/colleges. There are over 100 universities and colleges all over the UK offering various degree programs that are also open to the international student community. Teaching Higher Education in the UK exposes you to different cultures and backgrounds as well.

With the overview of the education system of the United Kingdom, people can say that with that kind of complex education system, capable and efficient teachers are needed the most. Despite the high number of people becoming a teacher, the process of becoming one is not that easy. Luckily, there are now programs and websites that can cater to people who want to be a teacher. 

4 Steps To Become A Certified Teacher

Anywhere in the world, aspiring educators must comply with rigorous testing to become certified teachers. For instance, in the US, Kathleen Jasper offers programs that include free resources and different varieties to help people get their certification to become certified teachers. This helps people achieve their dream teaching profession with ease. 

Qualifications and requirements differ from country to country and state to state. If you’re planning to be a certified teacher in the UK, we’ve compiled this step-by-step guide for you to get started.

1. Finish college and earn your bachelor’s degree. 

To be a certified teacher, one must complete a bachelor’s degree. This is one of the most qualifications needed to be a teacher. You can take Bachelor of Education (BEd) degrees or BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) degrees that include a teaching qualification as an undergraduate, or complete any bachelor’s degree and take Education in your postgraduate studies.

Completing these education degrees often give you experience in two schools and helps you meet the requirement to teach in the area you studied. However, one must note that a degree in education doesn’t always make you eligible for a teaching qualification.

After getting your degree, you must next acquire QTS.

2. Acquire Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) 

In the UK, it is a requirement to have Qualified Teacher Status to start teaching in schools. There are many undergraduate teacher training courses that can help aspiring teachers get their QTS. One can get this in an Initial Teacher Education (ITT) program at schools or universities. Usually, it will take more or less one year before one can acquire it. 

If, luckily, they pass the ITT and meet all the necessary standards, then it will be time that they will be granted QTS. Having QTS will guarantee the teachers that they are qualified and capable of teaching at any age range in schools like England and Wales. But if they desire to switch between age groups, they must prepare records or data to prove that they have the minimum experience needed to teach that age group efficiently. 

But as mentioned, different states have different requirements. Take, for instance, in Northern Ireland, to be a certified teacher; they need to finish an undergraduate Bachelor of Education (BEd) or a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

3. Have Experience In Teaching Through Student Teaching 

Before becoming a certified teacher, one must undergo an internship or student teaching. Student teaching is about letting you learn how to become a teacher by observing the class you’ll be assigned. At first, you must listen and follow as your mentor is doing the work as a teacher. 

The talks might sound so simple, but truth be told, this is the part where everything becomes tedious and stressful. After a few sessions of you observing, you’ll soon be the one to teach in front. 

Of course, the mentor will guide you as you go through your practice. This includes making class assessments, projects, and lesson plans, grading the student’s outputs, creating tests and worksheets, and other things certified teachers need to accomplish. In short, you will slowly take over your mentor’s duties. 

Through this experience, you will clearly understand firsthand how it feels to be a teacher. This is where all your learnings and knowledge in teaching will be put to the test. And since this will serve as your internship, once in a while, a supervisor will attend your class and observe your techniques and ways of teaching. They are the ones who will be grading your overall performance. 

This part will be the most nerve-racking experience that aspiring teachers will put themselves into. Even if they think they are ready to be a teacher, they cannot proceed if they fail the assessment, they cannot proceed. That is why this is the part where everyone needs to put their best foot forward. 

Creativity, strategy, capability to handle chaotic and emotional situations, and passion and dedication to being a teacher should be realized and seen by the supervisors. Things will indeed become stressful, but remember why you are in that position. Remember your goals and dreams, and lastly, believe in yourself. 

4. Have A Valid Teaching Certificate In The States That You Have Chosen

As mentioned earlier, the certification needed differs depending on the state they want to teach. The requirements you’ll be preparing must apply to the state you wish to pursue. Securing valid teaching certificates, by far, will be the last step in becoming a certified teacher. 

Usually, this will cover the applicant’s certificate of bachelor’s degree, their transcripts, clearances that will prove that the applicant does not have any records concerning their morals and other background checks, and lastly, a certification of passing a required examination. 

After securing the needed documents, the next thing they have to do is to apply for their license through the state department of education. Remember that your certificate must be approved because despite being hired, you are not allowed to teach if the higher-ups do not yet accept your certificate. 

Earning more than one certification would also benefit you because this will help you have more range and job opportunities. Remember to be certified in the areas and age groups you want to teach. But sometimes, this will also mean additional workloads and teaching. 

Becoming a Teacher – What to Expect

The journey of being a teacher does not end with finally getting certifications and licenses approved. Like students, teachers are also on a continuous adventure of finding knowledge and widening their learnings. Actually, it is recommended to maintain their certification by gradually enhancing their understanding of the new topics and changes in their field. 

Aside from that, their knowledge of their fields is not the only thing they need to improve. This will also include their ways of teaching, adaptability, leadership, and how they communicate to their students. After all, no one knows everything they should do on their first try. It is only natural for them to grow as they are exposed to different situations and consequences. But citizens who have a sworn responsibility to society should be accountable for their failures and flaws, for they are expected to be role models for students. 

They must remember that they have an image to uphold: to become a professional with dignity and enough respect for everyone around them. They should know their boundaries and the things they should be strict about. Friendship between the teachers and students is not encouraged, for this can affect their judgment and might cause favouritism in the class. That’s why boundaries are significant in the professional world. 

Teachers also need to uphold their duties as educators of the students. They should teach their students the proper knowledge and not distort any facts. Their opinions are valid, but being objective is one of the qualities a teacher should possess. Their personal takes on things should be evaluated and must not mix with anything that can cause chaos in the class. These are just some of the tasks of being a teacher should exercise and improve. 

Parting Thoughts

As mentioned, teachers are one of the essential pillars in strengthening culture and society. The value they have deserves much more appreciation, for they are the ones that hone and give the students the power of knowledge and learning. After all, the process they must go through to serve and share their expertise is complex, just like any other job. They are not only part of the foundation but also heroes of today and the future. 

If you’re planning on becoming a teacher, this guide is for you. Before you embark on the lengthy journey of getting your degree, racking up the needed experience, and getting all the necessary certifications, take a step back and mentally prepare. Acknowledge the rigorous process of becoming a teacher and get motivated to help shape the next generation.