New Jersey: Teacher Credentialing in New Jersey

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Strayer University

Master
M.Ed.: Adult Education and Development, M.Ed.: Technology in Education
Cherry Hill, Willingboro, Lawrence Township, Piscataway

Strayer University, click here.
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Fox Institute of Business

Diploma
English as a Second Language
Clifton

Fox Institute of Business, click here.

In order to be able to teach in New Jersey, there is a set of guidelines that one will need to adhere to as set forth by the New Jersey Department of Education. Once you are able to meet the criteria that the state has set forth, you will be able to then go and teach at the level for which you have fulfilled the requirements.

Required Coursework

The bare minimum requirement to become a teacher in New Jersey will be to obtain a bachelor's degree. Depending on the field of education you would like to get involved in, there are other secondary education requirements that will need to be fulfilled to obtain the teaching certificate for your desired program.

Elementary Education

The bachelor's degree that is required will need to be in the field of liberal arts or at least 60 credit hours of liberal arts coursework in order to be an elementary school teacher. The New Jersey Department of Education will determine which classes will count as liberal arts and they must occur at an accredited four-year institution that is approved by the state in order for the credits to count towards receiving the teaching certificate. If you are looking to teach special education, you will need to fulfill these requirements plus an additional 15 credits in the field you will specialize in for special education.

Secondary English

To teach high school English, you will need to complete at least 30 credits at a four-year accredited and approved school. These must be credits that are sequential, with at least 12 of them occurring during junior and senior years at the college level. If the classes are completed at a community college level they must be transferred to a four-year program approved by the state.

Secondary Math

The requirements to be a high school math teacher are similar to English except the credits need to be a coherent sequence in math of 30 credits with at least 12 coming during junior and senior years while at the four-year approved institution.

Secondary History

The secondary education requirements for social studies again include 30 coherent credit hours at an approved four-year school. However, 15 of those hours will need to be in history including at least one course in American history and one course in world history. As before, at least 12 hours must occur during the junior and senior years.

Secondary Science

To teach science you will need to follow the same schedule as one would for math and English. Once these requirements have been met, you can apply to receive your teaching certificate in the state of New Jersey.

Alternative Certification

In order to become a teacher in New Jersey without going through the traditional routes, you will need to apply for a position. You will then need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to be able to teach and then you will need to fulfill all of the requirements as well as take the 24 hours of instruction to continue the application process.

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