So you want to be an (art) teacher?

Recently, a friend asked me about the various routes to becoming certified as a teacher. I sent a long email filled with links and then realized this might be something worth posting for the common good. Here is what I came up with.

I live and do most of my work in Pennsylvania, so some of this information is Pennsylvania specific. but there is a good site that describes the varying certification requirements state to state at http://education.uky.edu/AcadServ/content/50-states-certification-requirements.

Basic info. on teaching certification in PA
(from http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=90&Q=32511&g=140&teachingNav=|93|94|&teachingNav=|1904|)

“Pennsylvania considers the education of its children to be among the highest priorities of state government and has dedicated many resources toward that end. Educators prepare for their responsibilities in the schools of the Commonwealth by the completion of:

(1) state-approved teacher education programs including a student teaching or intern experience,

(2) Praxis I and Praxis II assessments and/or America Council Testing Foreign Language (ACTFL) and

(3) application materials documenting that all certificate requirements have been met. Those requirements have been raised significantly in recent years.”

From what I know, here are the options to complete the first part:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree in teaching from an accredited program. There are 93 programs in PA. They are listed here: http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=6&Q=32315&teachingNav=|540|&teachingNav=|93|102|.

2. Get a teaching certification after a bachelor’s degree by enrolling in a Teacher Intern program. The programs in PA that offer teacher intern credentialing is here: http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=6&q=32343.

3. Enroll in a MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) program. It is a master’s degree program that includes the student teaching experience. Lots of PA colleges offer masters degrees for those who are not previously certified.

Here are a list of schools in PA that do art. Those with an * offer post-bac certification. Many of these schools offer an MAT but that is not indicated on this list.

ART (K-12)

Albright College

Arcadia University*
Bucknell University

California University of Pa

Carlow University

Chatham College
Edinboro University of Pa

Holy Family University

Indiana University of Pa/Main
Keystone College

Kutztown University of Pa*

Lebanon Valley College
Lycoming College*

Mansfield University of Pa
Marywood University*

Mercyhurst College

Messiah College

Millersville University of Pa*

Moore College*
Moravian College/Theo Seminary

Pennsylvania State University/Main
Rosemont College

Saint Joseph’s University
Saint Vincent College

Seton Hill University

Shippensburg University
Temple University/Main*

University of the Arts (The)
Washington & Jefferson College

Waynesburg University

*Intern Program Approval

For a full list of teaching certifications in PA, visit: http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=22599&teachingNav=|93|94|

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