To teach in a public school, teachers must be certified. Teachers are certified by completing a teacher preparation program – either a traditional program or an alternative program:

• Traditional Certification: Individuals can earn a Bachelor of Arts or Science that includes general education courses, a certification area focus, professional education, 180 hours of field experiences and one semester of student teaching or internship in a school.

• Alternative Routes to Certification: Individuals who have a Bachelor of Arts or Science without the required education courses and experiences can pursue one of three alternative routes to certification, including earning a master’s degree, completing a certification-only program or completing a practitioner teacher program.