Whether you are a recent graduate of a teacher preparation program or a veteran teacher looking for a new job, there are plenty of education opportunities in California. If you do a simple search online to find out what job openings exist in this state, you will undoubtedly find many positions for which you meet the qualifications. You can also search for teaching areas in which the school districts of the state are not able to hire enough highly qualified teachers to fill all the available positions. As in other states, there is a lack of qualified teachers for Mathematics, Science, Middle School, Reading and foreign languages. There are good job prospects for teachers in this area of the country.
To take advantage of the various education opportunities in California, you must either hold or be eligible to obtain a California Teaching certificate. There is a wide variety of teaching certificates, so you must ensure you have the proper credentials to obtain a position. You do need to hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited university and a diploma from a teacher preparation program. Many universities offer a conjoint program in which prospective teachers receive a Bachelor of Education in a particular field. This degree included the major course work in specific subject area as well as the courses required for teacher certification.
One of the education opportunities in California is the chance to become certified as an elementary teacher. Under this certificate you will be able to accept a position in any K-12 classroom and teach multiple subjects. If you complete your university training in California, you must take the appropriate state mandated tests to demonstrate competency in specific subject areas. You must also pass the RICA exam, which is the Reading Instruction Competence Test. You must also meet the requirements for developing English Language Skills in students by completing a comprehensive reading instruction course that deals with phonetics, decoding and learning to read, knowledge of literature and methods of assessing students in reading and writing. This course, along with courses in US Constitution and a foundational course in computer technology can be part of your university course list. If you don’t have these courses in college, you must complete them before you can apply for a teaching certificate.
After you receive your initial teaching certification, you are required to engage in other education opportunities in California. The initial certificate is valid for a five-year period. During the five years, you must take steps to obtain a certificate of clear standing. The school district that hires you will offer a Professional Induction Teacher Program and you are expected to take part in such a program. Once you complete this, your sponsor can recommend you for the next certificate level.
There are many education opportunities in California for teachers who wish to advance in their job and increase their credentials. Teachers with experience are encouraged to take part in the National Teacher Certification Program. There is federal funding available to help with some of the costs of this program and some of the school districts may offer incentives in the form of annual bonuses to teachers who complete the program. School districts also provide many professional development activities that can help you strengthen your teaching practice.
