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Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Teaching Certification Question
For you teachers out there I have a question.
I have my BA in History and want to get a Middle Grades Social Studies teaching license. I've applied to one MAT program, and two license only programs.
Just curious, how many of you got your license while earning your Bachelors degree and how many of you went back to school as a postbacc to get your license? Do any of you have a Grad degree?
Did any of you who went back posbacc have a hard time finding a job teaching? I know this is relative to your state and regional need, but I'm just trying to get a feel.
If you got a Graduate Degree did you find it easier to find employment?
Many thanks to you all! 
Re: Teaching Certification Question
28/100
LittleL 8/10/07
Baby E 11/27/10
Check out my makeup and reading blog:
Books and Beauty
In my area (Raleigh/Durham) there is a need for Middle School teachers and a surplus of HS teachers. The area is one of the fastest growing areas in the country and many hiring freezes for teachers have been lifted, so I'm not too worried about it.
I guess Im more worried about how Alt Cert is perceived more than anything. Especially when you come out you fall in the range of 0-2 years experience.
28/100
LittleL 8/10/07
Baby E 11/27/10
Check out my makeup and reading blog:
Books and Beauty
I graduated undergrad with 2 degrees- a BA in History and a BS in Political Science. I then went on to earned my MAT in a 12 month masters program. I've been teaching HS History for the past 5 years.
I lived in Massachusetts and here, you won't get hired unless you are in the process or of have completed your masters. It's the same way in most New England states.
If I didn't have my masters I would never have been hired. The only people who will get hired without a masters are physics or high level math teachers.
When I graduated with my BS I was license to teach biology & chemistry. When I went through my MAT program I was able to apply for a license in physics also. So I got different certificates each degree.
Around where I live/teach a Masters degree can be a hinderance to being hired because of the current salary schedules a teacher with a Masters degree costs more to hire. But some districts actually value experience and education over being "cheap". It really varies district to district in Ohio.
I got a Spanish teaching license/degree as an undergrad. I currently am working at a Spanish immersion school and completing my elementary license at the same time in a master's program. I will finish the license and then take the remaining few classes to complete my masters.
In MN most people complete all but a few credits of their masters and when they are tenured, they take the remaining credits.
I work at a charter, so I'm an at will employee and the tenure isn't a possiblity.
Social stuides is an area with basically no need for more teachers. Check your local teacher job market. Most schools are cutting teachers left and right.
GL!
It definitely depends where you are. In my area, there is hiring going on. I don't know that I'd say jobs are abundant, but my (elementary) school is hiring 4 or 5 new teachers for next year. I'm not sure if I know any teachers that don't have a master's; I know there are some, but someone with a masters is much more appealing.
I got a BA in a totally unrelated area, and while I was getting my master's I was able to network to find a position.
It really depends, like pp have mentioned. Elementary jobs are probably the hardest to find now, but if you plan to get endorsed in SpEd or ELL/ESL you can often increase your chances. My undergrad was in psychology but I decided to get my MEd in El. Ed. after working with a district for 4 years and then subbing. If not for the connections I had I don't think I would have gotten an interview, but that's not to say there wouldn't have been other options. It is risky, but if teaching is where your heart is you'll never know until you try. If this is your dream, follow it! It also helps to be flexible and know that it might take time finding a job, so if you can afford to sub or work elsewhere while looking that helps take the pressure off.