How to Become a Teacher in Washington State
Becoming a teacher can be one of the most rewarding decisions you could ever make. Teachers have the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of countless numbers of students throughout their career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teaching jobs should increase at a rate of about 13 percent from 2008 to 2018. Teachers must be licensed and certified in order to teach in their state of residence. In the state of Washington, licensing and certification falls under the governance of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
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Instructions
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Enroll in classes at an accredited Washington state college, university or community college. Complete your general education requirements during your first two years in college. Schools have differing general education requirements; if you attend community college your first two years of school, check to see if the courses you will be taking will transfer to the college or university where you plan on obtaining your degree. Washington state is home to numerous community colleges, some of which include the Seattle Community College District, Bellevue Community College, South Puget Sound Community College, Tacoma Community College, Olympic College and the Community Colleges of Spokane.
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Finish your bachelor's degree. This is the minimum education requirement to teach in the state of Washington. Decide what grade level you want to teach when you finish, because this will determine what degree program and certification you need to seek. Certifications are offered in elementary education or secondary education. You will need to complete a state-approved teacher education program in conjunction with your degree. For instance, if you decide to teach secondary math, you can pursue a degree in math and a secondary education certification to teach math. Washington has 21 colleges with state-approved teacher education programs. Some of these include the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Evergreen State College, University of Puget Sound, Gonzaga University and Antioch University.
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Complete your certification exams. In the state of Washington you must complete two certification exams to complete your credentialing as a teacher. The first exam is an educator skills test, which tests your basic knowledge of the teaching field and your knowledge of basic math, reading and writing that all teachers are expected to know. In Washington state, three different versions of the exam are accepted by the public instruction department. The second required exam is a subject-area exam that requires you to demonstrate your knowledge in the subject you plan to teach. You can obtain a single endorsement to teach elementary education, but secondary education is broken down by subject areas like history, math, science and English.
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References
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