Minnesota State Teacher Certification
Teaching is a noble profession, focusing on the education and betterment of young people. It is also well-known for being one of the more secure jobs a person can find. Becoming a teacher in Minnesota requires not only a good education but a teacher's license or certification before you can even apply for teaching positions in the state.
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Required Education
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The state of Minnesota requires teacher license applicants to have at least a bachelors degree. Minnesota does not require a specific field of study for the bachelors degree as some other states do, but simply a four-year degree. Also, the state does not have any specific requirements regarding undergraduate credit for education training or experience as some other states like Montana do.
Certification Process
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To become certified, a potential teacher must enroll in an approved certification program. Most of these programs provide a mix of teaching philosophy and training along with in-class student teaching as fieldwork. The purpose of these programs is to instill in potential teachers the skills and knowledge necessary to form effective lesson plans, understand and execute exams that reveal the students' understanding on the subject and the ability to adjust lessons as necessary to reach the students.
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Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations
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After completing the certification program, a potential Minnesota teacher must pass the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE) for their chosen area. The MTLE contains a series of subjects and only specific-subject tests must be taken and passed according to the focus of the potential teacher. For example, a future eighth grade math teacher will need to take the Basic Skills, Pedagogy and Middle Level Mathematics exams while an elementary school teacher will take the Basic Skills, Pedagogy and the three Elementary Education exams.
Salary and Benefits
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Once the teacher has passed the required MTLEs, they are eligible to apply for teaching positions in the state of Minnesota. According to certificationmap.com, teachers in Minnesota, in the 2009-2010 academic year, received an average salary of $47,000 to $48,000 with health benefits and the solidarity of the Education Minnesota teachers union. They can expect 15 weeks of vacation per year as well as tenure after three years of continuous employment at a school.
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References
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- Photo Credit lecture hall image by GeoM from Fotolia.com
