Music Teacher Certification Requirements

A music teacher needs to complete a series of steps to become nationally certified.

The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) has a national certification program for individuals who want to be a music teacher or college music professor. According to the MTNA, certified music teachers not only have the additional prestige of a national certification, but also have the potential to earn more money.

Teacher Requirements

The first step to become a nationally certified music teacher in vocal, piano, violin or flute is to complete and submit a certification application, including fees, to MTNA's headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Then, within a year of submitting the application, the teacher needs to submit five teacher profile projects. The first is a written explanation of his teaching philosophy. Next, the applicant analyzes four teaching pieces from MTNA, including historical background, theory analysis and teaching approach. For the the third project, the candidate submits a video of himself participating in three lessons with the same student on the same piece; he includes a self-evaluation of each lesson, a list of materials used during the lessons and a discussion of how he adapts lessons to a student's learning style, as well as a video of himself singing or playing for five to 10 minutes. In the fourth project, the candidate provides information on his teaching environment, including supporting documentation for three resources he uses in the studio or classroom. As the final project, the candidate discusses his business ethics or studio policies.

Professor Requirements

Part- and full-time professors also can become certified music teachers through MTNA's administrative verification process. The candidate must complete and submit a certification application to the association, according to MTNA's website. Then the the candidate receives an administrative verification form, which the candidate's dean or supervisor completes.

Notification

Teacher or professor candidates will receive written notification from the association when the certification process is successfully accomplished. The notification will include a certificate and guidelines for certification renewal. If the association evaluates a part of a music teacher candidate's project as insufficient, the certification will be deferred until the project is evaluated as acceptable, according to the association's website.

References

• Music Teachers National Association