Cheapest Online Teaching School – Save Money on Your Education
Consider the following scenario: You begin your class, and the pupils are immediately engrossed in the subject matter.
They wrap up the class, and the students file out, leaving the room tidy and orderly.
You leave with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that you were able to deliver a class that was both educational and enjoyable. Your students adore you, and you adore them.
In today’s culture, teaching is one of the most vital jobs. Children require positive role models as well as assistance in learning and development.
Teachers are at the heart of the educational system, and they play a critical role in our children’s education. They must be certified in order to do so.
Your Path to Becoming an Educator
Let’s speak about the different types of certifications before we get into how to save money on your teaching certification.
There are four different types of teaching certifications available:
- Initial Certification — Also known as an entry-level certification, this type of certification is for those who have not yet completed a teacher education program. This is the first step in your path to becoming an educator.
- Provisional Certification — This type of certification is for those who have completed a teacher education program but have not yet passed all the required exams. In order to be eligible for this type of certification, you must complete all the requirements within five years.
- Standard Certification — This is the most common type of teaching certification and is required in most states. To be eligible for this type of certification, you must have a bachelor’s degree, complete a teacher education program, and pass all the required exams.
- Professional Certification — This is the highest level of certification and is reserved for those who have been teaching for a certain number of years. In order to be eligible for this type of certification, you must have a master’s degree, complete a teacher education program, and pass all the required exams.
To begin your career as a teacher, you must first determine which form of certification is appropriate for you. If you’re just getting started, introductory certification programs are a good place to start.
These are usually less expensive and faster than finishing a comprehensive teacher education program, but they limit what you can teach.
The next stage is to get a job once you obtain your certification.
The best approach to do this is to go to the website of your state’s department of education.
They’ll have a list of all the teaching vacancies that are available in your state.
Another option is to look for employment openings on the websites of local school systems.
Frequently, they will also publish employment openings on their website.
You can also look at websites like Teach Away or Education America, which specialize in teaching opportunities.
The next step is to apply once you’ve located a few available positions that you’re interested in.
You may usually do this immediately on the school’s website.
The final step in the process is to interview for the position. This is your chance to sell yourself and show why you would be the best candidate for the job.
Preparing for Your Interview
Practice is the most effective strategy to prepare for your interview.
This can be accomplished via role-playing with a friend or family member, or even by videotaping yourself.
Researching the school district and the individual school you will be interviewing for is another approach to prepare.
You’ll be able to adapt your responses to what they’re searching for in a candidate in this way.
You’ll be well on your way to becoming an educator if you follow these instructions.
In addition, by taking the cheapest route feasible, you will save a significant amount of money.
Let’s look at some of the cheapest online teaching certificates now that you know how to become a teacher.
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The 5 Cheapest Online Teaching Certifications
There are several options for becoming certified to teach online. The most cost-effective option is to enroll in an accredited online teaching program.
Make sure the program is approved by either the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).
St. Petersburg College in Florida offers an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree.
It focuses on early childhood development, making it ideal for anyone who wants to work with children.
It just takes two years to get an associate’s degree. It is also one of the most affordable online teaching certification programs available, costing only $111 per credit hour (for Florida residents).
It’s not only inexpensive, but it’s also a well-known program.
Another option is to enroll in a state-approved online teaching program.
These programs are usually less expensive than those authorized by NCATE or TEAC, but they may not be as well known.
1. Early Childhood Education at St. Petersburg College, Florida
Whatever path you choose, make sure you complete your homework so you can be confident you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Let’s get started on our list without further ado.
In fact, it is approved by the Florida’s Department of Education, which is one of the most stringent departments in the country.
You can get a certificate by specializing in one of 3 areas within the program:
- Early child development certificate — This is aimed at those who want to teach kids aged 0 to 4. You’ll work in close contact with the kids’ families to ensure their development is on track.
- Infant and toddler specialization certificate — This is perfect for those who want to work as a preschool or Head Start teacher.
- Preschool specialization certificate — As the name suggests, this certificate is for those who want to teach preschool.
For local students, tuition is quite reasonable (those who live in Florida). Tuition is expected to cost roughly $2,700 per year.
If you’re a domestic student, however, your tuition fees will skyrocket.
If you don’t live in Florida, you’ll have to pay roughly $10,000 in tuition per year.
2. Bachelor of Arts in Special Ed and Elementary Ed. (Dual Licensure) at Western Governors University, Utah
This is a dual-licensure program that allows you to teach both special education and elementary school.
Unlike most programs, which need you to complete two different ones, this one allows you to complete everything in one sitting.
As a result, it’s ideal for people who wish to become certified as soon as feasible.
You’ll learn how to teach children with special needs as well as how to differentiate training for different types of learners in this class. Practicums and student teaching will also provide you with teaching experience.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), a regional accreditation authority, has granted the program accreditation.
WGU is unique among universities in that it employs a competency-based learning approach.
That is, rather than completing a defined amount of credit hours, you proceed through the program by demonstrating mastery of the topic.
As a result, the price of the program fluctuates according to how long it takes you to finish it.
The average student takes 36 months to complete the degree, which costs roughly $22,000.
If you’re a quick learner who can complete the program in a year, your total fees will be roughly $13,500.
The curriculum takes around four years to finish and costs $7,452 every six-month term.
If you take the entire four years to complete the program, you’ll only have to pay roughly $29,808 in total for your degree.
So there you have it: three low-cost online teaching certification programs to assist you cut costs on your education. Make sure you’ve done your homework.
While that may sound like a lot, it’s actually quite cheap compared to other programs. In fact, most programs would easily cost you over $30,000 for the same kind of education.
3. Early Childhood Elementary Education at Granite State College, New Hampshire
Granite State College in New Hampshire offers this bachelor of science (B.S.) degree.
This curriculum, like the one at St. Petersburg College, focuses on early childhood education.
This program, on the other hand, is a little more thorough because it also includes primary education.
This makes sense because the degree is a bachelor’s degree, which takes four years to accomplish.
This implies that once you’ve completed the program, you’ll be able to teach children ages 0 to 12.
It is also approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education, just like the program at St. Petersburg College.
The program also offers a non-certification option that focuses on coursework for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: If you want to become a teacher, go for the certified path. The other one is not going to lead to a teaching job.
The tuition is $314 per credit hour for New Hampshire residents and $370 for out-of-state students. This makes the yearly cost of the program around $7,791 for in-state students and $9,015 for out-of-state students.
One thing to note is that this program is only available online. So if you’re looking for an in-person program, this isn’t the one for you.
4. Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Fort Hays State University, Kansas
The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Fort Hays State University is a four-year degree that prepares you to teach children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has accredited the program, and the Kansas State Department of Education has approved it.
It also adheres to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education’s criteria (NCATE).
Kansas students pay $5,443 in tuition. Students enrolled in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) pay $7,517 every semester.
Out-of-state students without the MSEP pay $15,890 per semester.
This means that you’ll likely pay between $21,886 and $33,348 for the entire program, depending on your state of residence.
5. Elementary Education at Valley City State University, North Dakota
This is a bachelor’s degree program that will prepare you to teach kids in p-12 classrooms—so everything from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
This degree will give you all the necessary tools to be an effective teacher. From planning lessons to implementing a study plan that gets your students going.
VCSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); and approved by the State of North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB).
Tuition for North Dakota residents is $6,364 per semester. Out-of-state residents pay $11,137 per semester.
So if you’re an out-of-state student, you’re looking at $44,500 for the entire program. Add a $1,800 fee for access to technological stuff, and you’ll see it’s out-of-reach for domestic residents.
However, there are numerous states that get access to cheaper tuition compared to the domestic one. It’s not as affordable as local North Dakotans, but it’s still decent. Check this page to see if your state is listed among those who enjoy cheaper tuition.
These are just a few of the programs available to you if you want to become a certified teacher without breaking the bank. With a
An Alternative Way to become a Teacher
There were times when the U.S. had a teacher shortage. And when there aren’t enough teachers, the nation as a whole suffers. You want kids to have the best education possible, so they can grow up to be productive citizens.
But what if you don’t want to go back to school for four years? What if you can’t afford it?
Fortunately, there is another way to do it. But you’ll need to already have at least a bachelor’s degree.
First off, make sure to pick a program certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The NBPTS is “the gold standard” for teacher certification, and it’s recognized by all 50 states.
Then, contact a school district with a teacher shortage. Get them to request to have you as an emergency teacher to weather the shortage. You’ll have to pass a criminal background check and take a few tests at this point.
But if you’re hired, you’ll be able to teach. And, depending on the circumstances, you might be able to turn your temporary emergency certificate into a permanent one.
Note: Not all states allow you to turn a temporary certificate into a permanent one. In these cases, when your certificate expires you’re out of luck.
So, if you want to become a certified teacher without going back to school full-time, this is the best way to do it.
Another thing to be mindful of is the Praxis exam.
The Praxis Exam
Some programs will also require you to take the Praxis exams. These are tests that measure your knowledge and skills in specific subject areas. You’ll need to pass these exams before you can get your teaching certification.
The cost of the Praxis exams varies, but it’s usually around $150 per exam. You may be able to get a discount if you’re a member of an organization like the National Education Association (NEA) or the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Once you’ve passed the Praxis exams, you’ll need to apply for your teaching certification. The cost of the application varies from state to state, but it’s usually around $100.
And that’s it! Once you’ve gone through the alternative certification program and gotten your teaching certification, you’ll be ready to start your career as a teacher.
Conclusions
These are just a handful of the cost-effective options to obtain your teaching certification.
You should be able to select a program that is perfect for you with a little research.
You must be sure that teaching is what you want to do with your life before enrolling in any of these programs.
It’s a difficult job that isn’t for everyone. It’s also critical for the well-being of society.
This is especially true if you choose a career line that requires you to work with children.
Their minds are flexible, and if you do your job properly, you can give them a perspective that will lead to a life of intellectual richness.
