VA teaching license

[Anonymous]

Considering becoming a teacher. What is the most cost effective and least time consuming path in obtaining a va teaching license for elementary?

Iteach? Career switcher program to one of those online schools?

I have bachelor’s (not in education).

Anyone do this before?

What is the monetary and time commitment?

Thanks all.

[Anonymous]

Yeah look into the online degree places like Western Governors University. No one cares where you get it. WGU have a very transparent pricing system, you can look at it here:

https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23226392315&gbraid=0AAAAAD9UfCApkkbeKFD5Eg1LXCUmYGWO0&gclid=CjwKCAiAt8bIBhBpEiwAzH1w6Z5E0hndH6P3I2KTza8ZH-ngsmSh3ECSk84VFfovb5Vu3FTgnbSkRBoC64EQAvD_BwE

If you’re looking for the CHEAPEST option: it is to find a job, have the county help you get a provisional license, and then work while you obtain your license. Beware though that usually if you go this route, you better prepare to stick through tough times. Jobs from this route are mostly in rough schools and tough grades (4th/5th grade). But if you make it through you can get a license and leave to find a better job afterwards. This takes about 1-2 years depending on the program you chose.

I would recommend just choosing the cheapest online school instead and get your license so you have a chance to get a better job. Elementary is not easy to teach, although I personally believe that the PreK/K/1st grade are the best grades to start out with if you have any interest in working with the primary grades. The students are overall very happy and excited about school at that age. The people who did this route subbed in the day for income (or worked as a TA) and then went to online school at night until they’re done and then they apply for a teaching job. The timeline depends on your program like the other.

[Anonymous]

There is no longer a teacher shortage except maybe in SPED, so consider carefully if you want to do this and compete with grads with an education background.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

Perhaps become a SPED teacher, get (provisional) license through school (perhaps even get reimbursed through county) and then can I go into gen ed? Is that feasible?

I sub at the same school and they see me enough but wonder if they will even consider me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the thoughtful response.

Perhaps become a SPED teacher, get (provisional) license through school (perhaps even get reimbursed through county) and then can I go into gen ed? Is that feasible?

I sub at the same school and they see me enough but wonder if they will even consider me.

Elementary is not an area you can test into. Elementary and Sped cannot be tested into, which means you are required to take courses to get those endorsements. Almost everything else you can, like ESL or Middle School Math, or Social Studies… it means if you have a teaching license you can take a test in another area and qualify to teach it that way. You don’t have to take any extra courses.

If you absolutely want elementary I would just do that. There are lots of jobs for elementary, may not be in the school you want or the grade you want and you may need to gain experience to get to where you want. Do not do Sped because there are more jobs - yes, there are more jobs but you won’t be happy.

I used to want to be a school counselor in college. I got told not to do it, due to very few jobs. There’s 2 counselors in an elementary school and tons need for classroom and sped teachers, it’s easier to get a teaching job. Many years later I have always regretted that choice. I moved up here and I didn’t see anyone have issues getting those jobs even when they weren’t teachers before. I was from a small town and the counselors I saw were former teachers who have relationships at that school (in other words, you need some kind of connections). It wasn’t like that here.

I’m fine with it now because I don’t want to spend more money to go back and complete a counseling degree…

Sped is not bad actually, if you choose the right field… I personally think certain positions are way better than classroom teaching. But if you have no interest in it then I don’t recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Consider Middle School. I know it sounds crazy but 7th and 8th graders are really wonderful most of the time. They will keep you laughing. Sure, you have a lot of kids, but you see each kid for an hour a day so every class period is like a fresh start.

[Anonymous]

If you’re not sure, please take time to do your research. Sub in a variety of classrooms see if it is right for your personality and your goals. You might go in and know “this is not what I want” and that’s fine. But at least see everything that’s out there before making a decision

Degrees are expensive and you don’t want to make a mistake with your endorsements, especially if this is your second career. It is a tough career but if you find the right place for yourself where you’re happy, it is a good job.

Consider everything: middle school, high school subject courses, CTE, ESL, Early Childhood Special Education, PreK, every grade, SLP, OT, TVI, deaf and hard of hearing teachers, counseling, psychology, social work, etc. Every job has its pros and cons but some jobs are better than others.

[Anonymous]

Why would you want to do this, seriously? It's miserable. You could do a hundred other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to do this, seriously? It's miserable. You could do a hundred other things.

Haha

I came back to teaching after being home with kids and after 5 years I wonder what I was thinking. What else could I have done instead? Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to do this, seriously? It's miserable. You could do a hundred other things.

Sadly, this.

[Anonymous]

If you get a master’s degree without any experience, be careful because you may be difficult to hire. Public eduction schools pay based on degree (mandatory), and principals may be wary to hire someone who costs a lot (10%+ more than a person with a BA) who does have experience. It happened to a friend of mine- but if you go into an area of high demand, it likely won’t be an issue.

Friend did WGU- pay structure is transparent and you can go at a fast pace if you have the time. Definitely sub first to get a feel for what’s right for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get a master’s degree without any experience, be careful because you may be difficult to hire. Public eduction schools pay based on degree (mandatory), and principals may be wary to hire someone who costs a lot (10%+ more than a person with a BA) who does have experience. It happened to a friend of mine- but if you go into an area of high demand, it likely won’t be an issue.

Friend did WGU- pay structure is transparent and you can go at a fast pace if you have the time. Definitely sub first to get a feel for what’s right for you.

Principal hiring decisions have nothing to do with cost of a teacher. They are allotted x positions and so can hire x people. They aren't given a salary budget.

Getting a masters degree will not make it any harder to be hired in FCPS or LCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you get a master’s degree without any experience, be careful because you may be difficult to hire. Public eduction schools pay based on degree (mandatory), and principals may be wary to hire someone who costs a lot (10%+ more than a person with a BA) who does have experience. It happened to a friend of mine- but if you go into an area of high demand, it likely won’t be an issue.

Friend did WGU- pay structure is transparent and you can go at a fast pace if you have the time. Definitely sub first to get a feel for what’s right for you.

Principal hiring decisions have nothing to do with cost of a teacher. They are allotted x positions and so can hire x people. They aren't given a salary budget.

Getting a masters degree will not make it any harder to be hired in FCPS or LCPS.

In states where a master's is eventually required and/or in huge school systems like FCPS this is not an issue. In tiny school systems with only one high school this can be a problem (or at least it used to be).