About Teacher Training and Teacher Education

Before teachers can work with students they must be properly trained. Teachers attend an average of four to six years of school, but are always advancing by taking continuing education courses. Before obtaining their own classroom, most states require teachers to successfully pass an exam and hold a current teaching certificate.

Requirements

Elementary, middle school and high school teachers must possess a bachelor's degree at a minimum to teach in a public or private school setting. Many teachers have continued their education over the years and have earned master's degrees. In approximately 40 states, teachers are required to pass the Praxis examination in their subject area or areas before they are awarded their teaching certificate. Teachers gain the knowledge necessary to pass the Praxis examination through their education and student teaching experiences.

Courses Taken

Teachers will take a wide variety of courses during their first two years of college. Maintaining a high GPA and volunteering in local schools is advantageous to gaining admission to a teaching program. Once a teacher has been accepted into a teaching program, they will concentrate their studies on the process of educating others. Most programs are divided into two groups; one for those who are interested in elementary education and one for those who are pursuing high school education. Prospective teachers will complete a pre-autumn and student teaching experience to gain knowledge under the guidance of a seasoned teacher.

Continuing Education

Once a teacher is employed by a school district, most districts will require that he or she complete a certain amount of continuing education hours each school year. Teachers can obtain these hours by attending district seminars and training events. They may also enroll and participate in workshops held during the summer on certain topics of interest to gain hours. Meeting the districts minimum number of hours will ensure that the teacher's certification remains current and he or she is able to continue teaching. It is important that teachers are diligent in keeping track of their continuing education hours.