How does one become a teacher in the US.?
Each state sets the basic standards for hiring new teachers. Most require you have a college “certification” in teaching. That means, besides earning your basic BA or BS degree, you must take about 15-18 hours of “education” courses, which include “history of education”, child psychology, teaching methods, curriculum design, and educational budgets. When districts are short on some teachers, like math or science, they are allowed to hire “probationary” staff with math or science degrees who have not earned their “teaching certification”. Principals will give you about two years to earn your state certificate by going to night or summer school. State certification also requires that you continually up-grade your skills by continuing to take college courses until you earn your master’s degree too. You will find, I believe, that teaching in USA is more difficult than Ireland, because of student attitudes, and more emphasis on teaching to tests and meeting local standards, rather than just
