Online Secondary English Teacher Certification and Certificate Programs

Most secondary school teachers provide instruction in one subject for students in grades 6-12. Aspiring middle or high school teachers who are pursuing, or already hold, a bachelor's degree in English can earn a teaching certificate at online schools in several states, which may be used to gain teaching certification in other states with reciprocity agreements.

Overview of Online Secondary English Teacher Certificate Programs

Several online post-baccalaureate secondary school teaching certificate programs allow students to specialize in secondary English education after demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of English through undergraduate coursework. Certificate program graduates are recommended for teaching certification in the school's home state.

Program Information and Requirements

Distance learners can earn a teaching certificate in 1-2 years. In addition to online classes, a semester-long student teaching practicum at a local school is required for the certificate programs. Some programs require on-campus visits, while others conduct all discussions via interactive Web boards.

Common Online Courses

Coursework prepares future teachers to pass state department of education exams for secondary English teachers. Students take content courses in reading, writing and English literature, as well as general teacher preparation classes in pedagogy.

Teaching English Course

Distance learners explore methods of teaching English to grades 6-12. They develop instructive language arts content with the goal of motivating and engaging multicultural classrooms.

Computers in the Classroom Course

Educators increasingly use computers for instruction and assignments. State standards for using technology in the classroom are reviewed and examples are given of computer lessons.

Literacy Course

Teachers provide instruction for a range of aptitudes in reading and writing. Theories and methods for evaluating and training types of learners are addressed.

Career Information for Graduates

English teachers work at public schools, private academies and as tutors. Private school teachers and tutors may not require certification in all states. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), the mean annual salary for secondary school teachers was $55,150 in 2009.

Continuing Education and Certification Information

Each state develops its own process for teacher certification; however, many states have reciprocal agreements to recognize the certificates earned through accredited schools in selected other states. Online teaching certificate programs are geared toward the certification requirements in the school's home state, but students can take an teaching certificate program through a school in the state where they intend to teach, or a state with reciprocal arrangements for recognizing teaching certificates.
State teaching licensing or certification usually requires a bachelor's degree in the content area, a certificate from an accredited school, a supervised teaching internship, qualifying scores on subject area competency exams and a clean federal and state criminal background check. Students who desire to continue in a master's in secondary education program can often transfer certification program coursework.