Maine Alternative Certification Programs

(found programs from 7 schools)

According to statistics from the National Center for Alternative Certification, only 20 percent of teachers in Maine receive their credentials via traditional education programs.

To help fill that shortage, the Maine Department of Education offers transcript analysis for individuals who wish to make a career change into teaching.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or higher from an approved college or university, appropriate content area course work, and passing scores on the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills exam.

Candidates who meet these requirements can apply for a conditional license. There's a catch, however. In order for a conditional certificate to be awarded, the school district must have actively sought to hire a regularly licensed teacher and been unable to do so.

If the Maine Department of Education determines a candidate is eligible for a conditional certificate, the candidate must then work through all the required elements for a full teaching license while teaching. This analysis determines what coursework deficiencies the candidate needs to amend.

Individuals can seek transcript analysis at all grade levels from pre-K through 12.

Additionally, some colleges and universities in Maine offer their own alternative teacher certification programs. For example, Husson University in Bangor offers four alternative certification programs targeted to career switchers. Programs are available for elementary education, secondary English, secondary life science, and secondary physical science.

Husson's classes focus on the skills that experienced professionals need to transition into teaching. All four programs include a student teaching internship. Students typically complete the programs in four semesters.