Teaching Certificate Programs

(found programs from 581 schools)

Below is a short selection of some of the accredited teaching certificate programs available. The full list for each state is accessible via the links at the very bottom of the page. "Teaching certificate" is a complicated term... so before you skip to the list of schools below, please let us help you make sure you’re in the right place. The following are the different things people typically mean when they say "teaching certificate":

1. Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs leading to certification - if this is what you’re looking for, then please take a look at our directory of Bachelors in Education Programs.

2. Alternative Certification / Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs - accelerated teacher education programs for people with Bachelors degrees in other subjects who want to become teachers, and get into a classroom as quickly as possible so they can work while pursuing their certification - if this is what you’re looking for, here they are: Alternative Teacher Certification Programs.

3. Add-On / Advanced / Graduate Certificate Programs for current teachers who want to gain professional (or additional) certification in specific subject areas - you’re in the right place. Please use the links below (and the States links on the left-hand side of the page) to find schools you’re interested in, and contact them to get more information.

Online Post-Graduate Certificate in Education Programs

If you're already in the classroom, and you want to expand your skill set and open up new professional doors, an online post-graduate certificate in education program might help you to reach your goals.

Also known as add-on certificates, these programs are designed for teachers who are already certified but want to become qualified to teach a new content area or grade level. For example, an elementary school teacher might pursue an add-on certificate to become qualified to teach high school, or a regular classroom teacher might become qualified to teach special education.

An add-on certificate program may also lead to a salary bump. Many school districts pay teachers more for a certain number of educational credits beyond a bachelor's or a master's degree. Check with your school district to find out if an online add-on certificate could boost your pay.

Because add-on certificate programs generally don't require student teaching, they're much more commonly offered online than some other types of education degrees, and you'll have a lot of options if you're considering pursuing one.

In deciding whether to pursue an online-only program, you'll want to consider your learning style. If you're self-motivated and learn well by combing through a textbook and participating in Web discussions, an online certificate program may be right for you. On the other hand, if you learn best when you're able to bounce ideas off your instructor and fellow students in person, then you may want to consider an on-campus degree.

Before committing to an online certificate program, do your research. Check with people you trust, such as administrators in your district, and ask if they think the online post-graduate education programs you're considering will help you reach your professional goals. Look around online, too. If former students say they felt well supported in a particular program, that may be a program you'll want to consider.

You may also want to take a look at our directory of post-Masters degree Educational Specialist programs. As a rule of thumb, you should contact multiple schools to compare them. There are significant differences between the programs in terms of cost, admissions requirements, and other characteristics. As with many things in life, the way to find the best Teacher Certification program is to spend some time shopping around.