Becoming A Teacher

Teaching is a rewarding profession where you can make a difference in the lives of children, youth, families, and communities.

The high quality teacher preparation programs at the University of Delaware prepare candidates to become effective teachers in diverse settings. Candidates who want to become certified teachers need to either graduate from an approved teacher education degree program at the bachelor’s or master’s level or become certified in Delaware through an alternative routes pathway.

UD’s professional education unit is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The individual teacher education programs have received State Approved Program status and have been recognized by national specialty organizations as having met their standards.

Students who complete a UD state-approved educator preparation program, including achieving a passing score on all tests required by the State of Delaware for teacher certification at the time of their graduation, will receive the University’s institutional recommendation for teacher certification.

Institutional Recommendation is necessary to apply for certification in all states.

While UD’s teacher preparation programs are compatible with certification and licensing requirements in most states, students should  check with the Department of Education in the state(s) in which you might want to become eligible for certification to be sure your academic degree program meets those requirements.

Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Programs

The following table shows bachelor’s degree programs where candidates can become eligible for teacher certification. These programs would be appropriate for candidates who have not earned a bachelor’s degree.

Graduate Teacher Preparation Programs

The following table shows master’s degree programs where candidates can become eligible for teacher certification. These programs would be appropriate for candidates who already earned a bachelor’s degree.

Teacher Certification

The Office of Certification and Accreditation provides lots of information about certification. You can also check with the Department of Education in the state(s) in which you might want to become eligible for certification to be sure your academic degree program meets those requirements. Teacher licensure or certification is different in every state.

The professional education unit of the University of Delaware is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The individual teacher education programs have received State Approved Program status and have been recognized by national specialty organizations as having met their standards. Students who complete a University of Delaware state-approved educator preparation program, including achieving a passing score on all tests required by the State of Delaware for teacher certification at the time of their graduation, will receive the University’s institutional recommendation for teacher certification. Institutional Recommendation is necessary to apply for certification in all states.

Alternative Routes to Certification

Alternative Routes to Certification (ARTC) is for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in certain fields who are interested in entering the teaching profession. This pathway allows qualified individuals to earn teacher certification in Delaware in high needs areas while teaching full-time. They complete a state-approved set of professional education courses while teaching in their own classroom and receiving mentoring from university staff.

ARTC can help you earn a teaching certificate as:

• Teacher of a “Critical Need” or Another Selected Subject
• Teacher of Students with Special Needs
• School Library/Media Specialist
• Teacher of English Language Learners