Teaching programs give you the opportunity to practice key teaching skills, preparing you to enter the field as a capable educator. While your degree is the first major step towards becoming a full-time teacher, it is not the last. These are the steps you should take after graduating to become a certified teacher.
Getting an Institutional Recommendation
After you officially graduate, your next step in the process of becoming a certified teacher is getting an institutional recommendation from the BYU-I certification office. This means that BYU-I can vouch that you completed the necessary steps of the program, like student teaching, certain exams, and important courses and are eligible to become a teacher. The school will issue recommendations for Idaho or any other state for two years after student teaching. After those two years, requests will need to be reviewed to make sure they still meet current education requirements, and any unfulfilled requirements will need to be met.
Apply for a Certificate
Your application will look different depending on which state you want to teach in. Usually, you will fill out a form, complete a background check, send any needed test scores, and complete any other requirements from the state education board. This is also where you will have BYU-I send your recommendation. There is usually a fee as well. Check state regulations closely to ensure you have completed each necessary part of the application.
Applying in Idaho vs. Another State
Both processes are very similar, but because every state has different educator licensure rules it is good to be prepared for the differences. Here is the breakdown of what makes these two paths different:
Applying in Idaho
Because BYU-I is an approved educator program by the Idaho Department of Education, their courses are built with Idaho certification in mind. Everything from required Praxis tests to student teaching are designed for easy application to the Idaho Department of Education’s standards, meaning there are often fewer surprises while you are applying.
Graduates getting certified in Idaho may also have more connections to jobs through the university and the schools they student taught at.
It is also important to note that it is often easier for students to first get certified in Idaho after graduation and then apply for reciprocity in other states.
Applying in Other States
Other states will have different requirements from Idaho, so there might not be as smooth of a transition. It is possible that you will have to take state-specified or local law tests, or additional background checks to get certified. It might take longer to become certified as well. This also depends on the state and their education system, so do your research beforehand.
Of course, there could be many other factors that go into this decision. The ultimate factor is where you want to work for the foreseeable future, but it is important to be prepared for the application process.
Reciprocity
Life changes. If you decide you want to move states in the future, reciprocity is key to having a smooth transition to teaching in a new state.
Teacher license reciprocity is an agreement between states that allows teachers to transfer their qualifications from one state to another. If you decide to move states and still want to teach, check your new state’s qualifications and see what you need to complete before submitting documentation. Having reciprocity doesn’t mean that you will get automatically accepted, and you might have to take state-required exams before being approved.
If you move while you are waiting for your application to be processed, many states allow you to teach on a provisional license.
Conclusion
The process between graduation and certification is straightforward once you know the steps and are aware of what problems might come up. The most important step forward is knowing what the regulations are for the state you wish to teach in, and how to apply your major effectively.
Citations
https://www.byui.edu/student-teaching-services/certification
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/about-us/departments/educator-certification/be-an-educator/#details-college-university
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/about-us/departments/educator-certification/apply-for-educator-certification/initial-certificate-for-idaho-graduates/#details-required-documents-and-fees
https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/idaho-tests.html