How a U.S. Teaching License Unlocked Worldwide Opportunities for David Wilson
| by Alex Skov
David Wilson teaches biology and environmental systems and societies (ESS) as part of an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students in grades 11 and 12 in Indonesia, as well as leading Australian curriculum science classes for grade levels 7 and 10.
But Wilson’s path to securing a position at a top-tier international school wasn’t straightforward. Over the past 13 years, it’s taken him from Ghana to Vietnam before leading him to Jakarta. Like many talented educators from countries outside of Europe and North America, he faced a significant barrier.
“When you research into international education, you realize that for most international schools, if not all of them, they require that a candidate possess a teaching license or credential from a Western country,” Wilson said. “I’m from Ghana and I use a Ghanaian passport to travel wherever I go, so without a teaching license from any of these Western countries, it’s been very difficult getting a real international school job.”
Starting (and Pausing) the Journey to a U.S. Teaching Credential
Like any truly resilient and committed educator, Wilson found a solution to the issue facing his career. After more research, he learned that he could earn a U.S. teaching license entirely online through Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program.
Knowing that this credential could open doors to more teaching opportunities of better quality around the world, Wilson enrolled and started coursework in 2022.
While TEACH-NOW can be completed in as little as 9 months, Wilson briefly paused his program during the summer of 2023 to celebrate the birth of his child and focus on his family. After taking a few months to adjust to the new normal, though, Wilson resumed his studies that September, noting that the program’s flexibility allowed him to balance his family commitments with his professional goals.
“My Moreland advisor and the instructors were very understanding,” he said. “I was given the time off studies to prepare for my baby, and after the baby came and I was prepared to continue, I came back and completed the program.”
When Wilson completed TEACH-NOW in May 2024, he not only earned his U.S. teaching license with a subject area endorsement for secondary science, but he also finished the coursework for a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) that included a specialization in educational technology.
With these new credentials on his resume and more than 10 years of teaching experience to that point, Wilson was able to secure his current position at a reputable international school in Jakarta just 3 months later.
Lessons from Moreland University
In earning a credential and a master’s degree, Wilson gained practical skills and experience with tools that transformed his teaching practice. In particular, the virtual classroom experiences and Zoom meetings helped him acclimate to remote learning environments and connected him with faculty members and cohort peers from around the world.
“You get to learn so many things from your instructors and your colleagues. I’m currently using some tools here which I discovered during the VCs [virtual classrooms] in my Moreland program and it’s been very, very helpful,” Wilson said. “You get to learn so many tools, you get to learn so many techniques and skills, and more importantly, you get to meet so many people that could eventually become your lifelong career connections that will create so many opportunities for you in the future.”
One tool Wilson discovered during his Moreland program proved so valuable that he applied to facilitate a session about it at the IB Dunia Teacher Conference in Indonesia, which took place in November 2025.
“It’s a very helpful tool. It saves teachers a lot of time in lesson planning, in differentiation, and creating worksheets,” Wilson shared, “and I wouldn’t have known [about] this if I’d not gone through the Moreland.”
View this post on Instagram
Wilson’s proactive approach to sharing his knowledge with fellow educators mirrors his initiative when it comes to career growth, as he continues seeking out professional development opportunities, including taking PD courses through Moreland.
“Professional development is always very important for teachers because first off, it will help you grow as a teacher because you get to learn new ways or you get to learn better ways of doing your job,” Wilson explained. “Secondly, when you have professional development certificates on your CV, it demonstrates to your potential employers or future employers that you’re a teacher who is dedicated to lifelong learning and you’ll be able to motivate their students once you are given the opportunity.”
Wilson also noted that completing qualifying professional development courses and earning continuing education units (CEUs) can help him and other international teachers meet renewal requirements for their U.S. teaching licenses.
Advice for Building a Successful International Teaching Career
With over a decade of professional experience, Wilson has valuable lessons for other teachers pursuing international opportunities. He emphasizes that in addition to earning credentials and developing expertise in their subject areas, teachers also need polished soft skills to succeed and build thriving careers.
“The best trait any teacher can have is the ability to live with people peacefully and in a very professional way, especially with the students [because] as a teacher, if your students have the impression that you like them and they also like you, it makes your lessons very easy,” Wilson said, “so I think developing the characteristic of living cordially with people, just being nice to anyone you meet, it goes a long way.”
Wilson also recommends that aspiring international teachers research which credentials are respected in the countries where they want to work and that they start applying for positions several months before a school’s academic year begins to allow adequate time for visa processing and other relocation documentation to become official.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
Wilson’s certification and master’s degree from Moreland University have positioned him for continued career growth as he continues exploring additional specialized certifications and programs to further solidify his resume and position himself for potential leadership roles in the future. Beyond that, though, what is his key to succeeding in the international education landscape?
“Confidence is very important. You need to be very confident wherever you find yourself,” Wilson said, “and I need teachers to understand that being confident or courageous doesn’t mean that you have no fear. It only means that you are acting in spite of the fear. Of course, you’ll be acting with wisdom, you’ll be taking very calculated risks, but whatever it is, confidence and humility will take you places.”
Explore strategies for developing your confidence as an educator by watching the on-demand webinar Build Teacher Confidence and Overcome Impostor Syndrome and downloading the Daily Confidence Habits Tracker for Teachers. Both resources are free!
If you’re an international teacher looking to expand your career opportunities, earning a U.S. teaching credential through Moreland University could be your pathway to top-tier positions. Our 9-month, 100% online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is designed to provide flexibility for busy adults as well as affordable tuition and payment plan options so you can learn alongside educators from around the world.
