New to Teaching? Here’s How to Get Certified While Working Full Time
| by Fayth Buriff
Teaching is a full-time job. With lesson planning, instruction time, grading, staff meetings, student feedback, and parent communications, it’s more than a full-time job.
If you’re already doing all that work — or working another full-time gig — how are you supposed to add in completing an Educator Preparation Program and earning your teaching certification?
The truth is, earning your certification while you’re working full-time is difficult. You’ll work hard and you may lose a little sleep. But the good news? It’s definitely doable. Thousands of Moreland University candidates have done it, and you can, too.
5 Tips for a Smooth Certification Process
#1 Choose a Flexible EPP
Because you’re working full-time and have so much on your plate already, you’ll want to choose an Educator Preparation Program that gives you control over your schedule. Asynchronous work may be more manageable than a traditional, set class schedule.
You’ll also want to think about the greater flexibility of the program you choose. For example, if you need to pause your EPP for a season, will your program let you do that? Is there flexibility on due dates if you’re in a particularly busy time at work or if you have a family emergency? It’s important to know exactly what will or won’t be allowed.
#2 Consider an Accelerated EPP
If you can jump in and get it done, I would recommend an accelerated EPP as well. Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can be completed in as little as 9 months. With a timeline like that, it’s easier to focus and buckle down, because you know it’s just for a short while.
#3 Look Online
If you’re working full-time Monday through Friday, an in-person EPP may be out of the question. You can get a great education online without having to worry about rigid class schedules or a commute.
Plus, the time you would have spent stuck in traffic, you can devote to your EPP work. Or, even better, you can take a well-earned break!
And if you’re an international educator, online EPPs can help you earn your U.S. teaching license without needing to travel to the states.
#4 Pay Attention to Your Start Date
See if you can accomplish part of your EPP in the summer, when you’ll have a break from your regular teaching duties. Moreland’s TEACH-NOW program has monthly start dates, so you can truly arrange your program timeline to your schedule and needs.
Some school districts offer a certain amount of EPP tuition coverage each year. Meaning, if you can split your program between two calendar years, you could get twice the support. Talk with your administrators about what benefits your school offers and take that into consideration as you choose your EPP.
#5 Find a Network
Finally, don’t try to do it alone! Teaching is hard. Earning your certification while working full-time is hard. Find a support network of other educators who can help you through the process. This could be a Facebook group, a Reddit community, teachers at your school who are also working toward certification — whatever makes the most sense for you.
If you choose Moreland for your EPP, you’ll join a small cohort of educators from around the world. In addition to the flexibility of an asynchronous program, you’ll have a one-hour, live virtual class each week. This time to come together, learn together, and connect with your faculty and cohort peers can help you feel more supported and less alone as you work toward your certification. These can be lifelong connections as well, as cohort members often stay in touch and continue to support each other throughout their careers.
Teachers are great at lifting each other up. It’s one of the biggest strengths of this profession, and I recommend taking full advantage.
Steps to Certification
Earning your teaching license can feel confusing or overwhelming at first, but if you break it down step by step, you can see exactly what moves you need to take and where to start.
The details vary state-by-state, but in general, you’ll follow these steps to earn your license:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree does not necessarily have to be in education.
- Complete a teacher preparation program.
- Pass the required certification exams, which vary based on the subject and grades you want to teach.
- Pass state and federal background checks.
- Upload your documents and apply for your license.
If you’re curious about the process in your specific state, use this interactive map to learn more.
If you’re anxious about choosing the best EPP, download our right-fit EPP guide. It breaks down what to look for in a teacher preparation program and how to find the best fit for your needs, interests, and goals.
TEACH-NOW Program: 9 Months to Certification
You could earn your teaching certification in as little as 9 months, while working full-time, through Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW program. TEACH-NOW is 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates. Here’s how it works:
- Apply for free (takes less than 15 minutes) and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.
- Choose your start date & class day/time. You’ll join a small cohort with educators from around the world. You’ll have a live virtual class once a week, and the rest of your work will be done in our online platform.
- Complete the program and earn your certification. It’s about a 12–15 hour commitment each week, 9 months total.
- Complete your clinical learning. The final 3 months of the program (included in the 9-month timeline) will be your student teaching. If you’re already teaching, this can be done in your current classroom. If you’re not in a classroom yet, we’ll help you find a qualifying placement.
Starting Your Journey
I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was in the 3rd grade, but it would be another 22 years before I went back to school to earn my teaching degree. I was running a natural-health business at the time, I had one small child and a second on the way, and I had essentially no free time. For the last portion of my teaching degree, I was working full-time as a paraprofessional, so I know firsthand how challenging it can be to balance everything.
But I also learned that with the right approach and program, it is absolutely possible. And it is 100% worth it, because there’s no better job in the world than that of “teacher.”
If you have questions or concerns or simply want to talk through the process, please reach out to us at Moreland University. We are more than happy to help.
If you want to learn more about a specific state’s process, use the link below (also here) to go to our interactive map.
