Frequently Asked Questions
Before you can land a job as a teacher in a public school in the U.S. you must first become certified in the state you wish to teach in, this qualification is commonly referred to as a teaching certificate, teaching license, or teaching credential.
In Hawai’i, requirements are set by the Hawai’i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB). Like all states, teachers are required to hold a bachelor’s degree and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program from an accredited partner in order to qualify for the Hawai’i teacher certification through an alternative route.
Traditionally, teacher certification or licensure programs are provided in-person by colleges and universities in four-year degree or two-year post-baccalaureate formats. Alternative teacher certification programs, like TCP, are designed for aspiring educators, career changers and experienced educators without a teaching license to earn a teaching credential in a flexible and accelerated course delivery format while having the same learning outcomes of traditional certification or licensure programs.
Online teacher certification, often referred to as alternative teacher certification, provides an expedited pathway to teaching licensure in the U.S. for aspiring teachers who lack an education degree.
Alternative teacher certification was originally designed to prepare non-certified teachers to fill shortages in certain subject areas and geographical locations and to provide entry into the teaching profession for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any major looking to make a career in teaching.
Online teacher certification is quickly growing as a popular alternative to traditional teacher preparation programs. Unlike traditional teacher training programs, which generally consist of four to five years of full-time, intensive study, online teacher certification programs are easier to fit into a flexible lifestyle.
Becoming a certified U.S. teacher online is particularly popular among working professionals looking to accelerate their transition to teaching in the classroom, as programs can be completed in under a year.
Online teacher certification has now become a common way for teachers to enter the field. Today, one in five new teachers becomes a teacher in the U.S. through alternative means, including online state-approved teacher preparation programs.
Online teacher certification is also increasingly growing in popularity among U.S. citizens working as ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers overseas, who wish to gain employment as a certified teacher upon their return.
Teaching candidates who hold a U.S. teaching certification are in high demand at international schools that follow an American curriculum. As a result, you’ll likely qualify for some of the most competitive teaching positions at the world’s top international schools.
Online teaching certification programs, such as Teach Away’s Teacher Certification Program, allow participants to complete their coursework from anywhere in the world, making it an ideal option for aspiring teachers residing overseas looking to obtain a U.S. teaching credential in order to teach in the U.S. or abroad.
Yes! TCP is an approved education preparation program required for a full, regular renewable teaching license. It is not a temporary or alternative license.
Upon completion of the program, candidates are eligible to earn an Arizona or Hawai’i teaching license that is easily transferable to other parts of the U.S.
Teaching candidates who hold a U.S. teaching certification are in high demand at international schools that follow an American curriculum. As a result, you’ll likely qualify for some of the most competitive teaching positions at the world’s top international schools.
The TCP’s capacity for quality was recognized by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and is aligned with its standards. TCP has also been approved as a state-approved education preparation program by the Hawai’i Teacher Standards Board (HTSB).
The application process is simple. Just fill out the pre-qualification information on our website and one of our Course Advisors will be in touch with you within a few days. In the meantime, we’ll email you some more information about teacher certification and the documents you will need to collect and submit for admissions review.
The program can be completed in under a year but you have up to two years to complete the program and all requirements in their entirety. You must complete all components of TCP with a 3.0 GPA to graduate.
Our Hawai'i Teacher Certification Program will qualify you to teach in the state of Hawai’i. The licensure fields you may select through this program are Secondary Science (grades 6-12), Secondary Math (grades 6-12), Secondary English (grades 6-12), TESOL (grades K-6), and TESOL (grades 6-12).
Our Arizona Teacher Certification Program will qualify you to teach in the state of Arizona. The licensure fields you may select through this program are Elementary Education, K-8, Secondary Education, 6-12, or Mild to Moderate Disabilities Special Education, K-12. You may choose one of the following subject areas to specialize in: Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, English, French, Geography, General Science, German, History, Health, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Political, Science/American Government, Social Studies, or Spanish.
The online component (TCP Core) includes online coursework and field experiences. Over the course of approximately seven months, you will work through online coursework broken down over four core modules. Each module contains anywhere from 4-8 lessons released weekly which our advisors encourage you to dedicate anywhere from 15-20 hours per week to. The online coursework includes research and readings, video observations and submissions, discussions, and weekly assessments and evaluations. The field experiences are designed to enhance understanding and encourage the application of core work competencies. TCP Core must be completed over a seven month period and is delivered 100% online.
Klassroom's Teacher Preparation Coordinator will support you in securing either a student teaching placement in an experienced teacher’s classroom or provide the steps for you to be placed in the applicant pool to find a full-time teaching position under an emergency hire permit to meet the state’s requirement of 450-hours of placement in a classroom. The Preparation Coordinator will help you in deciding which route is best for you depending on your timing and preferences, facilitate in finding you a Cooperative Teacher or School Mentor, and provide tips and ideas for relocation if you are not a state resident.
To earn a Provisional or Standard Teaching License you must pass the state licensure exams in at least one of the following areas prior to beginning your Clinical Placement: Mathematics (6-12), Science (6-12), English Language Arts (6-12), Teaching English as a Second, Language (K-12). The test taken must match your licensure field.
Teacher license reciprocity allows candidates who hold an out-of-state license to earn a license in a receiving state. Please visit the Education Commission of the States website (https://www.ecs.org/teacher-license-reciprocity-state-profiles/) to confirm if this option is available for you.
Yes! TCP's Core Coursework is delivered online, so you can complete the curriculum from anywhere in the world. The clinical placement portion of the program can be completed at any school in the United States or at a U.S. International school.
*Active duty military and spouses/registered partners may complete their clinical placement in the location in which they are stationed, if approved by the TCP Clinical Placement Supervisor to meet program requirements
Yes! Teach Away has several payment options available for you to help you budget for your tuition. Please check with our Admissions Advisors to explore monthly installment plans, up-front payments, and down-payment options to secure your enrollment in the next cohort.
Upon enrolment with our Admissions Team, candidates will fulfill a $500 non-refundable deposit. Due to the online nature of this program, refunds will not be offered once the program commences. Our TCP team is here to support teacher candidates on their journey and every effort is made to help students complete the entire teacher certification program.
A master’s program usually can take anywhere from 2-4 years to complete. An alternative certification program is strictly a pathway to obtaining a teaching license in the state the program is offered. Alternative programs like TCP, can be completed in under one year at a fraction of the cost.
FYI: We’re excited to share an opportunity that TCP Hawai'i and Chaminade University have been able to create for you. As a Hawai'i TCP graduate, Chaminade local university in Hawai’i will waive up to 12 elective credits in recognition of the coursework and fieldwork that you have already completed with TCP. This means you can earn your Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in as little as one year as you only need to complete 18 more credits (that’s 6 three-credit classes)!