Colleges of education do not produce accomplished teachers. Rather, they produce individuals ready to begin teaching and perhaps become accomplished teachers. Graduation from a college of education does not guarantee ultimate success in a regular classroom. Any college graduate who can pass the state-mandated written tests and demonstrate at least rudimentary teaching ability should be granted an initial license to teach. Unfortunately, the requirements of the alternative-licensing routes can be irrelevant to the needs of the teacher, excessively demanding, or, paradoxically, not demanding enough.
Some plans require an individual to take many education courses while beginning to teach.
The last thing a beginning teacher needs is to be forced to take college courses while trying to cope with the rigors of teaching. Many prospective teachers will not subject themselves to the excessive requirements of some alternative-licensing plans. Those who begin the process often become discouraged and leave the profession. Some alternative plans permit individuals to begin teaching before they have passed one or more of the required state tests. In other words, they may be allowed to teach a subject without first demonstrating that they have mastered the subject or acquired basic pedagogical skills.