States report a total of 117 programs now available for persons who already have a bachelors degree and want to become licensed to teach. It is estimated that more than 75,000 persons have been licensed through such state-run programs. Thousands more are being licensed to teach who are participating in college alternative teacher preparation programs. To understand how alternative teacher certification evolved, it is necessary to understand the process by which individuals become licensed to teach in the United States. The authority for licensing teachers lies within each state in the United States.
Some states require passing different tests and differing lengths of time spent student teaching.
Some require observation in schools before student teaching. Others have added internships. The terminology used for various types of teaching licenses is terribly confusing. There are 30 different titles used for the initial teaching certificates, and more than 50 titles used for the second stage teaching certificates throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In an effort to simplify the process, alternative teacher certification has evolved as a respectable and sensible route for licensing teachers and has spawned many new programs that provide excellent preparation and training for a career in teaching.