Widen Your Career Prospects Through A Masters In Education
A masters in education offers teachers increased credibility in their professions and gives them a competitive edge in the job market. Do you hope to become a principal, administrator, or a specialized expert within your field? Our robust M.Ed. programs will enhance your leadership abilities, train you on new approaches and technologies in both curriculum and the classroom, and help you develop effective programs that improve student outcomes. A masters degree in education can widen your job prospects and offer increased opportunities for success, whether youre looking to advance within a school setting or beyond the classroom.
Schools With Alternative And Masters Certification Programs In Virginia
Completing an alternative certification program that has been approved by the state is a critical step to ensure that you qualify for licensure. The following school-based alternative certification programs in Virginia typically lead to a certificate or masters degree and have been approved by the Virginia Department of Education .
- Averett University
- Christopher Newport University
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Emory & Henry College
- George Mason University
- Hampton University
- Hollins University
- James Madison University
- Longwood University
- Norfolk State University
- Old Dominion University
- Regent University
- Sweet Briar College
- University of Lynchburg
- University of Mary Washington
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia Wesleyan University
Career Opportunities In Specialty Fields
Career Switcher program Since 2012, the School of Education has delivered CS fully online and statewide. Approximately 64% of CS students get hired to teach each year at all grade levels in elementary and secondary schools. Research conducted in 2018 revealed that 84% of those employed were still teaching after 5-8 years, and their principals lauded they were their teaching as effective.
College of Arts & Sciences Teacher Education program For responding graduates seeking employment, 91% had full-time jobs while 9% had part-time jobs within four months of graduation. Graduates have been placed in a network of over 45 schools.
School of Law and Robertson School of Government Each of these graduate-level schools has its own career services office, with specialized internships, clerkships and job opportunities. Many RSG students benefit from a 0-credit Careers in Government course as well.
For the university overall, 57% of undergraduate students are employed prior to graduation. Among our graduate students, that number increases to 74%.
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Sharing The Journey Of Those Who Switched Careers
Regent Universitys School of Education has been offering Virginias Career Switchers program since 2004. Regents unique program allows students to earn graduate credit hours, and graduates can walk away with a Master of Education after taking just four additional classes.
Stories of the programs success, transformation and fulfillment continue to capture the interest of those considering the calling to become an educator. Dr. Mervyn Wighting is sharing a dozen of them in his new book, We Switched Careers.
I enjoyed writing the book, because it was like reliving the stories of the people Ive known over 10 years, said Wighting. The purpose of my book is to encourage others who may want to become a teacher. If they read it, they can identify with the characters, knowing that if he or she could do it, they can too.
The Regent graduates featured in the book come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including military service, music, engineering, entrepreneurship and ministry. The program has been offered online since 2010, and enables many people to transition their careers without an interruption.
It is unique because graduates bring to classrooms a subject knowledge, said Wighting. They bring experiences they had in life, and therefore make teaching more meaningful and relevant to children rather than the subject manner being in abstract.
Requirements For Alternative Certification
To be eligible for alternative teacher certification in Virginia, candidates typically must have at least a bachelors degree from a regionally accredited school. Other requirements vary based upon the route to licensure followed. These typically include passing state-mandated tests for educators and completing a formal, state-approved teacher preparation program.
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Testing Requirements For Virginia Alternative Certification
All educators in Virginia must pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment and the Praxis Content Assessment appropriate to the content area and grade level for which the candidate is seeking endorsement. You can read more about the required exams and minimum scores through the Virginia Department of Education.
Fcps To Host Virtual Career Switcher Information Session
Fairfax County Public Schools , the largest school system in Virginia, is hosting a Virtual Career Switcher Information Session on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. This event will give military veterans, community members, and anyone interested the opportunity to learn how to become a licensed Virginia teacher.
The information session will begin with presentations from the five approved Virginia Department of Education career switcher programs: Educate Virginia, Old Dominion University, Regent University, Shenandoah University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Troops to Teachers will also present their program offerings to military veteran attendees. There will also be an opportunity to conduct video chats with the FCPS human resources team and substitute office.
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Interested In Obtaining Your Virginia Teaching License Through An Accelerated Route
Some of the unique features to our program include:
- All face-to-face instruction
- A teaching practicum field experience in Phase I
- Methods of Instruction modules in your area of endorsement
The program was very thorough and I felt was well organized . . . I feel that I am fully prepared and confident to teach now. David C.
Short Links:
Email us at with Career Switcher program questions.
Program Overview
Application Information
Apply Now To The Career Switcher Program! Here are step-by-step guidelines for applying to Shenandoah Universitys Career Switcher Program:
STEP 1:
Advanced Tuition Deposit A non-refundable, $100 registration fee must be submitted with your Career Switcher application, as a limited number of slots are available each semester in the Career Switcher program. This deposit reserves a position for you in the next Career Switcher class. This deposit is applied towards your Career Switcher tuition, with the balance of tuition due at the time of registration. To complete the online registration form and pay $100 registration fee please select the term below for which you would like to register:
STEP 2:
Application Please complete the Career Switcher Program Application Form and mail it to: Shenandoah University Extended and Distance Education 1460 University Drive Winchester, VA 22601 You only need to submit these two documents to reserve a spot in an upcoming program. .
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
STEP 5:
State Reciprocity SARA
Application Timeline
Tuition
How To Get A Virginia Provisional Teaching License
While most teachers in Virginia become certified as part of a traditional, four-year degree program designed to prepare and license them, others take a different path. If you have a non-teaching degree and a substantial amount of professional, private experience and you want to share your life experiences with young students through teaching, consider applying for a provisional license so that you can teach while you fill in the gaps in your pedagogy training. You will face a different number of hoops to jump through in the process.
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Hopeful Educators Enroll In Career Switcher Program To Help With Teacher Shortage
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. Some schools in the area are starting the school year without enough teachers to fill classrooms. Now, one program is working to help fill those gaps.
Regent Universitys Career Switcher Program has been around for several years.
One recent graduate, John Pienkowski, is a former naval officer who went through the program in 2015.
Pienkowski now teaches Technology Education at Brandon Middle School in Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools started the school year 29 teachers short and Career Switcher is one of the programs looking to help fill those gaps.
It was always the question of what am I going to do when I grow up, when I get out of the military, said John Pienkowski. I felt the calling and I knew that this is what I wanted to do.
After spending 20 years as a surface warfare officer and ending his career as the commanding officer of the USS Mesa Verde, John Pienkowski decided it was time to make the switch from instructing sailors to teaching middle school science.
Mentoring young sailors and marines, thats what really propelled me into the direction of education, said Pienkowski.
Pienkowski says he felt the calling to go into education when he saw that many schools were struggling to fill teaching positions, so he enrolled in Regent Universitys Career Switcher Program.
He studied engineering at the naval academy and says the switch felt natural.
Learn more about the program HERE.
Earn Your Masters In Education To Enhance Student Lives While Advancing In Your Career
Are you an educator or current teacher with a bachelors degree-seeking to advance in the world of education? Or, perhaps you desire to change careers and dream of becoming a teacher, but you need initial licensure to teach to achieve your career switch. Either way, Regent Universitys Master of Education degree programs, endorsements, and options will help you further connect with your love for teaching, as you explore how to best guide and inspire future generations of students. Designed to deepen your understanding of both the power of knowledge and the importance of values-based education, our masters in education programs will enhance your reputation as a curricular leader and increase your earning potential, too.
So, why choose a masters degree in education? Whether youre new to the education field or this is your next step in your teaching career, an M.Ed. degree carries a host of professional benefits and will help you create engaging education environments that foster learning and maximize student impact. Check out the types of masters in education programs we offer including our Career Switcher Program for aspiring teachers with masters options to find the degree that fits your interest and career goals.
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Start Your Career Switcher Program
The Virginia Career Switcher program simplifies the process of becoming certified provisionally, as it helps you evaluate your prospects of teaching based on your existing degree and life experiences. Universities in Virginia that offer Career Switcher provisional license programs include Old Dominion University, Regent University, Shenandoah University and the community colleges participating in the Virginia Community College System program known as EducateVA. Contact your school’s Career Switcher department for further requirements and an application. This department will also help you set your course map for full licensure so that you will complete all requirements before your provisional license expires.
Make A Difference In A Specialized Area
Regents Master of Education degrees allow you to choose a specialized area of study that interests you the most, including degrees with concentrations. If youre seeking a teacher licensure, leadership role in administration, or an endorsement, our masters in education degrees will increase your skills and marketability.
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How Does Regent Serve Military Students
- We accept GI Bill® benefits, Veteran Readiness & Employment, and other VA educational benefits.
- We accept Tuition Assistance benefits from all branches, including National Guard and MyCAA.
- We offer credit recognition for military training and experience from your Joint Services Transcript.
- We offer tuition discounts for active-duty service members and veterans in undergraduate and graduate programs.
- We offer tuition discounts and awards to spouses and dependents of service members.
- We are a proud participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program, AU-ABC Program, ROTC, and more!
Our Military Appreciation Package can reduce your tuition to $0 when combined with veterans benefits, tuition assistance, CLEP/DANTES acceptance, family discounts, and more. Whether youre hoping to take classes on campus or online, we can help make it easier for you to start the next chapter of your career at Regent. We offer associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology.
Fill out the form above to learn how Regent University can help you achieve your goals.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
Reciprocity is available for teachers who already hold a valid license to teach in another state and who have completed a state-approved teacher preparation program at an accredited four-year school. An application for reciprocity should be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education in this case for review. The typical state-mandated professional educator assessments must be taken unless the candidate holds certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. For more information, review our teaching license reciprocity guide.
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Recommendation For A Ten
The holder of a Provisional Career Switcher License will be eligible to apply for a ten-year renewable license after the completion of the following:
- Successful completion of Levels I, II, and III of the Career Switcher Alternative Route To Licensure Program
- Submission of a recommendation from the Virginia employing educational agency and
- Recommendation of the administrator of the career switcher program.
Earn Your Career Switcher Degree
Online
Have you dreamed about becoming a teacher, but feel stuck in your current career path? Youre not alone. Regents Career Switcher program graduates come from all types of backgrounds and professions, such as ranking military, pastors, engineers, bankers and stay-at-home mothers. Through this route to licensure, you can earn initial licensure to teach in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Although residency is not required, students complete four mandatory on-campus workshops during Phase I . If youre interested in earning your masters degree through the Career Switcher program, read more about the M.Ed. Option below. Whichever path you choose, you can start changing lives through the power of education by preparing to become a teacher at the elementary, middle or high school level.
Upon completion of this CAEP-accredited M.Ed. program, youll be able to:
- Teach at the elementary or secondary level depending selected path.
- Integrate new and innovative skills to enhance teaching.
- Apply instructional strategies to improve classroom learning.
- Identify, select, modify and use instructional materials to meet the needs of diverse student populations.
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Social Media Resources For Students And Families
Social media provides an easy and fun way for students to connect with friends, share favorite content, and be heard. However, sometimes, kids make poor choices on social media, and the impact can be long lasting. The following Dos and Donts can help ensure students are bringing their best selves to all their social platforms.
Match Your Skills To Areas Of Need
As you begin seeking your provisional license, research your areas of expertise carefully to determine the best path to a job. Visit the employment pages of the Virginia Department of Education to understand Virginia’s areas of critical teacher shortage. Also consider the courses that made up your own degree as you evaluate your future potential teaching position. Some schools, such as the Prince William County school district, provide an endorsement worksheet to help you determine what classes from your degree may meet the school’s requirements for a provisional application.
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Learn From The Best & Take The Next Step
Presented from a Christian worldview, Regents Master of Education degrees are supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach. Youll learn from these renowned international scholars and practitioners who are invested in your success.
On completing your masters in education, you will be able to:
- Develop effective programs that impact students in and out of the classroom.
- Gain essential skills in leadership, organization and administration that help boost your career and earning potential.
- Have a voice in the educational decision-making process and use your influence to help improve student outcomes.
- Create, communicate, implement, monitor, and evaluate a vision of learning as an educational leader.
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Virginias career-switcher program was developed initially for people exiting the military, but was opened up to everyone in the early 2000s as a teacher shortage began to loom, Keffer said.
Shenandoah University offers a career-switcher program in Fredericksburg, with classes meeting twice per week at James Monroe High School.
Anyone with a bachelors degree and three years of work experiencestay-at-home parenting countsis eligible to apply for the program after passing either a Praxis test or the Virginia Communication and Literacy assessment, Keffer said.
There are two phases to the program, Keffer said. The first consists of classroom instruction on foundations of education, curriculum and instruction, classroom management, human growth and development, technology, methods and special education, followed by a 40-hour practicum that includes 30 hours of teaching.
Upon completion of the first phasewhich through Shenandoah costs $4,995, including textbooks and materialsstudents are eligible for a Virginia career-switcher provisional license.
This license differs from a regular provisional license in that it is good for one year, can be renewed three times and goes dormant until the student is hired to a teaching position, Keffer said.
The career switcher is then eligible for a 10-year renewable teaching license.
Id hate to see the program die here, he said.
Adele UphausConner:
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