{"id":46347,"date":"2024-06-12T15:15:03","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T20:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=46347"},"modified":"2024-11-28T02:29:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T08:29:51","slug":"how-to-become-a-teacher-in-louisiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/how-to-become-a-teacher-in-louisiana\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Teacher in Louisiana – All The Steps You Need to Know in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
Teaching in Louisiana shapes lives, including that of the educator. It is the perfect career for those who yearn to break out of boring routines and jobs with little meaning. The interactive vocation is full of variety and unique experiences. Teaching keeps an educator’s brain sharp while enriching the next generation’s minds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Louisiana’s schools need more teachers to step up and into the classroom. <\/span>The teaching shortage<\/span><\/a> impacting the nation has left the state searching for ways to cover the gaps. For instance, some districts now use <\/span>online teaching providers<\/span><\/a> to teach classes their current staff can’t cover. However, what they want most is more qualified teachers in their schools.<\/span><\/p>\n Each US state has its own steps to becoming a fully certified educator. In response to the shortage, Louisiana has created various pathways to becoming a teacher,<\/span> including <\/span>alternative programs<\/span><\/a>. In our guide, we’ll go over these pathways and other information you’ll need to start your teaching career in Louisiana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Teaching is a rewarding but demanding profession. Planning and implementing lessons is only one aspect of being an educator. Teachers grade and assess assignments, projects, and tests. They help organize school events, field trips, and attend meetings with fellow colleagues, parents, and committees. It’s not a career that fits neatly into the 9 to 5.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The education profession suits people passionate about learning and enjoy working with youth. Teaching is about making connections with students, their families, and the wider community. Educators who thrive in this environment embrace challenges, seeing them as opportunities to put their creative problem-solving skills into practice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The high-energy career comes with long hours, and the lifestyle isn’t what would typically be described as glamorous. However, there are benefits to the career. Louisiana teachers work about 182 days a year, allowing for lengthy vacation breaks. They also offer healthcare benefits and retirement plans. Legislators are also considering <\/span>adding paid parental leave<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Salaries and packages vary between school districts and US states. For instance, the average annual salary in <\/span>Louisiana is $54,300, whereas in Mississippi it is $49,770.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each US state has its own pathways to becoming a certified teacher. In Louisiana, the process is overseen by the <\/span>Louisiana Department of Education<\/span><\/a> (LDOE).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n LDOE’s offers three main pathways to teaching:<\/span><\/p>\n The LDOE’s traditional route involves the following steps:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Louisiana, like all US states, requires a bachelor’s degree to teach. Technically, the degree can be in any field. However, it is advised to choose courses focused on education and any field or specialty you wish to teach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Examples of bachelor’s degrees available to Louisiana teacher candidates include:<\/span><\/p>\n Obtaining a bachelor’s degree centered on education will help prepare candidates for a career in the classroom. Skills and knowledge provided by the degree include:<\/span><\/p>\n Louisiana requires candidates to have completed an approved <\/span>educator preparation program<\/span><\/a>. Most candidates on the traditional pathway program complete this program as part of their educational bachelor’s degree requirements. However, some institutions tack on the program as a 5<\/span>th<\/span> year of study and award a master’s degree upon completion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Accredited teacher preparation programs involve coursework dedicated to preparing candidates for a career in education. They also include hands-on training, such as fieldwork, observation, and student teaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Student teaching experience and fieldwork are part of the traditional pathway teacher preparation programs. However, those on alternative routes must complete a year of full-time teaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n LDOE requires candidates to pass the relevant <\/span>Praxis exams<\/span><\/a>. Candidates must take the exams corresponding to the grade level and subject area they wish to become certified to teach.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All Louisiana candidates must take the <\/span>Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT)<\/span><\/a> for their grade level. A passing score of 157 is required for Early Childhood candidates and 160 for all others.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, teaching candidates must take the relevant subject tests for their certification area. For example, a candidate wishing to become certified in Elementary Education must take the Praxis <\/span>Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To get certified, Louisiana teaching candidates must create an account on the <\/span>Teach LA Live!<\/span><\/a> portal. For <\/span>Initial Certification Recommendation<\/span><\/a> the application must be submitted by the \u201cprogram provider,\u201d the teacher preparation program. The applicant will be required to fill out their portion of the document.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, the application must include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n Teaching candidates from out-of-state or those applying for an ancillary certificate can find the necessary <\/span>certification application packets here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Those with any questions are encouraged to speak to their district employer or program provider. Candidates can also submit correspondence through the portal to the certification office provided they <\/span>provide the listed information<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n LDOE requires any new hires, including bus drivers and janitors, at a public or charter school to pass a background check. The checks are submitted to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification (LCBI).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n LDOE does not require a master’s degree to teach. However, master’s degrees are an excellent way for teachers to stand out in the hiring pool, increase pay, and widen career options. They open doors to advanced opportunities, including in higher administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Master’s degrees may be obtained at various stages of an educator’s career:<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Louisiana Pre-Educator Pathway<\/span><\/a> is for Louisiana high schoolers who already want to become a teacher. The hybrid program allows them to begin taking courses in academic instruction and gain field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The pathway helps prepare students to pass the teacher certification exams. It also allows them to put the credits towards their university degree to become a teacher or a technical diploma to work in various areas of education, such as a school system cyber vulnerability tester, para-professional, or childcare worker.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The LDO’s Post-Baccalaureate Alternative Pathway is for aspiring teachers with bachelor’s or higher degrees. These alternative pathways allow the candidate to gain certification without obtaining a second bachelor’s degree. The process typically takes 12-18 months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alternative teaching programs<\/span><\/a> differ in price, scheduling, and time scale. Some are more expensive and rigorous but result in a master’s degree. Others have shorter and more flexible coursework combined with a year of paid full-time teaching instead of an unpaid residency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Participants in any alternative pathway program must do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n Getting hired as a teacher in Louisiana involves completing the required education, training, and certification requirements. The teaching shortage has made finding an available teaching post easier. However, positions at the best-paying school districts remain competitive. Thus, to land a job at your most desired school, you must be prepared to show your best self.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To gain employment in a Louisiana school, invest time and attention in the following steps.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A CV or resume is often your first introduction to a school. You want it to look its absolute best. It will also need to be tailored to each job opening to highlight the specific skills, experience, and education mentioned in the position’s description.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thus, invest time and attention into crafting the perfect CV template. The document should be formatted for easy editing so you can smoothly reorder and rewrite sections so they speak to each job advert.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tips for polishing your CV template:<\/span><\/p>\n Teachers should upgrade their skill sets to help their CVs stand out. Educators who are already teaching can boost skills through <\/span>professional development courses<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Candidates who don’t have any teaching experience outside of fieldwork and residency can still display aptitude and skills through other opportunities, including:<\/span><\/p>\nIs Teaching the Right Career for You?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
State Requirements for Teaching in Louisiana<\/span><\/h2>\n
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1. Bachelor’s Degree<\/span><\/h3>\n
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2. Complete an Accredited Teacher Preparation Program<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Gain Student Teaching Experience<\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Pass Praxis Exams<\/span><\/h3>\n
5. Get Certified<\/span><\/h3>\n
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6. Pass a Background Check<\/span><\/h3>\n
7. Consider Getting a Master’s Degree<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Aspiring Educator\/Pre-Educator Pathway to Teaching in Louisiana<\/span><\/h2>\n
Post-Baccalaureate Alternative Pathway For Teaching Candidates in Louisiana\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Getting Hired as a Teacher<\/span><\/h2>\n
Polish Your CV<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Upgrade Your Skill Set<\/span><\/h3>\n