Each state has specific requirements regarding its teachers’ education level, licensing, and experience. The New Jersey public school system operates within districts supervised by locally elected school boards and superintendents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite New Jersey experiencing a growth in the number of teachers in public schools from <\/span>109,282 in 2022<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>117,135 in the 2023-2024<\/span><\/a> academic year, it still continues to experience teacher shortage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This guide will help you learn the steps and critical information to building a rewarding career in teaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Though challenging, <\/span>teaching is a fulfilling profession<\/span><\/a> if you are passionate about helping. Teaching is also a job that requires flexibility since, on any given day, things will happen to run you off your schedule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You also have to focus, have excellent communication skills, and have adequate mastery of your subject. Most teachers see teaching as a vocation, not a job. Money shouldn\u2019t, therefore, be one of your motivation factors when going into the teaching profession.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Passion for the subject you teach will help you through all the challenges that you will face in the teaching profession.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a teacher, you are constantly engaged with your learners, their families, the surrounding communities, your colleagues and the administration. You\u2019ll need to practice lots of patience in engaging with all these individuals in your daily activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The teaching career is often very stable, and you can expect long vacations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Though satisfying, a career in teaching can also be challenging. As a good educator, you make a positive impact on your learners every day. You teach your students not only academic skills but also how to embrace socially acceptable behaviours and how to work toward their goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teacher salaries in New Jersey vary depending on your level of education, your specific experience, the type of certification you hold, and the employing district. Educator\u2019s salaries vary from state to state. For instance,<\/span> $81,102 in New Jersey to $76,371 in Alaska<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Each state has its teacher requirements, which reflect the current teacher situation in the state. For instance, if a state is experiencing a severe teacher shortage compared to other states, it might have fewer requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To teach in New Jersey, you must hold a bachelor\u2019s degree, have completed a teacher preparation program, and have passed all the tests and examinations to acquire a teaching certification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teaching requirements also differ depending on the level of education you want to teach, whether secondary, primary, or kindergarten.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For instance, to teach at the elementary school level in New Jersey, you must meet the minimum GPA requirement, hold a bachelor\u2019s degree that has a liberal arts or sciences major, or at least 60 liberal arts credits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You must also demonstrate basic skills by approved assessment and show physiology\/hygiene knowledge. You also require multiple subject credentials and an<\/span> endorsement for elementary education, such as Grades K-6.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To be a certified secondary school teacher in New Jersey, you require a special area endorsement, which will allow you to teach grades P-12. You must also hold a bachelor\u2019s degree with at least 30 semester hour credits in your subject area and a minimum of 12 advanced-level credits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are the requirements you need to become a teacher in New Jersey:<\/span><\/p>\n The minimum teaching requirement in the U.S. is a bachelor\u2019s degree. All states, therefore, require aspiring teachers to hold a bachelor\u2019s degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A bachelor\u2019s degree in an education-related program is more suitable since it teaches you relevant skills such as math literacy, class management, and learner inclusivity. It gives you direct entry into the career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the key learnings from an education degree program that make you qualified for the job include:<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some bachelor\u2019s degree programs in education that can lead to a teaching career in education:<\/span><\/p>\n To be a certified teacher in New Jersey, you must complete a state-approved educator preparation program encompassing field experience. In New Jersey, a teacher preparation program runs for a minimum of 13 semester-hour credits. These courses must be taken at an\u00a0 <\/span>NJDOE-approved provider<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most New Jersey accredited colleges and universities combine these teacher certification requirements within an educational degree, with some allowing you to be awarded a master\u2019s in addition to your bachelor\u2019s degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A teacher preparation program equips you with skills such as learner management, modern teaching strategies and pedagogies to enhance. Teacher preparation programs are therefore essential in ensuring that you have a positive impact on all your students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To be allowed to teach in New Jersey, you must gain classroom experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your <\/span>Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS)<\/span><\/a> clinical practice component in New Jersey occurs in two segments. In the first segment, you must complete a minimum of 175 hours, with at least 100 hours happening throughout the semester before your full-time clinical practice semester.\u00a0 The second segment of your clinical practice requires you to teach full-time for a minimum of one semester.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Starting the 2024-2025 academic year, New Jersey provides all <\/span>eligible students with $3,000<\/span><\/a> to cover academic and living expenses while in student teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re using the alternate certification route, you must complete 50 hours of pre-professional experience before teaching. This consists of 15 hours of coursework, 20 hours of clinical experience, 10 hours of planning and instruction delivery, and 15 hours at the program\u2019s discretion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The requirement can be satisfied with appropriate experience working with children or special coursework. You can start the CE teacher preparation program after you begin teaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) requires that all aspiring teachers must undergo and pass a <\/span>background check<\/span><\/a> conducted by the Office of Student Protection Unit (OSP). The OSP works together with the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to conduct teacher background checks for teachers applying to teach in public schools, non-public schools, private schools for learners with disabilities, and charter schools.<\/span><\/p>\n Background checks aim at determining the candidate\u2019s trustworthiness around children. Applicants are disqualified if they are guilty of endangering a child\u2019s welfare either by abuse or neglect if found on the sex offenders list or if they have committed any first- or second-degree crimes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Different states may have different certification requirements or licensing examinations for teachers. The New Jersey Department of Education currently uses the <\/span>NJEdCert certification system<\/span><\/a>, which requires the following;<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have your certification examination scores, apply for certification through the <\/span>New Jersey Educator Certification (NJEdCert) System<\/span><\/a>. You will be expected to submit;<\/span><\/p>\n If you require foreign or out-of-state credentials or a name change on your certificate, you should also submit supporting documents through the NJEdCert System.<\/span><\/p>\n You dont need to <\/span>hold <\/span>a master\u2019s degree to teach in New Jersey. However, many states are continually requiring their teacher candidates to hold a master\u2019s degree or acquire one within the first five years of teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n A master\u2019s degree gives you a competitive advantage over other applicants when seeking similar teaching opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of New Jersey\u2019s top universities and colleges run a<\/span> 5-year educational program<\/span><\/a> that awards you a bachelor\u2019s degree and a master\u2019s degree upon completion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Teacher](\"\/media-tx\/teacher-high-school-teacher-north-carolina.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIs Teaching the Right Career for You?<\/b><\/h2>\n
State Requirements for Teaching In New Jersey<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Bachelor\u2019s Degree<\/b><\/h3>\n
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2. Complete an Accredited Teacher Preparation Program<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Gain Student Teaching Experience<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Pass a Background Check<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Get Certified<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Consider Getting a Master\u2019s Degree<\/b><\/h3>\n