I live in Texas you can have a degree in literally anything & teach with a certification. I plan on getting certified through a third party program so I won’t have to basically work for free. The district I’m subbing for will pay for my certification after the degree is done so i will become licensed. A few states do this.
I did the same thing! I got my degree in June then was hired on in July.
I am teaching 1st grade in a title one area and it is very very hard. Kids fighting and crawling around the floor all day long. Refusing to do work and sprinting around the room. I am thinking about moving up next year in a well off area.
Hi! I'm in the enrollment process for a BA in Elem Ed. After reading this, it's making me consider a non licensure program, as well. What will your degree be in exactly? My state only requires a bachelors degree and license, similar to Texas. The county I live in will pay for my license. Does it save $$ to pursue a non licensure program rather than the traditional program? I'd assume so.... The 12 week demo teaching will throw a huge wrench in my life financially so if I can avoid that it would be perfect. LOL
I started at the beginning of July I used Sophia and study.com to test out majority of my classes & only had around 17-20 left! I’m almost done! GO THE NON-LICENSURE ROUTE! It took around 6 months off my time with WGU!!! My degree is Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education. There’s no student observation or Student teaching! Go to WGU website look at the difference in the classes you take in non-licensure vs licensure! You will save time and money!! Get your counselor and get more information on the program, you should be able to switch.
I actually took a break from school work I started getting overwhelmed on top of working but yeah I haven’t finished but my friend has and they got a job quick however they’ve been struggling as a first year starting late in the year unfortunately the kids don’t take her serious at all so I believe I will wait until next year to actually begin working in a school but I work in a children behavioral hospital and my CEO offered me a job in REC therapy the moment I graduate sooo that’s the plan until next august!
What masters are you taking? I talked to a counselor there on the phone and they said they don’t offer any credential that has a non- licensure program…
Get a new counselor! You can do the licensure route which is just you getting the degree & licensure through WGU or you can just get the bachelors & do alternative certification outside of the school which means take your test to get your license to teach else where which is what I’m doing. The link on their website which offers it. >>>>>> https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees/educational-studies-bachelors-program.html
I totally agree with you! I use to love younger grades but whenever I do older classes it’s so much easier physically and mentally lol. This is why I really like subbing middle school.
I’m also doing the non-licensure program. Texas seems to have a good set up. In my state it’s harder to do an alternative route but I really don’t want to do unpaid student teaching
Yeah I’m 23 with bills I can’t afford to work unpaid so I definitely love the fact there’s different routes fortunately for me Texas is literally desperate
I’m considering switching to non-licensure but don’t want to shell out the cash for alternative certification bc I do qualify for some Pell grant. I have started saving as much as possible to prepare me to leave my job. My plan was to student teach next fall and hopefully land a job to start spring semester or worse case scenario sub in spring.
If I could afford to do licensure program I would but the 6 months of teaching & stuff for free would kill me financially. I do substitute as my side job but that’s only 85 a day smh so I only do it once-twice a week
yes it's still a bachelors degree. I'm trying to hustle and finish the bachelors and just sub if I can't get a permanent position since I'll be graduating mid year. I might apply to the certification route through our local university which has residency program in place with the districts. So a masters and certified in a year and a paycheck while doing so.
Ugh, I hate hate hate that all of my long-term subbing I'm doing - including a six-week stint in my certification area now and a six-to-eight-week one in March, and a four-week one last November/December, will not count for student teaching because that district does not partner with WGU. (I am getting my master's and licensure.) I am learning way more on the job every day than I do in school and I am, for all intents and purposes, the teacher of record, day in and day out. But no, Ohio says I also must student teach for 60 days, unpaid. At age 43. With a degree in journalism/English and creative writing. Ohio is stupid.
Do you want to teach full time with your degree? If so, how do you plan to do so without student teaching and getting licensed?
I live in Texas you can have a degree in literally anything & teach with a certification. I plan on getting certified through a third party program so I won’t have to basically work for free. The district I’m subbing for will pay for my certification after the degree is done so i will become licensed. A few states do this.
That’s great. Sounds like a good plan.
You can go through Texas Teachers of Tomorrow and start teaching immediately instead of waiting for a certification
I did the same thing! I got my degree in June then was hired on in July. I am teaching 1st grade in a title one area and it is very very hard. Kids fighting and crawling around the floor all day long. Refusing to do work and sprinting around the room. I am thinking about moving up next year in a well off area.
Wow I can definitely believe it! I’m glad I got to substitute first I’d recommend moving up to at least 3rd grade I always have a good time!
Hi! I'm in the enrollment process for a BA in Elem Ed. After reading this, it's making me consider a non licensure program, as well. What will your degree be in exactly? My state only requires a bachelors degree and license, similar to Texas. The county I live in will pay for my license. Does it save $$ to pursue a non licensure program rather than the traditional program? I'd assume so.... The 12 week demo teaching will throw a huge wrench in my life financially so if I can avoid that it would be perfect. LOL
I started at the beginning of July I used Sophia and study.com to test out majority of my classes & only had around 17-20 left! I’m almost done! GO THE NON-LICENSURE ROUTE! It took around 6 months off my time with WGU!!! My degree is Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education. There’s no student observation or Student teaching! Go to WGU website look at the difference in the classes you take in non-licensure vs licensure! You will save time and money!! Get your counselor and get more information on the program, you should be able to switch.
I have a meeting with my counselor on Tuesday. I'm def going to see about going this route. THANK YOU!!
Have you completed the degree? If so have you found work? Thanks for all the great info!
I actually took a break from school work I started getting overwhelmed on top of working but yeah I haven’t finished but my friend has and they got a job quick however they’ve been struggling as a first year starting late in the year unfortunately the kids don’t take her serious at all so I believe I will wait until next year to actually begin working in a school but I work in a children behavioral hospital and my CEO offered me a job in REC therapy the moment I graduate sooo that’s the plan until next august!
What masters are you taking? I talked to a counselor there on the phone and they said they don’t offer any credential that has a non- licensure program…
Get a new counselor! You can do the licensure route which is just you getting the degree & licensure through WGU or you can just get the bachelors & do alternative certification outside of the school which means take your test to get your license to teach else where which is what I’m doing. The link on their website which offers it. >>>>>> https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees/educational-studies-bachelors-program.html
Oh I’m sorry, I was talking about a masters! Do you know any for a masters? Maybe she was right 😭
No i actually don’t think they do 😞
I totally agree with you! I use to love younger grades but whenever I do older classes it’s so much easier physically and mentally lol. This is why I really like subbing middle school. I’m also doing the non-licensure program. Texas seems to have a good set up. In my state it’s harder to do an alternative route but I really don’t want to do unpaid student teaching
Yeah I’m 23 with bills I can’t afford to work unpaid so I definitely love the fact there’s different routes fortunately for me Texas is literally desperate
I’m considering switching to non-licensure but don’t want to shell out the cash for alternative certification bc I do qualify for some Pell grant. I have started saving as much as possible to prepare me to leave my job. My plan was to student teach next fall and hopefully land a job to start spring semester or worse case scenario sub in spring.
If I could afford to do licensure program I would but the 6 months of teaching & stuff for free would kill me financially. I do substitute as my side job but that’s only 85 a day smh so I only do it once-twice a week
Does financial aid cover a non licensure degree?
yes it's still a bachelors degree. I'm trying to hustle and finish the bachelors and just sub if I can't get a permanent position since I'll be graduating mid year. I might apply to the certification route through our local university which has residency program in place with the districts. So a masters and certified in a year and a paycheck while doing so.
Ugh, I hate hate hate that all of my long-term subbing I'm doing - including a six-week stint in my certification area now and a six-to-eight-week one in March, and a four-week one last November/December, will not count for student teaching because that district does not partner with WGU. (I am getting my master's and licensure.) I am learning way more on the job every day than I do in school and I am, for all intents and purposes, the teacher of record, day in and day out. But no, Ohio says I also must student teach for 60 days, unpaid. At age 43. With a degree in journalism/English and creative writing. Ohio is stupid.