The New Jersey Department of Education offers an Alternate Route to Teaching program for candidates who do not fit the traditional mold. This route is designed for you if you have not completed a teacher preparation program but wish to become a certified teacher in New Jersey.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in New Jersey.
You must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility before beginning an alternate program. This means that you must:
After you have your CE and Provisional Teaching Certificate and are working as a New Jersey teacher, you must complete additional education requirements, as follows:
To embark on this route, you must meet the education requirements stated above as well as pass the following examinations:
Once you obtain the Certificate of Eligibility, you may seek and accept employment as a teacher in New Jersey. A listing of available teaching positions in the state may be found here. You must then enroll in that school’s Provisional Teacher Program and receive a Provisional Teaching Certificate, good for two years. You will be mentored by a fellow teacher during the PTP and must complete additional educational requirements, as listed above. When you complete the PTP and all educational requirements, your school principal will recommend you for a Standard Teaching Certificate.
Before any New Jersey school will hire you, you must submit to a criminal history background check. This includes fingerprinting. Your fingerprints will be run through the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). Your employer will provide more information on this process to you.
For more information on approved alternate route programs, contact the colleges and universities housing them.
For more information on alternate route teacher certification, contact the Office of Licensure and Credentials Customer Service at 609-292-2070.