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Vermont Alternative Teacher Certification

For candidates who have earned a bachelor’s degree but have not graduated from a state-approved teacher preparation program, there are options for Vermont alternative teacher certification. Alternative teacher preparation programs, also known as non-traditional programs, are designed for those who have a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to the award of a certificate or master’s degree. Continue reading to learn more about these pathways in Vermont, or if you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree, see our guide to traditional certification in Vermont.

Requirements for Alternative Certification

Those interested in pursuing alternative teacher certification in Vermont must have at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in either the liberal arts and sciences or in an endorsable content area. In most cases, candidates will also need to pass the Praxis Core and the Praxis subject assessment(s) for their endorsement area. Certain routes also require candidates to complete a teacher preparation program, which can be completed in as little as one year as a post-graduate certificate. Prospective teachers may also complete teacher preparation as part of a master’s degree in education, or in an academic subject that includes an approved certification program.

Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Vermont

There are several alternative routes to Vermont teacher certification that prospective educators can follow. Refer to the Vermont Agency of Education for more detailed information on these pathways.

Post-Graduate Teacher Preparation

Candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree in the subject that they would like to teach may attend a teacher preparation program that leads to a post-graduate certificate or master’s degree. The teacher preparation completed must be approved by the Vermont Agency of Education, which provides a list of approved programs. Several Vermont colleges and universities offer approved post-graduate programs that lead to Vermont teacher licensure. Candidates on this pathway must graduate from the program, earn an institutional recommendation for licensure, and pass the Praxis Core and Praxis content assessments for their endorsement area(s). Those pursuing this pathway may qualify for a provisional license to teach while completing their teacher preparation program.

Peer Review Alternate Route to Licensure

Vermont is one of few states that offers teacher licensure by an evaluation of credentials. To qualify for this pathway, candidates must first apply to the Peer Review Program by providing official transcripts of all coursework completed and a current resume. There are many requirements for participation in the Peer Review process, but the main requirement is the development of a teaching portfolio, in which the candidate demonstrates through a professional portfolio that he or she meets Vermont’s standards for educators. A peer review panel evaluates the applicant’s portfolio, interviews the applicant, and determines whether the competencies were met. If the panel believes the competencies were met, it will recommend to the state that the candidate be granted a teaching license.

Apprenticeship License for Career Technical Educators

Those who wish to teach career and technical education subjects may wish to pursue an Apprenticeship license. Career and technical education teachers must have an associate’s degree or its equivalent as well as work experience in the subject to be taught. Candidates for this license must take the Praxis Core exam as well as the Praxis content-area assessment if an exam is available for the subject to be taught. Before applying for an Apprenticeship license, candidates must have an employment offer from a Vermont Career Technical Center and develop a Professional Learning Plan that outlines how the applicant will meet teacher preparation program requirements. Note that the application must be submitted by the employing technical center or school. Accepted candidates will be issued an Apprenticeship license to teach full-time while completing coursework. Once the teacher preparation and professional development requirements have been met, candidates can be recommended for a standard Vermont Level I teaching license.

Testing Requirements for Vermont Alternative Certification

All teachers in Vermont must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam as well as the appropriate Praxis subject-area assessment(s) for their endorsement area(s). The Praxis Core is a basic skills exam that assesses knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics. The Praxis subject exams are specific to the content area for which a candidate is seeking endorsement.

Transferring Teaching Licenses from Another State

An applicant may also become certified under reciprocity in Vermont if he or she has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program or a program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in another state, holds a current professional teaching license in another state, and has taught for at least three years. For more information, see our guide to interstate reciprocity or visit the Vermont Agency of Education website.

Schools with Alternative and Master’s Programs in Vermont

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 certification programs in Vermont that lead to a certificate or master’s degree have been approved by the Vermont Agency of Education (VAE).

  • Goddard University (Certificate, Master’s)
  • Northern Vermont University-Johnson (Certificate), Lyndon (Certificate, Master’s)
  • Saint Michael’s College (Master’s)
  • University of Vermont (Master’s)

*Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. The student may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact program(s) of interest for further information.

Additional Resources

References:
1. Vermont Agency of Education: https://education.vermont.gov/