certification only or 2nd bachelors for teaching?

Question

I have a BSE chemical engineering and have worked for years. I want to go back to school to teach chemistry...my alternatives are to go back as undeclared and simply get the requirements for certification or to pursue a 2nd bachelors in education... is there any reason I should have a second bachelors??? Will it hurt me in getting a job as a teacher to only have the certification?

Answer 1

This depends entirely on where you plan to teach --which country, which school district.
If you simply want to teach, you can likely find a job with only the certification plus your BSE, but if you want to move up to become a school principal or superintendent of schools, you'll need a degree in Education. You might even be able to apply for entry to a master's program, based on your baccalaureate and experience. Worth a try!
Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I have know three people who entered the chemistry field after another career. They contacted 1) the person in charge of teacher certification at a state university and 2) the chair of the chemistry department of that university.

Many people are not aware that the department chair of your chosen subject has the power to decided whether some classes you have taken can count toward your teaching certificate. It is a short-cut designed to get qualified people into the teaching field faster.

The three people that I know were all given a "fast track" through the secondary ed program and given credit for some of their classes to count toward the education requirement.

I hope this information helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

Most school districts are so desperate for science teachers - especially in areas like chemistry - that just getting certification should be fine. We hired several such people in our district this last year. Check your state's department of education website for more info.

Answer 4

most universities now offer credential only programs to people with a bachelor's. you don't need a second b.a. in education to get a credential. my b.a. is in art and i got through just fine. since you are science you'll probably get hired on the spot and you can do your credential courses at night. you get paid a little less at first but it's better than nothing and a lot more than if you were to just go to school full time.
because of nclb most schools are looking for people with a b.a. in their field rather than a b.a. in education where you only take some classes in your field. plus your professional background is a great asset to have in interviewing for jobs.
i'd try to get hired right away just to see if you can. if not, though just enroll in a credential program, the whole b.a. in education is totally unnecessary.