From Social Worker to Teacher - how to do it?

Question

I have a masters degree and over 20 years experience in adult psychiatry. I'm "semi-retired", working as a personal care aide for two special needs children in middle school, and being a full-time mom. My "baby" is in middle school and will be graduating in six years. What do I do if I decide I want to teach, to become a "professional" again? Where do I start? What tests do I take? I live in PA. Who do I call?

Answer 1

You might also consider being a school social worker and/or a guidance counselor

Answer 2

You can visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website (search PDE) for information about certification. PA has a number of colleges that offer what is called initial certification at the graduate level. The standard time frame is 2 years, including a semester of student teaching. There is also an "intern" certification that allows you to combine student teaching with a full time position, but I don't know the specifics. (Wilson College in Chambersburg offers a program, and I'm sure there are more.)

One caution: there are rumors that some of the small rural PA districts don't like to hire people with an abundance of grad credits. With a Masters plus 30, you'd be starting out significantly higher on the payscale than someone fresh out of college. (Anyone else hear of this?) But hopefully this is old news from the dark ages.

Have you thought about what you'd like to teach? Special education is an area of high need, and your background might be good for it. Special ed in PA is handled by intermediate units. You can easily find yours at the PDE website. Substituting with an IU might be a good way to see if you'd like special education, and they would probably help with your certification.

If regular ed is more of your ambition, substituting with a local school would be a great place to start. Most places are desperate for subs right now and don't require certification, just a degree.

Good luck!

Answer 3

This is kind of too easy when you think about it. No offense meant, but if you already have your degree, all you have to do is contact the state board and see if you can get an "emergency teaching license" or what other classes (and there won't be many) do you need to get a teaching certificate.
Have you considered contacting a local tech college? I attend one in my area and most of the instructors don't have a teaching degree but hold a degree in their specialty field. My American Sign language teacher is actually a social worker in Milwaukee dealing with the Deaf and HH community. My commications teacher has several degrees but not one in teaching. He is terrific, I might add!
Personally, I vote for the tech college route because it is flexible for you, (you are only allowed to teach "x" amount of classes per semester, usually part time ish, and works around your availability), pays pretty well, and won't require you to get a teaching degree, which by the way, requires you to take a certain number of continuing education credits a year to keep your license up to date! You'd be great in a sociology or psychology class!
Good luck! I wish I knew how your story was going to end, I'm pulling for you!

Answer 4

I would call the education department in the college or university of your choice. I am sure they will be glad to direct you in how to achieve your goal. I am sure there are a boatload of education courses that you will need to take. I am not familiar with the tests that are now required. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.