Questions and Answers

What is the Pathway to Teaching Program?

There are many avenues that you can follow toward certification as a teacher.  One way is through the Alternative Pathway, which can save you time and money as you explore the teaching profession and/or begin to change careers.  Boards of Education sometimes hire people in areas of special need.  You must meet certain requirements including possession of a bachelor’s degree and a major concentration, or 36 credits in a content area like math or biology, for example.

What do I have to do to participate?

The first step to begin the process is to take a test of basic skills called Praxis I.  You must take this test before the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will evaluate your transcript.  After successful completion of PRAXIS I, MSDE will evaluate your transcript(s). This evaluation identifies the courses that you need to take in order to become eligible for your Standard Professional Certificate I.  Mail a copy of your passing PRAXIS I socres and your transcript(s) to:  MSDE, Division of Certification and Accreditation, 200 West Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201.  Their web address is: www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/certification/.  It would be wise to begin to take some courses while this review is ongoing since it sometimes takes weeks or even months to complete.

How do I take this Praxis I Test?

You may take the test at any Prometric Center (formerly Sylvan Learning Center) at your convenience or through ETS at specified times during the year.  For more information about the Praxis Test Series, go to their website: www.ets.org.  When you take the test, please have your results forwarded to CCBC for our records.   Our college code is RA 3517.

Is there a way to study for the Praxis I Test?

CCBC offers two one-credit courses in Praxis I preparation-- one for math and one for reading/writing.  The math course is EDTR 104 and the reading/writing course is EDTR 105.  There also are practice booklets which can be purchased at major bookstores.  Go the ETS website for the PRAXIS I schedule and information booklet.

After the Praxis I Test, what’s next?

Once MSDE has notified you of the courses you need to take, CCBC can help you take most, if not all, of the courses you need for certification.  The amount of  time this will take depends upon how many courses you need and how many courses you can take at one time.  It may be possible to identify some of the courses you are likely to need to take before the official State Department evaluation is reported back to you.  Please see the Director of Teacher Education or an Education Campus Coordinator before you register for courses.

What are the teacher education courses I will need to take?

Currently the following courses are required by MSDE:

For certification in Secondary Education

EDTR 107                   Introduction to Special Education

EDTR 215                   Educational Psychology

PSYC 219                   Adolescent Psychology

EDTR 250                   Assessment for Secondary Teachers

EDTR 251                   Methods of Teaching: Secondary

EDTR 252                   Reading in the Content Area I

EDTR 253                   Reading in the Content Area II

For certification in Special Education-Secondary Education

EDTR 103                   Principles of Human Growth and Development

EDTR 107                   Introduction to Special Education

EDTR 214                   Parent, Teacher, Community Relations

PSYC 219                   Adolescent Psychology

EDTR 250                   Assessment for Secondary Teachers

EDTR 251                   Methods of Teaching for Secondary Teachers

EDTR 252                   Reading in the Content Area I

EDTR 253                   Reading in the Content Area II

EDTR 261                   Evaluation of the Exceptional Child

EDTR 262                   Educational Planning for the Exceptional Child

EDTR 265                   Pre-Vocational and Vocational Methods

*The Early Childhood Education and the Elementary Education pathway courses are no longer offered.

Is there a designated sequence to taking these courses?

For the reading courses, yes.  EDTR 252 must be taken before EDTR 253 for secondary education candidates.  For EDTR 103, 107, 215 and 219, PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology is a prerequisite for all candidates. For the other courses, only college-wide prerequisites apply, but if you are already working in a school setting, especially if you are a provisional teacher with no pedagogy courses, it is recommended that you take the methods, and assessment courses first.

Does CCBC offer student teaching?

No.  We have internship courses for transfer students, but these are not student teaching.  We can, however, refer you to a four-year institution for student teaching information.

Does this mean that CCBC will get me a teaching job?

No.  All of this is meant to prepare you to begin working as a provisional teacher.  The Community College of Baltimore County cannot guarantee that a Board of Education will need people in any areas, so there is no guarantee of a job associated with this program.  However, the current teacher shortage increases the school systems’ need to hire people on a Provisional Certificate.  All final hiring decisions remain with the local board of education.

Do I need to wait until I have a job to start this program?

No.  You may choose to take some or all of the required courses before you ever apply for a teaching position.  You may find that you are better prepared if you take a great number or all of your courses before you start to teach.

What happens next?

After your student teaching and after you have taken the MSDE-required courses, you should then take the appropriate Praxis II Content tests.  When you pass, you will become eligible for the Standard Professional Certificate.

Is this an easy way to become a certified teacher?

There is no easy way to become a teacher.  Teaching is a career choice that requires careful consideration and honest self-examination to determine if you have the disposition and patience to work with young people.  You will have to make a special effort to learn, as you work, what traditional teacher education students had the opportunity to learn during their undergraduate college education.

A final word:

If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you might want to pursue a traditional program toward a Master’s degree.  Several programs are available in this area.  Your education faculty advisor will be happy to talk to you about this option.  In the current Maryland system, you will be expected to earn a Master’s degree as part of your continuing education after you have the Standard Professional Certificate I.

For more information, contact one of the following:

Coordinator, Catonsville Campus:	Ms. Danielle Holland	410-455-4441
Coordinator, Dundalk Campus:	Ms. Linda Gronberg-Quinn	410-285-9731
Coordinator, Essex Campus:	Dr. Karen Roe	410-780-6430
CCBC Director of Teacher Education:	Ms. Linda Gronberg-Quinn	410-455-4153
	lgronberg@ccbcmd.edu