Accredited Education Colleges
It's hard to overestimate the impact of a good teacher. Most of us can talk at length about the teachers who inspired us. The quality of a nation's educational system depends in large part on the quality of its teachers, so it's vitally important they are trained well. That's why reputable schools are always accredited by one or more certifying body.
Accreditation
National accreditation for educational programs is provided by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). As of 2011, the two bodies are merging, which will result in a unified certifying agency to be called the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. In each case, the role of the accrediting agency is the same: to ensure that the accredited schools meet consistent standards of quality in education.
Undergraduate Programs
There are over 1300 schools offering baccalaureate programs in various educational disciplines. Some schools offering education degrees may not offer teacher certification in a given state, so be sure to check with the local Department of Education. A sampling of schools accredited by NCATE or TEAC includes the University of Hartford, Auburn, Kansas State, University of Arizona and UC Berkeley. For complete listings, visit the NCATE and TEAC websites, with links in Resources.
Graduate Programs
Graduate programs are just as widely available as undergraduate programs. There are over 1100 Master's programs in the U.S. and over 400 doctoral programs. There are also numerous online options for those wishing to upgrade their credentials. Representative graduate schools accredited by NCATE or TEAC include the University of New Hampshire, Georgia State, Kent State, University of New Mexico and Stanford. For complete listings, see the NCATE and TEAC websites.
Alternative and Special Certifications
There are a number of educational specializations that require additional certification, like teaching Music or Special Education. There are also programs designed to take professionals with degrees in other disciplines and give them the training they need to become teachers in their area of specialty. These programs are often offered alongside conventional education programs, but are separate and distinct. Most education programs offer a variety of these certifications, so finding the one you want is a matter of contacting a number of schools or reviewing several programs online.
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