<p>I don't know what's normal... will JUST having a certification in elementary education make it harder for me to find a job? I was told that a certification would be enough.
Do most (elementary) school teachers go on to get their masters? Should I plan on graduate school?</p>
<p>The certification will be enough to find your first job, but at a lot of school districts you will be expected to earn your MA after you’ve worked a certain number of years.</p>
<p>Don’t get the masters until you have worked a few years. Sometimes getting the masters makes it more difficult to get the first teaching job (unless it comes with another certification like special ed).</p>
<p>It depends on the state. In NY typically even a teacher with certification must get a masters within a certain number of years. So know the rules for wherever you see yourself teaching.</p>
<p>I have my BS in education as well as certification and the vibe in my area, PA/MD/NJ is that having your masters is not desirable. Having your masters as a teacher just means the school district has to pay you more. Teach for a couple/few years and then go back to school for it if you really want it. Lots of schools will pay for part/all of it at that point.</p>
<p>thank you! I was getting mixed messages on whether or not to go right out of undergrad or wait a little. I would probably be teaching in OR or WA. </p>
<p>similar, does it make sense to get certified in education OR I’m thinking about transferring schools, one of my options does NOT have an undergrad ed program, is that a horrible idea? to have no training in my undergrad years to be a teacher? I’ve e-mailed their admissions and they say many of them offer some courses, just no degrees in it. I would then do a year of grad school to get my masters, or maybe teach for america or something.</p>