Alternative Teaching Certification in Mississippi
Alternate routes to teacher licensure exist for those who wish to teach in Mississippi and have a bachelor’s degree but did not graduate from a traditional teacher preparation program.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Mississippi.
Currently, the state offers four approved alternate routes to teacher licensure:
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- MS Alternate Path to Quality Teachers (MAPQT), Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI)
- American Board Certification for Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
Sponsored School(s)
MAT:
- You must have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education to enter this program.
- You must plan to be licensed to teach in one of the following areas: Biology, Art, Business, Elementary Education, Chemistry, French, English, Home Economics, German, Math, Marketing, Music, Physics, Physical Education, Spanish, Speech Communications, Social Studies
- Once enrolled, you must complete 6 graduate hours in pre-teaching requirements in Tests and Measurement and Classroom Management
- Once this is completed, you may apply for an initial three-year alternate route license, verifying your enrollment in the program. This will allow you to teach during the program.
MAPQT:
- You must have a bachelor’s degree to enter this program
- If you graduated more than 7 years ago, you must have a total GPA of at least 2.0. If you graduated less than 7 years ago, your GPA in your major must be between 2.5 and 2.75.
- You must plan to teach in one of the following areas: Art, Business, Biology, English, Chemistry, French, German, Home Economics, Music, Math, Marketing, Physics, Physical Education, Spanish, Social Studies, Speech Communications, Special Education (grades 7-12)
- Once enrolled, you must complete 90 clock hours of training
TMI:
- You must have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education to enter this program.
- You must plan to teach in one of the following areas: Business, Biology, English, Chemistry, German, French, Home Economics, Math, Marketing, Social Studies, Physics, Speech Communications, Spanish, or Special Education
- You must enroll in a participating college/university (listed here)
- Once enrolled, you must complete an 8 week training session or 8 week online program
ABCTE:
- You must have a bachelor’s degree to enter this program.
- You must also plan to teach in one of these grade 7-12 areas: Biology, Physics, Math, Chemistry or English.
- During the program, you must complete one of the following to obtain a five-year alternate route license: MAPQT 3-week summer training, MDE 8-week online training, or MAT 6 hours of initial graduate university courses.
Examinations
MAT:
- You must pass the Praxis I Basic Skills Exam prior to enrollment
- You must pass the Praxis II test in your content area prior to enrollment
MAPQT:
- You must pass the Praxis I Basic Skills Exam prior to enrollment
- You must pass the Praxis II test in your content area prior to enrollment
- After you teach for one year, you must pass a school district evaluation of your performance
TMI:
- You must pass the Praxis I Basic Skills Exam prior to enrollment
- You must pass the Praxis II test in your content area prior to enrollment
ABCTE:
- You must pass an assessment in your subject area to enter the program.
- For a one-year license (required for the internship portion of this program), you must also pass the ABCTE subject exam in that area.
Experience
MAT:
- After completing your internship, you may apply for your five year alternate route teaching license
MAPQT:
- You must secure a teaching position after completing the 90 clock hours of training, and thenapply for your one-year educator license, alternate route.
- After you get the one-year license, you must complete Saturday practicums and complete a school district mentoring program for one year. Then you may apply for the five-year alternate route license.
TMI:
- After admission into the program, you may apply for the one-year license to enable you to teach during your internship
- You must complete a one-year internship with a mentoring and induction program in your school district, and secure a recommendation from the district prior to applying for your five-year alternate route license.
ABCTE:
- You must have a written statement from a school district that is committed to employing you to receive the one-year license for the internship.
- Completion of this internship with mentoring and completing the above educational requirements of the program will help you qualify for the five-year alternate route license.
Criminal History Background Check
Before you will be allowed to work in a Mississippi school district, you must undergo a complete criminal history background check, including fingerprinting, as well as a child abuse registry check in accordance with Mississippi Code 37-9-17.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will check your fingerprints and release the results of your background check to the school district for which you plan to work. You may not work with children in Mississippi until all background checks have been cleared.
Contact Information
MAT is currently offered at the following colleges/universities in Mississippi:
- Alcorn State University, 601-877-6149
- Belhaven College, 601-965-7046
- Delta State University, 662-846-4380
- Jackson State University, 601-979-2335
- Mississippi College, 601-925-3250
- MS Valley State University, 662-254-3618
- William Carey College, 601-318-6144
- Mississippi State University, 662-325-0527
- MS University for Women, 662-329-7175
- University of Southern MS, 601-266-4568
MAPQT is currently offered at the following colleges/universities in Mississippi:
- Itawamba Community College – Tupelo
- Hinds Community College – Raymond
- MS Delta Community College – Indianola
- Pearl River Community College – Hattiesburg
- Northwest Community College – Senatobia
- MS Gulf Coast Community College – Gautier
- East Central Community College – Philadelphia
For information on MAPQT programs, contact: Mississippi Community College Foundation, 1900 Lakeland Dr., Box 941, Jackson, MS 39216, by phone at 601-321-3902 or by email at [email protected]
TMI is offered at the following Mississippi colleges/universities:
- Delta State University (8 Week On Campus Program)
Dr. James W. Nicholson, Jr.
662-846-4354
- Mississippi State University (8 Week On Campus Program)
Susan Steward
662-325-0527
- University of Mississippi (10 Week Online Program)
Dr. Anne Klingen
877-915-7313 or 662-915-7313
- University of Southern Mississippi (8 Week On Campus Program)
Dr. David Daves
601-266-6987
- Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (General Information on TMI programs)
Dr. Susan Lee
601-432-6522
ABCTE:
For more information, call the ABCTE national office in Washington, DC at (877) 669-2228.
