General Steps to become a Teacher

As for any career, there are steps to complete for one to get licensed and be in that career. Each state of their own requirements for licensed teachers. Here in Oregon, we have TSPC (Teachers Standards & Practices Commision). TSPC are the ones who enforce requirements to get a teaching license or renewing one. They have standards for education programs in this state. The ed programs are the one who recommend people to get a license through TSPC. They require one to successfully complete an ed program that have full time student teaching (at least 10 weeks), two work sample portfolios, fingerprint and background check and passing on all tests.

To enter an ed program, each one is different for application. Though, all programs do need to comply with TSPC standards. Here are the tests I need to do:

1. CBEST: All student teacher candidates need to pass CBEST which covers one's general knowledge of basic reading, math and writing skills.
Link: www.cbest.nesinc.com (Though there are other similar tests of this nature that qualifies but CBEST is usually done in Oregon.)

2. ORELA Multiple Subjects Exam (Subtests I and II); it covers language arts, social science, arts, reading, instruction, mathematics, science, health and physical education.
As for me, I will get an authorization in early childhood/elementary education which means I can teach pre-K, K-5 schools, and K-8 elementary schools. This test covers my basic knowledge of various content areas for teaching students from K-8. (For teaching in middle and high schools, the candidates take different tests.)
Link: www.orela.nesinc.com

3. Finally, the last test is the Civil Rights Test. This is taken by all candidates either before entering or before graduating from the ed program. Each ed program requirement on that is different.
Here is the new ruling: Effective September 1, 2009, the TSPC requires the Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment test for licensure. (I need also pass this test to be part of the process of getting a teaching license in Oregon.)
Link: Also the same as the ORELA link mentioned previously.