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A degree in education is often the pathway to a career in teaching or school counseling, and those in this career field need to find ways to keep updating an education degree to keep their skills fresh. There are many ways to do this depending on one’s job within the education career field. For example, there are plenty of certificate programs available for teachers who want to enhance their skills to positively impact their classrooms. Also, educational professionals who want to advance into positions of greater responsibility often look for ways to update an education degree by getting an advanced degree. Here are some ways in which education professional update their credentials based upon community needs, personal interests and career goals.
Popular Education Related Certificate Programs
Students who have an undergraduate degree in education qualify to work in a variety of jobs within the education industry. However, those with aspirations to teach at the early childhood and secondary school level must update their education degree with a state issued teaching certificate. Updating one’s education degree is not always motivated by personal interests or career aspirations, but an education professional could be responding to a need within their community that requires special skills and service which could be the catalyst for locating certificate programs that enhance degrees in education. For example, if one lives in a community that has a heavy influx of immigrants who are not native English speakers, one can obtain a Certificate for English Language Teaching For Adults.
Enhancing an Education Degree With an Advanced Degree
Many professionals in the education career field including teachers want to move beyond an undergraduate degree in education and pursue an advanced degree to enhance their credentials, satisfy their personal interests and bolster their career aspirations. There are four common types of graduate level degree programs in education, and they are Master of Education, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Teaching. The Master of Education degree is usually chosen by education professionals who are already certified; these experienced teachers love their jobs and seek advanced educational opportunities to enhance their skills in the classroom. Teachers who desire to move into administrative positions as assistant principals, principals and superintendents of schools choose to pursue advanced degrees like the Master of Science in Education. Additionally, education professionals with undergraduate degrees in education who want to enter the teaching profession or teachers who want to specialize in another teaching area choose to pursue the Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
Economical Ways To Keep Skills Fresh and Credentials Up To Date
Since the role of educator is highly valued in most modern societies, there is a great emphasis on recruiting, training and retaining talented teachers. For this reason, many financial aid opportunities are available to prospective and experienced teachers who want to further their academic pursuits. The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant is an example of funds provided to people who want to teach in a needed specialty, for low-income areas and for a specific time period.
Related Resource: Jobs for Retired Teachers
Conclusion
Most people know that to maintain their subject expertise and stay competitive in today’s workforce, they must keep an attitude of continuous learning. It is this attitude that leads to creative ways to keep updating an education degree.