Thanks for all of your help and suggestions.

Buffalofan, I've heard of pursuing a license like this as well. I know I can get my initial license in Massachusetts by only taking a few tests. It says it lasts for five years once you begin teaching in MA, but if I don't do that, I'm curious just how long it would work for overseas teaching. I wonder if anyone out there is doing this.

Psyguy, thanks for the suggestions and info on the National certification, as well as the other programs you mentioned. "Permanent" certification is the wording that California uses, not mine. Sorry for the confusion and yes, top tier private schools in NY and CA care about advanced degrees in your field of teaching. Might not be true for elementary teachers, but was certainly true for middle and high school teachers.

Thanks for your help.

Hi all,

I'm an experienced K-12 teacher with thirteen years under my belt teaching science in middle and high school (IB and AP). All of my teaching experience is from private schools in the U.S. so I never bothered to get my certification since it is not encouraged in most private schools. I have a Master's degree and currently teach at a reputable international school in South America.

I would like to finally get my teaching certification so that I can apply for jobs in Asia in a few years. I've found plenty of initial certifications that last up to five years, but I can't find a permanent certification or license that doesn't require me to teach in that particular state.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm open to all ideas. Anyone pursued the National Teacher Certification? Can you do this while living abroad?

I really do not want to teach back in the U.S. any time soon, so I'm curious if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks!! :D