My state looks good (NC). No experience needed for licensing.

http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content. ... tentid=242

And holds reciprocity with many states.

I am alittle bummed the MA program is 60 hours long!

Oh well, gotta do what you gotta do.

Yea I would have to get licensed by my state. I will need to see what is their requirements for that. Hopefully nothing absurd or I will look for a more lenient state.

The program at my local Uni is 60 hours.

Just like with teaching you can find jobs without the 2 yr exp requirement, esp at lower level schools.

But if I cant get a job when I first get certified I will just get one state side and repeat the process until I land my first International gig.

So glad I found another route to take besides teaching to live abroad! And it is actually in something that id enjoy doing.

What ever I need to do ill do.

EDIT*

Ok so after reading another thread it appears International Schools do hire foreign guidance counselors.

I am quite happy to see this. Im 25 years old with a BA in business. Hopefully I can find a MA in guidance counseling program that I can do without having an undergrad in counseling.

Im going to teach ESL in Colombia till next Jan. And will return to the US to knock out this MA in counseling hopefully.

Then apply for positions abroad but if im not successful I will just get some experience state side.

Do International Schools hire foreign guidance counselors? I'd much rather do that than teach imo. And I would be able to just get my MA and not go back for a BA in education. [/i]

I feel like I am pretty flexible & thick skinned and can manage perfectly fine with either or.

I am not licensed in either right now. Hence why I am debating whether or not to get licensed in Elementary edu or Secondary.

I hold an non edu degree and I'm doing ESL abroad looking to go back to school or do an alternative cert program.

Just would like some feedback on the differences between the two. Job ease or difficulty. Job openings abroad ect.

What is the pro's and con's of each?

Is there less jobs abroad for elementary teachers compared to secondary teachers?

Pay?

Having a hard time deciding which route to take / go.

Most people cant find jobs because they are not flexible and dont want to teach in "x" town or in inner city schools ect.

What is it that makes someone qualified? Experience?

I guess the only way for me to get a definitive answer is to actually speak to the directors and school administration of the actual schools id be interested in working for.

I will be in Colombia and Brazil this summer and will try to gather as much intel as I can. Then proceed from their given the info I received from the schools.

After getting certified, I would get experience. Ideally I would try and obtain a job abroad and if I was unsuccessful I would just get a job in which ever state i'm certified in. Then do the same thing the next year.

So after reading your last post it appears there is many people without Education degrees and that the main thing someone needs is "experience". Is that accurate?

I wouldn't mind getting cert in Business Studies/Economics, but I would be wary of that for the simple fact of that subject is not as common and i'm not even sure if that is offered or common in the International circuit. I want to be certified in a subject of high need/desire to help with securing jobs.

Im just trying to figure out the BEST way to go about teaching abroad with someone in my shoes. ie no education degree and with time and money being a concern.

Sorry you got the wrong impression.

The replies I have received have been helpful in letting me know that the online alternative route might not be the best way to go about things if the schools i'm interested in will not hire due to not having an education degree.

I will def have to go and talk to these schools in person while i'm there living and teaching esl for 6 months before returning back to the states to begin which ever method / route would be the best for someone in my situation.

The advice / comments I received are not what I wanted to hear and are troubling to say the least as it appears I might have to go back to University and delay moving abroad for almost 4 years!!

wow, your page is over the top! lol

you will do fine. just go to any of the international job fairs.

You take education style courses online. That is ALL the online program consists of. You must learn your subject area on your own.

Also you do your student teaching / internship with your mentor teacher.

But not having the education degree is obviously a negative. Since Im only wanting to teach in Colombia primarily I will need to get down there and have a talk with the International Schools to get a better idea of what I need to do.

Hmm when I contacted the lady that runs the Northern Iowa International Fair she just said you must hold a teaching certification / license from a state.

You take and must pass the same tests a normal education major would in order to get your certification from the state of Florida.

I will be in South America for 6 months prior to starting any program and will ask the International Schools myself I suppose to get a definitive answer.

Hey everyone!

I'm looking to teach at International Schools in South America. I have a business degree and I plan on doing a 9 month online certification program based out of Florida. I plan on completing the online portion in Colombia while I am teaching ESL, then return to Florida to take the state's tests to get fully certified.

The program is TeacherReady.org. Anyone have any experience with that program?

I plan on getting certified in Secondary Biology.

I know getting a job at a GOOD International School will be difficult without any experience but i'll be happy with any decent job starting out.

What grade level and subjects are the most sought after in the International School field?

Is it best to try and get hired at International Job Fairs than trying to get hired "in" country?

Thanks again for your advice and comments. They will be much appreciated!