Countries that don't require Teacher License/Certificate

[joanveronica]

Hi all, Does anyone know which countries grant working visas for teachers without a license? Teacher has degrees and experience but no certificate/license. Thanks!

[chilagringa]

Mexico will, but not at the top schools.

[joanveronica]

Thanks. Crisis averted--got transcript today that has the magic words: "State approved teacher preparation program"

[sid]

That might not be as magic as you expect. In the US, teaching licenses/certificates are issued by the states, not by schools. Schools offer programs which prepare you for teaching, and generally you must complete such a program as PART of earning a license. But from there, you must apply to the state for the actual license. The typical requirements are 1. Successful completion of the entire preparation program, 2. Student teaching in an approved setting, usually for 1 semester, again with successful completion, 3. Passing whatever standardized tests (Praxis) the state requires and 4. Passing whatever health checks and security checks are required.
If you've done 1 and 2 already, you should be able to easily tackle 3 and 4, and then you've got your magic ticket.
Don't try applying for visas or jobs if you don't have the actual certificate. Schools and governments are well aware of what qualifications a US teacher should have.

[joanveronica]

Sid,
Thanks for your response. I was being a wee bit sarcastic with my definition of "magic". He couldn't jump through any of the hoops without those words on his transcript. In my state there is NO OTHER WAY to get a teaching license (in addition to steps 2-4).

[PsyGuy]

A majority of regions will grant visas without a teaching license, if they didnt there would be almost no ESOL market or business in those regions. While a country may have different classes of visas and may have different requirements for various visa categories, if an IS wants to employ you, they usually can regardless of qualification. The definitive standard globally is usually only possession of a Bachelors degree.

You may want to shop around for a different state with easier licensing requirements, though if the transcript issue has been resolved, it appears there isnt any need too.

In general @Sids summary is accurate, its why I generally recommend UK routes to a PGCE, apply in the US by reciprocity and than apply for QTS in the UK.

[Alliecat]

Hope I am not hi-jacking this thread! I have a NJ substitute teaching certificate and a NJ Certificate of Eligibility (with highest standing) to teach secondary English and Language Arts. Do these count when a school specifies that teachers must be certified?

[PsyGuy]

@Alliecat

Well yes you are hijacking the thread, but thats normal, by the time a topic goes two pages if it hasnt been hijacked or gone of on a tangent, thats more unusual.

Your NJ Substitute certificate is worthless, you probably already knew that. I assume your other certificate is a NJ Certificate of Eligibility with Advance Standing (there used to be a Certificate of Eligibility with High Standing, but it is no longer issued by the NJ DOE).
With the NJ CEAS the answer is: No, Probably not, Maybe, and Yes.

1) No: In general a certificate or license is considered "professional" when it meets two requirements: 1) Is renewable (or non expiring, in which NJ is one of the last), and 2) Has no deficiencies. The CEAS has a deficiency, in that you havent completed the one year induction program. Unlike California which has a similar issue with its preliminary credential, the NJ certificate does not expire. This is more of a technical position and argument than a practical one.

2) Probably Not: There is a concept called face validity that if something "appears" to be something or more accurately has characteristics that identify with comparative properties then it is accepted as being equivalent. The problem is that the CEAS, says "Certificate of Eligibility" it doesnt say license, or standard certificate, the term "eligibility" generally indicates thats a qualification can eventually lead to a higher qualification, and that the present credential is an inferior one. If an IS wasnt inclined to research or wasnt knowledgeable, they may likely disregard it.

3) Maybe: You have a resume with past teaching, you have this credential. Many ISs, especially lower tier ISs arent likely to care, as long as your credential doesnt say TESOL they will likely accept it, especially with a background and history of prior teaching.

4) Yes: Its a valid certificate that qualifies you for providing professional instructional services and employment and the NJ DOE database says your certified; than your certified. A lower tier IS might try to reduce your step on the pay scale because you lack that one year induction, but those ISs will say anything to get a cheaper hire.

[Alliecat]

Thanks for the good information--you're a peach!