I have just under a decade of experience teaching early years in Asia at various types of schools. I know many schools won’t consider these teaching years as legit. I want to set myself on track to teach at international schools.
Friends and colleagues have taken the PGCEi in China and I am wondering if this is a good route ti get a postion at either an IB or non-IB school? Or is it only useful achools offering PGCE curriculum?
I’m Australian and doing a post graduate degree in education by distance learning. My plan is to continue teaching at international schools and I like the IB curriculum, especially PYP.
Should I take the PGCEi to be certified and considered for a homeroom tracher position? Or should I go for Teacher Ready or Teach Now or something else? Taking considerable time out of the year to go back to Australia would not be suitable. I would prefer to do things online with minimum face to face time (if that is even possible). I would also like to keep my options open in case I apply for a non-IB school in the future.
Thanks in advance.
Request advice! PGCEi or alternative
Response
There really isnt a PGCEi curriculum being used in K12/KS ISs.
A PGCEi is a working certificate for the third tier In IE, the problem is moving up to 2nd and 1st tier where the PGCEi isnt nearly as marketable. A lot of the second tier is composed of IB ISs, not that you dont find them at third (or even first tier).
Understand though that a PGCEi is not a credential (you will not receive QTS in the UK), its an academic qualification in its entirety. There is a proces where you can complete the PGCEi and then after two years experience (they may count what you have done already, but not likely) you can then apply for an initial credential (entry grade) through the state of CT, you could then apply for QTS (which is a coin flip if its granted). As such if your already doing a post grad degree in edu by distance there isnt any benefit to your utility or marketability by doing the PGCEi. You could just as easily use the graduate degree for a CT credential as you could the PGCEi.
You can not obtain a credential through Teach Ready and FL, you must be a US citizen to do so, all you will get is a letter of eligibility which isnt a substitute for a credential.
Teach Now is certainly an option and will cost about the same as a PGCEi, you can then use the DC credential you would get and apply for QTS without issue. If all your going to teach or interested in teaching is primary or EC you could allow the DC credential to expire and retain QTS solely (the DC credential would require PD to renew it every 4 years).
The functional difference between the various pathways depend on your access and ability to do field work. If you dont have a classroom than the PGCEi is your option because there are programs without a field work component, the program is entirely academic. If you have a regular appointment and access to a classroom than Teach Now is the better option, because you will need to do 12 weeks of field work.
The other option is you could apply for a MA provisional credential which would require several exams and demonstration of obtaining some academic competency (which you might already have as part of your graduate degree program) but its something you could do in a month and the credential would be an effective lifetime credential.
A PGCEi is a working certificate for the third tier In IE, the problem is moving up to 2nd and 1st tier where the PGCEi isnt nearly as marketable. A lot of the second tier is composed of IB ISs, not that you dont find them at third (or even first tier).
Understand though that a PGCEi is not a credential (you will not receive QTS in the UK), its an academic qualification in its entirety. There is a proces where you can complete the PGCEi and then after two years experience (they may count what you have done already, but not likely) you can then apply for an initial credential (entry grade) through the state of CT, you could then apply for QTS (which is a coin flip if its granted). As such if your already doing a post grad degree in edu by distance there isnt any benefit to your utility or marketability by doing the PGCEi. You could just as easily use the graduate degree for a CT credential as you could the PGCEi.
You can not obtain a credential through Teach Ready and FL, you must be a US citizen to do so, all you will get is a letter of eligibility which isnt a substitute for a credential.
Teach Now is certainly an option and will cost about the same as a PGCEi, you can then use the DC credential you would get and apply for QTS without issue. If all your going to teach or interested in teaching is primary or EC you could allow the DC credential to expire and retain QTS solely (the DC credential would require PD to renew it every 4 years).
The functional difference between the various pathways depend on your access and ability to do field work. If you dont have a classroom than the PGCEi is your option because there are programs without a field work component, the program is entirely academic. If you have a regular appointment and access to a classroom than Teach Now is the better option, because you will need to do 12 weeks of field work.
The other option is you could apply for a MA provisional credential which would require several exams and demonstration of obtaining some academic competency (which you might already have as part of your graduate degree program) but its something you could do in a month and the credential would be an effective lifetime credential.
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Newatthisgame
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 10:17 am
Re: Request advice! PGCEi or alternative
@Psyguy
Thanks for the reply.
I have a classroom as I am teaching kindergarten level at an IB school. Quite a few people here do the PGCEi approach purely for using it as an international working credential. However after hearing you explain about 2nd tier and 1st tier, a DC credential may be the way to go.
Could you explain what CT stands for? The MA provisional credential sounds like a winner as well. Would that be through an Australian university or somewhere else? I will chase my university on whether my master of education degree and its components are eligible for it.
Thanks again.
Thanks for the reply.
I have a classroom as I am teaching kindergarten level at an IB school. Quite a few people here do the PGCEi approach purely for using it as an international working credential. However after hearing you explain about 2nd tier and 1st tier, a DC credential may be the way to go.
Could you explain what CT stands for? The MA provisional credential sounds like a winner as well. Would that be through an Australian university or somewhere else? I will chase my university on whether my master of education degree and its components are eligible for it.
Thanks again.
Reply
@Newatthisgame
CT is the abbreviation for the US state of Connecticut. MA is the abbreviation for the US state of Massachusetts.
No, neither of them have anything to do with an AUS university, they are the professional educator credentials issued by the regulating authorities in those states.
CT is the abbreviation for the US state of Connecticut. MA is the abbreviation for the US state of Massachusetts.
No, neither of them have anything to do with an AUS university, they are the professional educator credentials issued by the regulating authorities in those states.