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Best high school teacher certifications
The best certifications for a high school teacher are Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:), and Certified Secondary Culinary Educator (CSCE).
High school teacher certifications demonstrate your competency as a high school teacher to employers. However, not all high school teacher certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best high school teacher certifications. Obtaining a high school teacher certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
10 best certifications for high school teachers
10 best high school teacher certifications
1. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
2. Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:)
Holders of this recognition certification have demonstrated the ability to expressively interpret classroom content and discourse and the ability to receptively interpret student or teen sign language. It is not limited to any one sign language or system. This certification is issued to interpreters who work with students and teenagers who use predominately American Sign Language (ASL), Manually-Coded English (MCE) and Pidgin Sign English (PSE). Holders also demonstrate proficiency in the voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice interpreting skills of interpreters who work in the elementary and secondary school classroom setting.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
3. Certified Secondary Culinary Educator (CSCE)
The individual seeking CSCE is an advanced degreed culinary professional who is working as an educator in an accredited secondary or vocational institution responsible for the development, implementation, administration, evaluation, and maintenance of a culinary arts or foodservice management curriculum; possesses a thorough knowledge of culinary arts, educational development, food safety and sanitation, and culinary nutrition.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
4. Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)
The Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification validates that educators have the global educator technology literacy competencies needed to provide a rich, custom learning experience for students. MCE certification is ideal for educators-in-training, faculty of teacher training colleges, and in-service educators. Microsoft offers a comprehensive e-learning curriculum, 21CLD, to help educators prepare for this rigorous exam.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
5. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)
IPMA-HR strives to encourage excellence in public sector human resources, promote continuous learning and develop the next generation of leaders. To that end, IPMA-HR offers two internationally recognized certification programs to the public HR community: the IPMA-CP and the IPMA-CS.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
6. Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS)
A CDMS designation communicates professional credibility. Your credential: - Validates specialized knowledge of disability management through examination - Verifies requisite levels of education and experience - Demonstrates commitment to upgrading skills - Requires adherence to a code of professional conduct.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
7. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor
Knowing how to respond to a first aid or CPR emergency is one of the most important skills a person can possess. The Standard First Aid, CPR and AED course meets the OSHA requirements and is your tool for training employees or the general public on the latest skills, techniques and expertise in life-saving procedures. The practice and feedback of using related skills in a realistic situation is integrated into the actual teaching experience.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? No
8. Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS-HDFS)
The AAFCS Certification Program is designed to assure the public that credentialed family and consumer sciences professionals have attained a threshold level of knowledge that enables them to perform services as defined by the mission of the profession, foster excellence in the family and consumer sciences profession and develop criteria for assessing such excellence, and promote professional growth of individuals certified in family and consumer sciences by encouraging a systematic program of professional development and continuing education.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
9. National Board Certification - Early Adolescence/English Language Arts
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has organized the standards for accomplished Early Adolescence/English Language Arts teachers into 16 standards. The standards have been ordered to facilitate understanding, not to assign priorities. They each describe an important facet of accomplished teaching; they often occur concurrently because of the seamless quality of accomplished practice. These standards serve as the basis for National Board Certification in this field.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 10 year(s)
10. Certificate to Teach English as a Foreign Language (CTEFL)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
What is the best certification for a high school teacher?
The best high school teacher certification is Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is awarded by the Boston Language Institute. This certification corresponds to a specialty within a recognized occupation.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this high school teacher certification:
- To become a certified Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), you need to pass the exam.
- Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every year.
What certifications can impact a high school teacher career and salary?
The Microsoft Certified Educator certification will help you to secure a teacher position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A teacher's average salary is $46,618 whereas high school teachers make an average salary of $52,441.
The most common combination of high school teacher certifications include: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:), and Certified Secondary Culinary Educator (CSCE).
Online courses for high school teachers to earn certifications
1. The Teacher and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social and emotional learning, or SEL, programs have flourished in schools during the last decade. These programs vary widely but most share a concern for five individual, student competencies: self awareness; self-management; social awareness; relationship skills; and finally responsible decision making. It is important for teachers and parents to know about and understand these programs. While lots of SEL programs emphasize K-12 student social and emotional learning, only a very few programs...
2. Music Education for Teachers
In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...
3. Algebra 2 & Trigonometry: A Complete High School Curriculum
Includes videos and over 300 pages of quizzes/worksheets (answer keys provided!)...
4. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)
Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...
5. ICT in Primary Education: Transforming children's learning across the curriculum
Why and how are teachers integrating ICT (Information and Communication Technology) into primary education? In this course we analyse examples from schools in different parts of the world, and bring professional teachers, headteachers and policymakers together to share their best ideas and inspiring stories. The materials in the course are based on studies carried out for the UNESCO Institute of IT in Education, Moscow. Learning Outcomes: to be aware of the range of reasons for using ICT to...
6. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher
Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...
7. ADHD Study Skills For High School, College, & Grad School
Award-winning Psychotherapist with ADHD shares how to get those top grades & surprise yourself with your greatness!...
8. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom
Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
9. ELL Success in the Content Classroom: Teacher Toolbox Series
Plan lessons, activities and assessment with the ELL in mind, and create an engaging and welcoming environment for the ELL and their families.\n\nThis Specialization covers lesson planning and assessing with the ELL in mind as well as engaging the ELL student and their families in the school and community. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply the skills you learned by creating an annotated lesson plan and assessment with appropriate modifications for the ELL students. You will also...
10. Online Learning Design for Educators
This specialization is for educators seeking to improve and expand their repertoire of online teaching skills related to the design, development and delivery of effective and engaging online courses and lessons for school age and adult learners.\n\nLearning in the 21st century no longer takes place exclusively between the four walls of a physical classroom. With advances in technology, learners now expect to be offered flexible study modes outside of the traditional face-to-face model. This...
11. My Google Classroom: Google Classroom Made Easy to Beginners
Master Google Classroom: Discover How to Successfully Setup and Start Teaching With Google Classroom in Minutes!...
12. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Putting Theory Into Practice in the ESL/EFL Classroom...
13. American Education Reform: History, Policy, Practice
Discover what shapes how we talk about schools today by exploring the history of U.S. education reform. Engage with the main actors, key decisions, and major turning points in this history. See how social forces drive reform. Learn about how the critical tensions embedded in U.S. education policy and practice apply to schools nationally, globally— and where you live...
14. How To Teach Us
Join High Tech High in this groundbreaking new course that follows the educational experiences of various students in our schools. We will will listen to them as they tell us How To Teach Us...
15. Physics - Kinematics for High School and AP Physics 1
This is a comprehensive Algebra based Mechanics course in physics specifically covering topics of Kinematics...
16. Teaching with Google Classroom
Learn how to create, use, and teach creative, memorable lessons using Google Classroom...
17. School Health for Children and Adolescents
Children and adolescents spend so much of their time in school regardless of where they live in the world. Health and learning are closely connected in the school setting, where good health and healthy practices create the optimal conditions for students’ academic success. And the contrary is also true: poor heath and unhealthy practices build tall barriers to student learning.\n\nThe courses of this specialization are designed to equip learners to manage common health conditions including...
18. Mathematics for Machine Learning
For a lot of higher level courses in Machine Learning and Data Science, you find you need to freshen up on the basics in mathematics - stuff you may have studied before in school or university, but which was taught in another context, or not very intuitively, such that you struggle to relate it to how it’s used in Computer Science. This specialization aims to bridge that gap, getting you up to speed in the underlying mathematics, building an intuitive understanding, and relating it to Machine...
19. Pre-Algebra Explained
Master Pre-Algebra with 700 Practice Questions! Prepare for High School Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry...
20. The Beginner's Guide To Understanding Algebra 1 & Algebra 2
Master The Fundamentals of Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 and be ready to pass any test!...