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Best middle school teacher certifications

The best certifications for a middle school teacher are Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), and Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:).

Middle school teacher certifications demonstrate your competency as a middle school teacher to employers. However, not all middle school teacher certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best middle school teacher certifications. Obtaining a middle school teacher certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

7 best middle school teacher certifications

1. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)

2. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

Certification details
  • 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? 
Certifying organization
Boston Language Institute
Course that help you to prepare for certification
TEFL Essentials: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
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4.5
(1,125)

3. 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.

Certification details
  • 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? 
Certifying organization
Registry of Interpreters for...
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Master the FTCE Reading K-12
udemy
4.7
(609)

4. Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam is a competency-based test that measures the possession, application and interpretation of knowledge related to the Seven Areas of Responsibilities: a comprehensive set of Competencies and Sub-competencies defining the role of an entry-level health educator.

Certification details
  • 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? Every 5 year(s)

5. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying organization
National Board for Professional...

6. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying organization
American Culinary Federation, Inc.

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.

Certification details
  • 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
Certifying organization
National Safety Council
Course that help you to prepare for certification
First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking
udemy
4.8
(452)

What is the best certification for a middle school teacher?

The best middle school teacher certification is Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE). The Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) is awarded by the Microsoft.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this middle school teacher certification:

  • To become a certified Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE), you don't need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 1 year.

What certifications can impact a middle school teacher career and salary?

The Certified Secondary Culinary 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 middle school teachers make an average salary of $53,363.

Best certifications

The most common combination of middle school teacher certifications include: Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), and Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:).

Online courses for middle school teachers to earn certifications

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1. Music Education for Teachers

coursera

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...

2. The Teacher and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

coursera

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...

3. Algebra 2 & Trigonometry: A Complete High School Curriculum

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4.4
(517)

Includes videos and over 300 pages of quizzes/worksheets (answer keys provided!)...

4. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)

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4.4
(876)

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

coursera

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. THINK GLOBAL: TEACHERS TRAINING COURSE (IDP-ICE)

coursera

A group of seven European partners from Catalonia, Belgium, and Wales worked together on the Erasmus+ funded ‘Think Global’ project on global competence. The project seeks to address the following research question through development and piloting of practical classroom activities: What is global competence, and how can it be learned effectively? The Think Global project explores, through international collaboration, how global competence is defined, taught, learned, and measured in the...

7. Math for Middle Schoolers: Statistics

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4.5
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Learn the Basics of Statistics and Succeed in your Middle School Math Classes...

8. Pre-Algebra Explained

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4.6
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Master Pre-Algebra with 700 Practice Questions! Prepare for High School Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry...

9. ELL Success in the Content Classroom: Teacher Toolbox Series

coursera

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

coursera

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. Intro to Game Development using Unity - Part I

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4.2
(871)

A 2D game will be developed from scratch - perfect beginning course for middle and high school age students!...

12. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom

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4.5
(416)

Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...

13. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

coursera

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,...

14. Lesson Planning with the ELL in Mind

coursera

In this course you will learn how to design lesson plans around the needs of your ELL students and their language level through the analysis of content language and cognitive demands. You will learn how to align language objectives to the adopted standards of your school and content area. You will learn how to modify existing course materials as well as develop graphic organizers and languages frames to support ELLs’ access to content. Analysis of second language acquisition theories will be...

15. My Google Classroom: Google Classroom Made Easy to Beginners

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4
(368)

Master Google Classroom: Discover How to Successfully Setup and Start Teaching With Google Classroom in Minutes!...

16. Outcome Based Education (OBE) & Academic Quality Assurance

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4.4
(1,390)

Master Course for Teachers' Development: Grow Your Teaching-Learning Expertise to World-Class Level...

17. Teaching with Google Classroom

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4.9
(1,234)

Learn how to create, use, and teach creative, memorable lessons using Google Classroom...

18. ADHD Study Skills For High School, College, & Grad School

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4.6
(615)

Award-winning Psychotherapist with ADHD shares how to get those top grades & surprise yourself with your greatness!...

19. Build Complete School Management System Using PHP Framework

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4.1
(627)

This is the only course where erp software is fully developed using the most simpliest approach but very secure...

20. College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own Beginning Level

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4.5
(418)

Learn One Year's College Chinese Curriculum in Just Two Months and Save Ten Thousand Dollars of Tuition...

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