I have a somewhat similar question, so I hope you don’t mind me piggybacking on your thread, Verano. If this is better off as a separate topic, please let me know, and I will create one.

I completed the Teacher Ready course a few years ago, which has a practicum teaching period of just 1 week. I then used my U.S. teaching credential to obtain UK QTS. Currently, I am happily employed in an international school in a country that does not have a clear minimum requirement of practicum teaching period. However, looking towards the future, I would like to be able to work in Hong Kong and qualify as a Registered Teacher there. As I understand it, I would not qualify at the moment due to one, or possibly two, factors:

1. Practicum teaching period was too short.
2. Length of teacher qualification course (Teacher Ready was an 8 month course, but I completed it early) – Would this be an issue?

Does anyone know of any additional qualification that I could obtain that would allow me to qualify as a RT in HK? I understand that the Sunderland PGCEi would work, but it seems pointless to enroll in a PGCEi when I already have a US credential and UK QTS. I do not see the value in that route.

I am interested in doing a Master’s degree in education at some point as well, and was wondering if this would be sufficient to qualify for RT status. Would having a US credential, UK QTS, and a M.Ed. be enough for the HKCAAVQ, or would they still turn me down due to the two factors listed above?
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

PsyGuy,

Cheers, thanks for that reply.

SideOut

@PsyGuy,

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread. However, to clarify, what in particular is raising the red flag regarding Teach Now with the TCL/TRA? Is it simply the fact that it is a TPI (and would all TPI routes now face the same scrutiny?)? Or has the Teach Now program in particular been singled out?

I ask because I recently completed the TeacherReady program and had planned on applying for QTS as soon as my Florida credential is issued. I'm just wondering if I should expect the same reply when I make my application.

Thanks,

SideOut

Hi everyone,

I am finishing up the TeacherReady program this month. The next step for me is to take the FTCE exams (Florida DOE exams). As I'm currently working overseas, I'll be returning to the U.S. for a few weeks this summer to take them. I want to make sure that I pass the exams on the first try, since it would be very inconvenient to have to go back again a few months later.

From what I've heard, the FTCE exams were made much more difficult around 2015, and the passing rate has dropped significantly. I've taken a few sample tests online (short, condensed versions) and they don't seem that difficult; however, I have a feeling they might not be representative of the level of the actual exams.

I will be taking the General Knowledge Test (Essay, English Language Skills, Reading, and Mathematics subtests), Professional Education Exam, and Elementary Education K-6 (Language Arts and Reading, Social Science, Science, and Mathematics subtests).

A couple of questions:

1. Has anyone taken the exams recently (since 2015)? How did you find them?

2. What did you do to prepare (test study guide books, etc)? Would you take a different approach if you were doing them again?



Thank you!

PsyGuy,

Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding your point. Your suspicion is that evidence was requested due to the fact that his credential was from D.C.? Since one potential pathway you mentioned was transitioning the credential to FL, would that mean that a FL credential is unlikely to encounter the same questioning?

s0830887,

Thanks for the info. That is very disheartening to hear. I still think TR was the best option for me in my situation; however, the ability to obtain QTS was a major selling point. I'd be interested to hear of any other recent Teacher Ready or Teach Now graduates who have applied for QTS.

PsyGuy,

Cheers, that's good to know.

PsyGuy,

Yes, your words more or less echo my thoughts. As you said, getting an actual appointment as a NET is a big maybe, so I certainly can't bank on it happening. Also, from reading about others' experiences, appointments can happen all throughout the summer up until just before the school year is starting.

I think the only logical path that I can take at this point is to embrace the IS position and focus on that. Regarding the NET scheme, I will cross that bridge if I come to it. If I do end up getting an appointment, it will be very difficult to decline.

I can understand both sides of the debate about breaking contract; however, realistically, I believe you have to look after your best interests. I have "done the right thing" in the past by passing up good opportunities in order to not break contract...I regretted it after the fact. When I was in a leadership role, I had a teacher resign mid-contract (he gave me enough notice to hire a replacement). I was sad to see him go and certainly didn't enjoy having to recruit again; however, I understood that the position he left for was better for his career, and so I didn't fault him for it.


Illiane_Blues,

Thanks for your reply. It looks like that's the option I'm going with!


WinterFerret,

Agreed, the salary isn't good. However, I have lived and worked in the area before, so I know that I will still have a good quality of life and save money on that salary. Certainly not as much as on the NET scheme, though. The IS position would be more about paying my dues for a few years to gain experience before hopefully moving on to a better IS.


Heliotrope,

I'd prefer not to give exact figures or location for the IS. Healthcare is included, but housing is not. I've lived and worked both there and in Hong Kong before, so I have a good grasp on the cost of living in both areas. I will be able to save money in both areas, but despite the high cost of living in HK, the savings potential there is still far greater. Lifestyle-wise, the location of the IS fits perfectly Having said that, I like HK and don't mind living there. Long-term, HK is probably more secure and stable.



Anyway, as PsyGuy mentioned, I don't actually have a choice to make yet, as I haven't been offered a NET appointment. Thank you to everyone who offered opinions and advice. It's good to get the ideas of others when making big (potential) decisions like this.

Hi everyone,

A bit of background on me. I have around 10 years of teaching and leadership experience in bilingual schools. Also, I will be finishing the TeacherReady program in a few months. In doing the TR program, the goal I set for myself was to get into a 3rd tier international school in my top choice location, with the idea of completing a 2 year contract there before hopefully moving up to a better school in the same location.

Well, I've been offered a contract by a third tier IS in my ideal location. So, mission accomplished and all that. However, to complicate matters, I have also been accepted into the Hong Kong EDB NET scheme candidate pool. Now, I know that being accepted into the candidate pool is only the first step, and there is still the possibility that I won't secure a job for the 2019-2020 school year. So, this decision is still somewhat hypothetical.

The NET salary would be more than triple the amount of that of the IS position, along with better benefits. Even with the high cost of living in HK, the savings potential would be far greater than with the IS. However, I have some hesitations.

My inclination is that, from a CV and experience point of view, the job at the international school would be more beneficial to my career. I imagine that, despite being extremely lucrative, being on the NET scheme is seen as simply ESOL experience.

So, I'd appreciate the opinions of others. If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Take the money and run? Or do 2 years at the IS in order to gain experience in an IS setting and hopefully make a career advancement after that? Is the NET Scheme seen as anything other than ESOL?

Thanks in advance.

PsyGuy,

Noted. It seems quite reasonable to me that a traditional academic pathway to certification would be looked on more favorably. In retrospect, this is the academic path I wish I had taken when I was in university, but of course hindsight is 20/20.

My conclusion was that TeacherReady is the best option for me as an American who wants to continue teaching abroad (but at least have the option of teaching in the U.S. in the future) and advance his career.

Thank you to all the posters who contributed to this thread.

PsyGuy,

Thank you for the clarification and for another detailed reply.


marieh,

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It sounds like TR worked out very well for you. That really helps to put my mind at ease regarding the value of the program.

kaligezi,

I agree that the TR course would probably be very beneficial for people without much classroom experience. I will say that, although I don't feel like I'm learning anything new, it is helpful to think about why I do the things I do in the classroom. So, I suppose from a perspective of self-reflection, the course is worthwhile.

Also, thanks for the information regarding the FTCE tests. That's good advice.

PsyGuy,

One last clarification regarding applying for QTS. Is it more or less guaranteed that QTS will be awarded for a U.S. teacher with a full valid state teaching certification, or is it assessed on a case by case basis? Would the fact that TR is an alternate pathway to certification perhaps count against it in the eyes of TCL?

PsyGuy,

Thank you for the detailed reply. That's great news about being eligible for QTS. Since the application is free and quick, it seems like a no brainer to apply. I plan on maintaining a valid U.S. qualification in the future, but having QTS as well would just add peace of mind.

Tyshine,

Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, the program seems quite easy so far. Most of what the modules have been focused on so far I've learned through experience during the past 10 years that I've been teaching (not the correct order to go about things, I admit). I do think the course would be very helpful for someone who hasn't spent any time in a classroom, though. That's good advice about pursuing further education after TR.

Doctor,

Thank you for your quick reply. I'm glad to hear that Teacher Ready has worked out well for you. Yes, you are correct that the last module requires a 5 day observation by the mentor teacher.

A bit off topic, but how did you find the FTCE tests? Looking at the annual pass rates online, they dropped significantly after the tests were revamped in 2015.

Hi everyone,

New forum member here. I'm an American currently teaching abroad who is enrolled in the Teacher Ready program. Prior to enrolling in this program I did a lot of research on this website and others regarding the best path to certification for someone in my position, and while not perfect, Teacher Ready seemed to be the best fit. I've been teaching abroad for a number of years and prefer to continue doing so while studying (not interested in a 1-2 year move back home to study). While I have no plans in the immediate future to teach in the U.S., at least having the option to do so would be somewhat comforting. Also, upon receiving my teaching certificate, my plan is to apply for QTS, since it is a lifetime qualification.

The course itself is going smoothly and isn't particularly difficult, which is part of the reason that I'm starting to have some doubts. For example, they don't give any grades on your coursework. All of the assignment feedback I've received so far has felt very generic. I'm assuming, perhaps wrongly so, that the other students in my cohort have received exactly the same feedback. You're allowed to retake quizzes and tests, with only the highest score being recorded. These things have somewhat cheapened the value of the course in my mind, to the point where I want to put my mind at ease before I continue on with the next module. Basically, I want to make sure that I'm not wasting my money, and that I will be employable both in the U.S. and with international schools after receiving my teaching certificate.


1. Will a Florida state certification obtained through the Teacher Ready programs qualify for reciprocity with every state that offers reciprocity to Florida certificates? Or, will the fact that it was earned through an alternate route mean that some states that normally offer reciprocity with Florida certificates might not in this case?

2. Will a Florida state certification obtained through the Teacher Ready program definitely make me eligible for QTS?

3. Any success stories out there of people who have completed this program and are now teaching in the U.S./internationally? Do you feel you are as eligible for jobs as people who have taken a traditional path to teaching certification?

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help to answer my questions. This forum has a wealth of information and has been incredibly helpful so far.