@psyguy

As expected, my application was declined and I was told my experience needed to be after being credentialed in order to get a QTS. So I’m just going to wait the 20 months to transfer and get my full QTS.

@psyguy

I'm surprised to hear I can use experience before getting my credential because the QTS application forms seemed to specifically state otherwise. Anyway, I applied so I guess I'll know the answer soon enough.

@payguy
I guess so. I was wondering, for QTS, doesn’t the teaching experience requirement only count teaching experience after getting the license you’re trying to transfer? Do I have to wait 20 months in order to successfully apply?

Another option I thought of in the short term was applying to get a Missouri license because they have full reciprocity and a lifetime credential.

@psyguy

Just wanted to give an update. I was able to get a subject matter expert license in my subject area from Arizona. The license had an allowable deficiency for the NES Assessment of Professional Knowledge:Secondary which I would’ve had to pass in two years.

I then was successful is transferring that license to Mississippi, and I was given a SEL (Standard Educator License) in my subject area with no deficiencies or provisions. I’m able to add endorsements freely as well, providing I complete coursework or pass that subject’s praxis exam.

So this was a successful path for me. It may or may not work for others. For example, this path probably won’t work for non-American teachers. I’m thankful I didn’t have to take any tests for this license since they stress me out so much.

An update. I’m still in the process of applying for my Arizona license, but I found another simpler path that I’m going for first. In Arizona, they have something called “subject matter expert” standard license. For this, all you need is a degree in a related subject and to pass the professional knowledge test within two years after receiving the license. The only caveat with this license is that you can’t add anything on to the license apart from ESL or special needs endorsements. Otherwise it lasts 12 years and allows you to teach the same as if you had a secondary teaching license. I have a degree in communications so I’ll get my credential for Journalism first and after I pass my professional knowledge test I’ll look at getting the secondary license for ELA.

@psyguy

So I specifically asked the representative if I could use my foreign teaching experience and she said yes but I couldn’t use it to exempt myself from having to take the exams. I also asked if it mattered that my bachelors was not in English, and she said no. She said to send my masters transcripts and if there are any education courses I still have to take she’ll let me know. So it sounds like that no foreign teaching experience accepted is only for being able to wave the exams. It also says so on the website. https://www.azed.gov/node/27084

@psyguy

I actually ended up calling the Arizona Department of Education and they told me that I could get my certification in my situation. I just have to send them my transcripts and get my school to sign a paper saying I’ve been teaching English for at least two years, and then take some exams and get fingerprints done. I think they require me to take the ELA exam first for being able to teach ESOL. But I have to call to ask more information.

@psyguy

Hey Psyguy. Could you refer me to the website to get an Arizona license through the process you mentioned above. I have a Masters in Education (ESOL) so I had to take a lot of education courses which I would assume would fulfill the requirement you mentioned. Where should I look for completing this process?

This may be a long shot, but I read that in Finland the teachers have to have a masters to teach. I have my masters, which had a practicum element, but I don’t have a teaching qualification yet. I’m wondering, will Finland recognize it as a teaching qualification? Has anyone been through that process with them?

Thanks everyone for your input on this. Yes my masters is not a teacher prep program (I wish it were). It is meant for teachers who want to add ESOL on to their licenses, but I thought it was a good option for me if I wanted to teach at university in Japan or America and it gave me the education background I was seeking. Thank you psyguy, I'm looking into the Utah license now. So it's only the AEL that I could get without taking the praxis right, not the PEL? What would I need to do to get the PEL, do a teacher prep program? Also, if I took say the English praxis exam and passed it, would that be all that's necessary to get an AEL for English in addition to ESOL in Utah?

I'm currently studying at Fort Hays University and I'll get my Masters of Science in Education (ESOL) next year. I'm wondering if there is any teaching license that doesn't require me to take exams if I have my Masters in Education (ESOL) and have been teaching ESOL for 10 years in Japan? My masters program has a practicum component which I am completing at the school I currently work at in Japan.

Sorry, I reread the questions evilharo wrote. I now understand he wasn't talking about getting a QTS.

@Psyguy

So does that mean you could potentially get a QTS with a provisional Massachusetts Teaching License as long as you leave off that it's provisional on your resume and application? Do they really not look to much into it? If they ask you where you did your teacher training in the interview, what could you say that wouldn't raise suspicion?

@psyguy

Could you transfer the MA provisional license to the 5 year MS license and then apply for QTS? Also, have you heard anything about the Minnesota professional portfolio pathway? It seems like as long as you pass the tests and have extensive experience in your field you can get a standard teaching license.

Thanks Psyguy.
You mentioned Teacher Ready but I'd have to go back to the states to take the tests as far as I know.
What about TeachNow? Can it still be converted to a QTS if you're American as opposed to British? I'm assuming TeachNow would also be able to be transferred to a Michigan teaching license as well?