I found many teaching programs that are only nationally accredited, through National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Is that less valuable than a degree that is regionally accredited?
If you are a teacher interested in adding credentials then you should 1) consult your school district 2) consult you state licensure laws otherwise you might spend time and money earning a credential that has little or no value in your workplace.
The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education is actually called professional accreditation, which is one step higher than regional accreditation.
That may be true, but it's not required to get a teaching license. I didn't do an NCATE program. I'd wager that if you asked a teacher if their program was NCATE accredited, they wouldn't even know. My guess is that it's not as important as some of the other professional accreditations. -Matt
Matt, you would have one the bet. I don't know if my program at the CSU system was NCATE. Only can tell you that it is WASC accredited. Can't tell you if my actual teacher credential from SJSU was NCATE. It only mattered if I had a California Single Subject Teaching Credential with CLAD.
Perhaps this has been covered endlessly elsewhere, but I figure that this a good place to discuss it too: What are the benefits of having a teaching degree with the extra professional accreditation (whether NCATE or otherwise)?
The disparity in teacher licensure requirements and accreditation processes impedes teacher mobility along with licensure portability. The complexity and variation of licensure requirements among states as well complicates reciprocity. In my view, NCATE accreditation adds consistency in program quality outcomes and teacher licensure reciprocity and mobility between states (e.g., NASDTEC Interstate Agreement). Fifty states currently have partnerships with NCATE, meaning that the state and NCATE conduct joint reviews of colleges of education. Some states will recognize a license based on completion of a teacher preparation program that is accredited by NCATE, even if they do not recognize reciprocal contract states. The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC /founded 1997) is the other national accrediting organization (also CHEA and USDE recognized) for the education profession in the United States. As of 10/22/2010, NCATE and TEAC will consolidate into one organization within a 2-year period. The new accrediting agency will be the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). caepsite.org | CAEP - Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Thank you for the clarification, Major! Will all of the previously accredited programs have to reapply after the merger? Or will they be covered up until a certain point? How does that work?
Messdiener, I’m guessing regarding your question, but I’d consider that those already accredited by either NCATE or TEAC would likewise be accredited within the new consolidated /merged accreditation agency (CAEP).
Western Governors University is both regionally accredited and NCATE accredited. You can complete your licensure program at a distance, too. I did it - so can you!
Which degree did you complete, GBrown? What was the work load like? How long did the program last? etc.etc.