A teacher preparation program equips you with the skills and knowledge to teach in your chosen grade and subject. You need to meet certification requirements from a state-approved program to lead a classroom.

Many colleges and universities have teacher preparation programs, usually in the school’s college of education. Most states also have options through non-school providers for people who already have a degree.

Pro Tip: Some states use “TPP” when referring to teacher preparation programs. Others use EPP for educator preparation program. These mean the same thing.

Completing a teacher preparation program is only one of the steps to getting certified to teach. You’ll also need to earn a bachelor’s degree, pass teaching tests and apply for certification. Depending on your state, you may have additional steps.

If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry, we’ll be with you the whole time to answer questions.

There are teacher preparation programs that cater to almost anyone’s life situation, but the most common are:

• Undergraduate certification with a bachelor’s degree
• Post-graduate certification with a master’s degree
• Post-graduate, certificate only programs
• Post-graduate, alternative certification

Head over to About Programs to learn more.

Every program offers its own unique approach to teacher preparation, but you can still compare them. Key criteria that set programs apart include hands-on experience, preparation for diverse populations, mentoring and coaching, and commitment to improvement.

Get in-depth info about programs in one of our partner regions, or explore our national database:

• Connecticut 
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• Houston
• Kansas City
• North Carolina