From Wikipedia:
Quote:
In the United States, each state determines the requirements for getting a license to teach. Normally, a bachelor's degree with a major in a certifiable area (languages, arts, sciences, etc.) is a minimum requirement, along with rigorous pedagogical methods course work and practical field experiences as "student teachers." It is also required by all states that teachers pass standardised exams at the national and/or state levels both in the subjects they teach and the methods of teaching those subjects, and that they undergo constant evaluation by local, state, and sometimes even private organizations during their first years of teaching. Most states use graduated licensing programs (i.e., initial, Stage II, Rank I, professional, provisional, etc.). A license to teach in one state will usually facilitate the obtainment of a license in another state.
Teachers in almost all states must have a Bachelor's degree with the appropriate teacher preparation course and complete a Master's degree within five years. Additionally, to be permanently certified, teachers must pass three state exams on pedagogy, general knowledge and knowledge of a content area. In order to work in a public school a candidate must be fingerprinted.
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For you, sanddrag, it sounds like you would need to complete your undergraduate degree, and then get your teaching certification and masters degree in education. (Someone correct me if I am wrong!)
From what I hear and observe (my parents are both educators), nowadays, the aquisition of your teaching certification in increasingly more difficult than it used to be. New teachers at my high school in Connecticut must spend two years (as student teachers) developing a portfolio in order to get certified. From what they tell me, the process is rather difficult and stressful.
Try talking to a teacher from your state (who teaches at the grade level you are interested in), and ask them about the specific requirements, as well as their experiences.
Good luck!