I have a BBA in Bus. Admin but I want to teach middle school in NJ. Should I take Praxis II exam to start?

Question

Looking to change careers to be a teacher, specifically in NJ. Grad in 1995 with BBA in Business Admin. Always wanted to be a teacher. NJ website is kind of confusing with the multiple requirements--what should be the first step?

Answer 1

Identify the content area you'd like to teach, which will tell you what certification you need to get, which determines the content-area Praxis test you need to take.  The content-area Praxis can be taken at any time.  The PPST tests (pre-professional reading, writing, math and any other NJ requires) can also be taken at any time.  You might want to start with those.  The pedagogical Praxis (e.g. Principles of Learning & Teaching) is taken after you complete coursework and before you begin student teaching.

But really, you need to choose an area of certification.  Middle schools are considered secondary (grades 7-12) and don't offer specialized electives like high schools do.  I say this because your degree is in business and business courses are usually electives at the high school level.

Further, "business" can fall under a couple areas:  business math (which is under the auspices of a math department), economics (which is under social studies), etc.  So it can get pretty confusing.  You can't teach math with a social studies cert and vice versa.  (I hope you're seeing the need to decide on what exactly you want to teach...)

If you want to head in another direction and teach science or English or art or whatever, you're going to have to go back and pick up those undergrad credits.

If you want a live person to help you, contact the local college where you plan to enroll in a teacher education program.  Don't know where you are, but Rutgers, for example, offers Ed degrees and their website might be a good place for general info.  Tell them you need to know where to begin and ask for a general timeline:  what can you do now, what do you need to do next.

And also realize, please I beg of you, that becoming a teacher requires  much, much more than sitting for a couple of Praxis tests.  So many people here ask how they can transition into teaching with their degree in whatever..."but I don't want to go back to college."  Well, you're gonna.  And you should.  ;)

Good luck.

Answer 2

Just to add a little to the above poster:

NJ wants 30 college credits in the subject you want to teach in, to teach high school; 15 for middle school.  The credits must be in a logical sequence, whatever that means.

Normally a math major,an English major, and so on has this with no problem.  Business is trickier.

A HS teacher takes the HS Praxis II in their subject, and is automatically qualified for middle school as well.

If you can go back to your school, visit the Education Dept, have someone unofficially look at your transcript, they can probably advise you whether you have the 30 credits in the right place.