Physics teacher

Question: I want to teach science at the secondary level. I have a strong background in physics. Have the state budget problems effected hiring of teachers? What is the quickest way to get a teaching credential and start teaching?
— Lynn

Response: There is always a need for secondary school science teachers — including physics — according to a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) representative.

Also, a recent Los Angeles Times story reported LAUSD will not lay off any teachers for the 2003-2004 school year. It also stated the district will hire as many as 3,500 teachers over the same period.

Credential Requirements
You can serve as a day-to-day substitute teacher for no more than 30 days during the school year with an emergency 30-day substitute teaching permit. This is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and is valid for one year.

The requirements for earning the emergency permit are a bachelor's degree and a passing score on the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST). The next examination date is October 11, 2003. Two-thirds of people taking the CBEST exam pass on their first attempt.

To teach full-time in a California secondary school, you need a single subject teaching credential with an optional subject area, such as physics.

Requirements for a preliminary teaching credential include a bachelor's degree, completion of 30 or more post-baccalaureate units and passing the CBEST. You'll also have to pass the California Subjects Examination Teacher (CSET) which tests your knowledge of the subject matter.

Securing a clear credential requires a preliminary credential and completion of roughly 9 to 15 additional units in health, special education and computers.

The preliminary credential is issued for a maximum of five years and a clear credential must be renewed, by paying a fee, every five years.

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

1900 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95814

(888) 921-2682

www.ctc.ca.gov

CBEST Program

P.O. Box 340880

Sacramento, CA 95834-0880

(916) 928-4000.

www.cbest/nesinc.com

Salary
A LAUSD intern credentialed secondary school teacher will earn approximately $35,900 annually, to start. A secondary school teacher with a preliminary or clear credential earns approximately $41,200.

Currently, LAUSD compensates substitute teachers approximately $156 per day on short-term assignments (based on a 6-hour day) and approximately $210 per day for long-term assignments.

Training Options and Costs
Most California State Universities offer a credential program. For example:

California State University, Northridge

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330

(818) 677-2580

Fax (818) 677-2582

www.csun.edu/education/sed/

Contact: Dr. Smith, Internship Coordinator

(818) 677-2224

The College of Education offers a 31 unit single subject preliminary credential program with a student teacher option. Program admission requirements include a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.7, passing scores on the CBEST and CSET, and verification of completion of 45 hours of field experience (no limit as to when acquired). According to a representative, experience can be earned through teacher aide work and volunteer work, so long as there is exposure to K-12 aged children.

Before enrolling in the credential program, students can secure employment paid employment as a full time intern secondary school teacher with a participating school district such as LAUSD. According to a representative, while waiting for official acceptance into the program, you can request a letter from the CSUN program internship coordinator confirming your qualifications for the credential program. She added this could enhance your chances of recruitment as a student teacher intern.

While working as paid student interns, students are required to complete at least six units of coursework per semester. The university is responsible for filing for the preliminary and clear credential. The program takes approximately two years to complete. Classes are offered in the late afternoons and evenings to accommodate working teachers. Graduate tuition for a full-time semester (6 units or more) semester is $1,066 and for a part-time semester (6 units or less) is $703, not including book and miscellaneous expenses.

Accelerated Collaborative Program

Contact: Dr. Judy Lombardi

Accelerated Collaborative Teacher (ACT) Option

(818) 677-2224]

E-mail: judy.lombardi@csun.edu

This is a one-year, 31-unit full time preliminary credential program. Admission requirements (university and credential) include completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum of GPA of 2.7, and passing scores on the CBEST and CSET.

Test Preparation Resources
The CSUN web site provides the online resource, The Sourcebook for Teaching Science, which provides a variety of information including teaching demonstration techniques, and a link to related publications and associations. For further information, refer to the following web site: www.csun.edu/science/physics/index.html

CBEST review workshop
The next CBEST test date is scheduled for October 11, 2003 and the next CSET test date is scheduled for November 8, 2003. The cost for taking the CBEST is $41 and cost for taking the CSET is $72.

California State University Northridge (CSUN)

Division of Extended Education

College of Extended Learning

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8343

(818) 677-4618

www.csun.edu

The college offers CBEST review workshops and they are generally within three Saturday sessions, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., on the month prior to each test date. Classes may be repeated, at no additional cost, if the applicant doesn't pass the CBEST examination. The three-session workshop costs $235.

CSET review resource

CSET

www.cset.nesinc.com/

The CSET web site provides a sample listing of questions and responses as well as an annotated listing of recommended physics books to read in preparation for the exam.

Job Resources

LAUSD

Human Resources Division

Recruitment Office

333 S. Beaudry, 15th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 241-5300

www.teachinla.com

The HR Division web site provides information on the teacher application process. According to a representative, the district accepts online applications for both intern and credentialed teaching positions on an ongoing basis. According to my research, there are approximately 60 LAUSD high schools.

Ed-Join

www.ed-join.org

In association with the teacher recruitment center, Ed-Join provides an online listing of teaching opportunities categorized by school district.

American Association of Physics Teachers

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, MD 20740

(301) 209-3311

www.aapt.org

Southern California Chapter

www.csupomona.edu/~scaapt/

Contact: Forouzan Faridian, Vice President

E-mail: ffaridia@lausd.k12.ca.us

This is a professional organization of physics teacher and those pursuing employment in physics related field. Membership benefits include networking opportunities at local chapter meetings, and field updates through publications such as The Physics Teacher. Annual graduate student membership dues are $83 and annual southern California chapter membership dues are $10.

 
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.