Current and Needed Research on Alternative Certification Programs

Abstract

With alternative certification programs gaining popularity in teacher education, the need to evaluate these programs has become much more necessary. Without strict guidelines to classify alternative certification programs, it is difficult to make generalizations about these programs because of different requirements for completion and certification. Furthermore, differing research analyses result in conflicting views, making alternative certification programs even more difficult to evaluate. This article examines the results of several research studies and focuses upon two key components of teacher education: coursework and fieldwork. Researchers have called for different types of studies to evaluate alternative certification programs more effectively. Several of these research questions have been included in this article.