Greater New Orleans

Certification and Testing

All 2010 Greater New Orleans corps members will be required to work toward certification, unless they are already eligible for a Louisiana teaching certificate. To meet this requirement, Teach For America – Greater New Orleans has partnered with the Louisiana Practitioner Teacher Program (PTP), one of the most high-quality, efficient, and affordable alternative certification programs in the country. Corps members become certified within two years by participating in the PTP, an 18-month certification program created and run by The New Teacher Project (TNTP).

In order to complete the program successfully, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Pass required exams;
• Submit all required paperwork and documentation in a timely manner;
• Successfully complete the Teach For America summer institute and related commitments;
• Attend and participate in observation debrief discussions, mentor meetings professional development opportunities, and 18 three-hour content seminars;
• Complete a teacher portfolio at the end of the first year of teaching;
• Pass the Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program (LaTAAP);
• And fulfill the two-year teaching assignment.

Relative to other regions, costs for this program are notably affordable, ranging from $2,500 to $3,500. Applicants will receive further information about these requirements once accepted into the Greater New Orleans region.

At a Glance

Costs to Begin Teaching
Testing:: $150-370 to take all Praxis exams, depending on placement
Up-front Certification Program Cost: $3,500 for the year PTP program

Costs to Work toward Certification
$3,500