Corps members, like all public school teachers, must receive a teaching credential before they are hired by a school district or individual school, and they must meet state-specific requirements to be considered “highly qualified,” as required by federal law. Since most corps members have not completed a formal course of study in education before teaching, they are considered “nontraditional” teachers in most states, and the credentials they receive are typically referred to as “alternative” certificates or licenses.

In most states, corps members must:

• Pass a content-knowledge test and/or have taken specific college courses completed for a major or minor
• Take ongoing coursework at a local college or university while they are teaching

In many of our regions, corps members have the option of completing a master’s degree by the end of their two-year teaching commitment.

Regional staff members work with corps members to ensure that they meet initial requirements and receive their licenses before teaching. The costs to participate in certification programs, including tuition at local colleges or universities, vary widely by region. Many corps members use their AmeriCorps grants to cover at least some, if not all, of these costs. Some states and districts provide additional financial assistance, but in other cases, corps members must cover the remaining costs.

Find out more details by visiting the teaching section of each region's page.