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School district pay is based on years of service and units
earned past the Bachelors degree. In my day the fifth year of
college was the student teaching and credential year worth 30
units on the pay scale. So the starting point for me was a
BA + 30. Most teachers started with a teaching credential and
30 units. The next pay scale jump was BA+45, then BA+60 then
any combination of masters degree and units such as MA or
MS+90. Most districts do not require masters to reach the end
of the pay scale but offer a stipend if you have one.

It is a long and daunting task to teach all day and try to go
to night school and classes for salary placement. I tried to
take classes in my subject area to be a better teacher. But
any of those teacher education classes work.

I never took on line classes but that is an option if
accepted by district HR department. My masters took 18 months
and paid for itself the next year with the nice raise in pay.

The two year program where you get paid, certified and earn
masters would be organized and keep the debt load down. But
working at inner city school can be a difficult challenge.

Many school districts will not hire a beginning teacher if
they have a masters degree as you are more expensive.

The main requirement for a teaching credential is passing the
required testing first. Then student teaching is required,
you will not earn a credential unless you student teach. Non
of that is needed for Community College.

Also having a major in the subject is better than just a BA
or BS. Also some subject areas are in higher demand than
others. History and Social Science credentials are abundant
where Math and Science are harder to find. Plus special
education will always be in demand.

Supply and demand always goes through cycles. After the 2008
recession there were so many pink slips that future teachers
stopped training and picked other job approaches.

My daughter is almost done with MS in Marine Biology and
hopes to teach one or two classes at the Community College.
That is a foot in the door, and if offered she will take it.

Good luck and welcome to the education profession.

On 4/22/16, tangelo wrote:
> Hello, I'm an older, non-trad undergrad student graduating
from UCLA
> next spring. I want to become a high school teacher, and
eventually
> teach community college. What is the best path to do this?
Do I want
> to go to a traditional masters path in education? TFA has
approached
> me, offering a two year program teaching in a lower income
community
> which I'm totally comfortable with. In that time, they will
certify
> me and I can earn my masters along the way during my two
year
> commitment. I also get paid during those two years. Sounds
perfect,
> but I wanted to get some other opinions first.
>
> How did you become certified in California? Did you earn
your
> masters, and if so, what kind and where? Thanks guys,
feeling a
> little confused right now. Any links to websites that might
help me
> understand how to became a teacher also appreciated.

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