JUST PLAIN NUTS:A MID-CAREER SWITCHER'S GUIDE TO BECOMING A NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER
JUST PLAIN NUTS:| A word from the author | 1 |
| How to use this guide | 4 |
| A mercifully brief overview of certification and licensing in New York City | 5 |
| What's the difference between a certificate and a license? | 5 |
| Certificate titles | 5 |
| Initial and Permanent Certificates | 7 |
| Is this the right decision? (Try before you buy) | 8 |
| Visiting schools | 8 |
| Substitute teaching | 9 |
| Teaching an after-school class | 10 |
| Teaching in a community program | 10 |
| Using the alternative certification route | 10 |
| Teaching in a shortage area | 10 |
| Considerations for new teachers who are older | 12 |
| Money | 12 |
| Time | 12 |
| Energy | 12 |
| Status | 13 |
| What do you want to teach? | 14 |
| Routes to becoming certified | 15 |
| Traditional | 15 |
| Alternative | 17 |
| Alternative to the alternatives | 21 |
| So what's the right route? | 26 |
| Examinations | 28 |
| Workshops | 30 |
| Subject area credit | 31 |
| Credit for professional experience | 32 |
| Professional experience for trade licenses | 33 |
| The credit count | 33 |
| Quickie ways to remedy your credit deficit | 34 |
| Accept the way it is. (Only Joel Klein gets a waiver.) | 35 |
| Student teaching credit | 36 |
| Higher pay for professional experience. (Only math and science teachers need apply.) | 37 |
| Graduate school programs for second-career teachers | 38 |
| The functionally related Masters degree | 38 |
| Dealing effectively with the Board of Ed and the State Education Department | 41 |
| Obtaining a position | 42 |
| You're not alone. Tales from the trenches. | 43 |
| Enjoy what you've earned | 45 |
| Appendix: Career-switcher's Map to NY Certification | 46 |
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