Alternate Route Programs

Programs Offered  We are proud to offer the following programs to support educators in their professional journey: TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)  Hybrid  P-3 (Preschool through Third Grade Certification) In-Person  Teacher of Students with Disabilities - Alternate Route Endorsement Fully Online    Pathways for Teacher Candidates  P–3 Specialized Alternate Route Program Graduate, Non-Degree Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) Alternate Route Graduate, Non-Degree Teacher of Students with Disabilities Endorsement Graduate, Non-Degree Graduate Early Childhood Endorsement Graduate, Non-Degree Early Childhood Education (M.A.) Graduate, Degree Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) Graduate, Degree Our programs are designed to provide high-quality, flexible pathways for aspiring and current educators to excel in their teaching careers.

Prior to Employment

To be eligible for the Alternate Route Program and in the field of education, the state of New Jersey requires all candidates to apply for their Certificate of Eligibility (CE). These are the basic requirements are:

1) Bachelor's or higher degree (must submit a degree-posted college transcript)

2) GPA of 3.0 or higher (If you graduated before September 1, 2016, the GPA is 2.75.)

3) Qualifying Score: Praxis II Subject Test (https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/testing/req/ )

4) Proficiency Exams (OPI and WPT) – for those seeking TESOL certification

5) Physiology/Hygiene Test (County Superintendent of Schools) 

Upon Employment

Once hired as a teacher of record, long-term substitute, or maternity leave position, an Alternate Route candidate must enroll in an approved Certificate of Eligibility Program to accrue an additional 400 hours of formal training and instruction or enter a graduate-level program for credits.

Becoming Permanently Certified

The standard certificate is a permanent certificate issued to a teacher who has met all requirements for state certification. The district/school will request the issuance of a standard teaching certificate upon successful completion of the Provisional Teacher Process (PTP). 

Note: A candidate cannot apply for the standard certificate; this certificate is requested by a school district.

To receive a standard certificate, the following must occur:

• District/school verified mentoring completion in NJEdCert.
• District/school submitted the final summative ratings for each school year in NJEdCert.
• Certificate of Eligibility Educator Preparation Program (CE EPP) submitted the appropriate Verification of Program Completion form.
• The educator completed an Oath of Allegiance and submitted payment in NJEdCert once recommended by the district/school.

• NJEdCert: Apply for Certification

Alternative Route to Teaching Coursework 
Early Childhood Education/P-3 CE Requirements

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Applicants who hold a CE in Preschool through Grade 3 are required to attend a State approved Preschool through Grade 3 program consisting of a minimum of 24 semester hour credits to secure full licensure. If you plan to seek work in New Jersey under a P-3 CE and complete the 24 semester hour credits while working under provisional licensure, you must enroll in a department-approved New Jersey college or university program. Current regulations do not permit provisional teachers working under a Preschool through Grade 3 endorsement to teach in a P3 setting while attending a Preschool through Grade 3 program outside of New Jersey. Please consult the Office of Certification and Induction if you have any questions before enrolling in an out-of-state or online P-3 program.

Special Note: While some nonpublic schools or child development centers will employ you without a CE in hand, you must have a CE in P-3 to complete the specialized alternate route courses and the PTP mentoring and evaluation.

TESOL CE Requirements

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Applicants who hold a CE in English as a Second Language and accept employment into a teaching position requiring the certificate must enroll in a Department-approved ESL program at a New Jersey institution program consisting of 15 to 21 credit hours of formal instruction while employed provisionally to secure standard licensure. Please consult the Office of Licensure if you have any questions before enrolling in an out-of-state or online English as a Second Language program.

Limited CE

Kean University is not participating with Limited CE at this time. We are only accepting those with a regular CE. You may check the list of CE program providers you can inquire with these universities if they are participating with Limited CE.

Require Courses for Early Childhood Education/P-3:

Program Requirements

EC 5000	FOUNDATIONS OF EC & FS	3
EC 5100	LNG&READ&THGHT YNG CH THRY&PRA	3
EC 5111	DESIGNING AND MANAGING CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION	3
EC 5222	ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING	3
EC 5230	DEV THEORIES FOR TEACHING EC & FS	3
EC 5275	INTEGRATED CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT	3
EC 5320	CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES PARENTING EDUCATION	3
EC 5500	INTEGRATING TECH INTO EC CURR	3

      TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 24  Please note the program will increase to 30 credits effective Fall 2025.

Require Courses for TESOL:

General Methods 3

EDUC 5300

CURRICULUM, EVALUATION & THE LEARNER

3

Historical, Linguistic, and Cultural Backgrounds

ENG 5105	GENERAL LINGUISTICS	3
ENG 5130	SEMINAR IN THE PHONOLOGY & STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN ENGLISH	3
TESL 5404	CULTURE, COGNITION & COMMUNICATION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS	3
TESL 5435	LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING	3

Techniques of Teaching ESL/EFL Students 9

TESL 5420/EMSE 5420	METHODS FOR TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN ESL/EFL SETTINGS: STANDARDS-BASED APPROACH	3
TESL 5810	SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION & FIELD EXPERIENCE IN ESL/EFL SETTINGS	3
TESL 5500	ACADEMIC ENGLISH ACROSS THE CONTENT AREAS FOR L2 LEARNERS WITH INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY	3

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 24

 

Steps in the Alternate Route Program

*Note: Information is taken from the New Jersey Department of Education.

Step 1: Establishing Eligibility

Certificate of Eligibility (CE)

Step 2: Employment and Provisional Teacher Process (PTP)

Provisional Certificate

Step 3: Becoming Permanently Certified

Standard Teaching Certificate

Additional Resources

NJDOE Office of Licensing and Academic Credentials: 609- 292-2070, Monday - Friday between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

NJDOE website: http://www.state.nj.us/education Go to Licensing and you can apply online for your Certificate of Eligibility or track its progress.

Admission Requirements

To enroll in our P-3 or TESOL Alternate Route Programs, you must have the following requirements:

1) Evidence of a Regular Certificate of Eligibility (CE) in P-3, TSD, or TESOL

2) Proof of 50 hours of pre-service workshops completed (verification form)

3) Proof of full-time employment/contract to teach as a teacher of record, long-term substitute, or maternity leave position. 

In addition to the University’s admission requirements, candidates must also:

1) apply with Graduate Admissions

2) have a current resume

3) obtain official transcripts

4) and two (2) recommendation letters

Need assistance with the application process? Kean University - Graduate Inquiry Form

Application Deadlines

• August 15 – Fall Admission
• December 15 – Spring Admission

*Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space availability basis

Program Contact: Meredith Riddle, Ed.D. 

Acting Director, Office of Teacher Certification and Alternate Route Programs

Kean University, College of Education

Office of Teacher Certification and Alternate Route Program
Email: mriddle@kean.edu

1(908) 737-3802.