Congratulations on your decision. You’ll find that you WILL feel good about teaching. Its stressful difficult work, but very satisfying. I also teach in CA – here are the steps you need to take:

You need a BA – I’m assuming you have this already.

You need to enroll and complete a teacher credentialing program. Many Universities have this. Prior to entrance, they often ask for some things::

passage of CBEST (a basic skills test)

http://www.cbest.nesinc.com/

a decision on what level you want to teach (elementary or secondary)

subject matter verification (test to prove you know the subject you will be teaching)

http://www.cset.nesinc.com/

The program is usually two years and must include coursework, verification of subject matter competence (cset test) and a student teacher portion. Here is a sample program:

http://centerx.gseis.ucla.edu/TEP/Program/index.php

(if you click on application – youll see the exam requirements prior to enrollment)

Now there are alternative routes to teaching – the above is the most common for new teachers.

Some school districts have what are called District interns – you are placed in a classroom, and you do you coursework at nights all paid by the district. The agreement is that you usually stick with the district for at least 5 years. Thios is only common in big districts where there is need for specific teachers. Here is my districts info on that:

http://www.teachinla.com/cert/types_district_intern.html

There is another alternate route: University interns. very common to the above, but in this case the uni partners with a district in need to fill spots. you usually pay for this, but are placed in a classroom while in the program.

http://centerx.gseis.ucla.edu/TLA/index.php

confusing? yes. but it will be worth it. Here is the web site that has all the information: (state of california credentialing board)

http://www.ctc.ca.gov/

click on find out how to be a teacher upper left.

good luck to you!

Contact the university you are likely to attend and talk to someone in the academic department. Show them your transcript and see if they can crunch what classes you will need to take to get a teaching degree.

Next…save up all your money. Teaching salaries suck

Third…if you are an idealist and not a realist, realize that most people (and most men) leave teaching after only a few years. Low pay, disgruntled parents, apathetic students, bureacracy, school-board fanaticism, unions, mediocre teachers who should have left teaching years ago, etc….lead to a lot of burnout.

I know, I left teaching for the law. I’d love to teach again, as soon as they double the salary

I can’t tell you where you need to start since you’re in CA, but I did the same thing you’re thinking of doing. My degree was in business & I owned a store & managed another business. I went through our state’s (AR) non-traditional licensure program to get my teaching certificate. This is my second year & I love it, although it’s a lot more of a challenge than I had previously thought!

You might start with your state’s department of educ. website.

Good luck!

STOP the train. You are 40 plus and still “trying to find your niche, huh?”. If you think IT “burned you out” wait until you begin teaching, at any level. Teachers are generally college educated trained baby sitters. There are so many laws and regulations to comply with that teachers no longer teach. They “comply” with this directive and that procedure while trying to discipline (IT programmer trademark) students who will not listen or pay attention because you are violating their civil liberties and you can end up on the carpet everyday for not producing as the ISD has directed. Yada, yada, yada. Got my drift? With your extensive background in IT, find a job as a “trainer” with a respectable company. At least your students will be adults who are paid to be there and eager to learn. Else, ask your Realtor Broker to let you become a trainer and teach young promising RE agents become super stars. You can “teach” them the text and I’m sure you got enough experience in 4 years to pass on some of that experience plus and minus. If you still “want” to be a teacher take a vacation from RE and go fill out an application at any ISD for “temporary/substitute teacher”. Feel the waters and find out if you can put up with that environment for 22 more years until you qualify for social security retirement. Teaching is no longer a “profession” as in the 50’s and earlier. It is a “job” and a “pay check” and neither very good. Good luck and God Bless you. You’ll need both.

If you already have a B.A you should only need to get certified. In IL they offer classes that allow you get your teaching degree. I would find a college your interested in and talk to a counselor about what you need to do and how to get started. I did something similair. I was in construction, ended up getting hurt and went back to school. I am now a 3rd grade teacher and I love my job. I say go for it.