Teacher Education and Childcare | Bergen Community College

Alternative Route to Teaching Program

The Alternate Route to Teaching Program is a certificate program for people with a bachelor’s degree to attain K-12 teacher licensing in New Jersey.

Program Eligibility:

Bachelor’s or higher degree with a 3.0 GPA (2.75 GPA If graduated before September 1, 2016)

Steps to Certification

Complete the 50-hour Introduction to Teaching Course at Bergen Community College
Pass the Praxis Core Test or have SAT, ACT, or GRE score*
Pass the Praxis Subject Test in the subject area
Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) to the NJ Department of Education (DOE)
Apply for the 350-hour Alternate Route to Teaching Program at Brookdale Community College
Participate in the Provisional Teacher Process
Complete the 350-hour Alternate Route to Teaching Program at Brookdale Community College
Apply for a Standard Teaching Certification to the NJ DOE

* Refer to the FAQs for the specific test scores.

Information and Useful Links

The 50-hour Introduction to Teaching is the first segment of the Alternate Route to Teaching Program approved by the NJ Department of Education (DOE). Students take the Introduction to Teaching course at Bergen Community College and proceed with the next 350-hour training at Brookdale Community College.
Brookdale Community College Website

For inquiries about the 350-hr training at Brookdale Community College, contact Melissa De Sousa Fernandes at mfernandes@brookdalecc.edu or 732-224-1952.