ryan8000

Hello,

My situation is a strange one, but I hope it's more hopeful of making a smooth transition.

Recently, I returned to the UK from Louisiana with a Masters degree in Health and Human Performances. Prior to that I completed my bachelors in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Birmingham.

I'm signed up to do a PGCE in September 2016, and although I'm aware of the years of experience first, I'm looking into the prospect of returning to the U.S specifically Texas (Houston, Dallas and Austin).

As far as I understand it, I'd need to use WES (or another evaluation company) for the BSc and PGCE degree, but what about the Masters?

Also the steps subsequent to this seems confusing! - The information online groups us all as 'foreign' but surely we don't need British proficiency tests?

Any help from anyone who's made the Teaching U.k > USA move would be great

Thanks,

Ryan

scot47

Why would you do a British PGCE and then return to Texas ? I suspect the papesrhufflers in Texas will ask the same question when you get back there.

kimilseung

"British proficiency tests?"
What is this referring to?

"but what about the Masters?"
What about the Masters?

ryan8000

Well, I wouldn't be returning to Texas as I was in Louisiana originally. But If the point is extended to the U.S as a whole, It was something I considered at the time but the insecurity of funding a U.S teaching degree and being an Alien was a daunting prospect at the time so I chose the safer option to return to the U.K.

ryan8000

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is listed on the checklist for out of country certification. But I'm sure that's not any issue...

And with the Master of Science I have from the U.S, would that make the process of applying any easier? - I heard that the PGCE is somewhat not acceptable alone anyway as it's not officially a master-level qualification.

kimilseung

Its all state to state so whatever I tell you will be of limited use to you in Texas.
Washington State accepts PGCEs as a means to qualified teaching status. There was no language requirement for me, again in Washington State.

ryan8000

So by the word 'accepts' do you mean you didn't have to get it verified by an evaluation company for Washington?

kimilseung

It did need to be evaluated.

ryan8000

Strange, the internet suggests otherwise :/

Transcript Evaluation Services

ryan8000

O.k, Can you recall what other hoops you had to go through?

And, how did you then go on to find a school?

kimilseung

Qualifications evaluated
Written test in math, English and subject area.
A letter from PGCE institution saying I was up to par (I forget the wording)

I have not got a job teaching. I have not looked as hard as I could have done.

sir_eccles

And here lies the nub of the problem. Very few schools are willing to sponsor a teacher for a work visa.

Each state generally needs you to be certified / licensed for that state. Except maybe kansas because they've run out of money and will take whomever.

scrubbedexpat099

Are you work authorised in the US?

markcst

From my experience of locals in North Texas (Dallas) and visiting schools, most areas are over-subscribed with teachers apart from the Sink areas. The school we visited with our son had councillors that were all qualified teachers (which I have presumed is a way into a teaching job there).
All the schools had this nice touch of hanging small banners outside all the classrooms of the teachers indicating where the teachers were from and studied at. My unscientific survey noted they were drawing teacher from the rest of the US probably because North Texas Schools are very well funded.
You're going to have to have something special to offer I would suggest to teach in the Dallas area or take a punt at a Sink School accepting you assuming you have a work permit in advance (which I suggest is critical!).
I have heard summer schools take "recruits" from the UK., maybe that's your best way in. Get experience there and see if you can move from that work to full time education?

Pulaski

This. If you're not, everything else in this thread is moot.