TESOL Certification in New Jersey | How To Become an ESL Teacher in NJ | ESL approval and assignments (2023)

New Jersey has a growing immigrant community who make up almost a quarter of the state's population, according to the American Immigration Council. They account for nearly half of all manufacturing and STEM workers, and their value to the country's economy and culture speaks for itself.

<!- ​​​​mfunc feat_school ->

<!- ​​​​/mfunc feat_school ->

A growing immigrant community in the Garden State has naturally led to a growing population of English Language Learners (ELLs). According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of ELL students in the New Jersey public school system (PreK-12) has nearly doubled from 55,463 to 83,560 in the last generation in less than twenty years.

A heavy ELL population has led to a shortage of English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers. In fact, the US Department of Education reported a shortage of ESL teachers at all grade levels (PreK-12) beginning in the 2021-2022 school year.

These steps will show you exactly how to get TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification and become an ESL teacher in New Jersey:

	Earn an ESL degree and qualify as an ESL teacher in New Jersey
	Pass the exams required to become ESL certified in New Jersey
	Apply for your teaching certificate in New Jersey
	Consider earning a master's degree to maintain and update your New Jersey teaching certificate
	Find out more about ESL teacher salaries and jobs in New Jersey

Step 1. Earn an ESL degree and qualify as an ESL teacher in New Jersey

In New Jersey, you receive an ESL Certificate of Eligibility (Endorsement) after you are approved as an elementary, secondary, or special education teacher. This means that here you must first learn how to become an ESL teacher by earning a bachelor's or master's degree or certificate of completion that includes the ESL syllabus.

<!- ​​​​mfunc find_btn ->

<!- ​​​​/mfunc find_btn ->

There are two possible certification levels for prospective ESL teachers in New Jersey, each with their own educational requirements:

• Proof of Entitlement (CE) in ESL–This option is for teachers who meet most educational and exam requirements but have not yet completed the teacher certification portion of their training. Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally recognized college or university.
  • A cumulative grade point average of 3.0
  • You must meet New Jersey physiology and hygiene requirements by completing a course in nutrition, health, or biology.
  • You must pass additional tests (listed in step 2 below)
  • Must complete 24 hours of preparatory courses to demonstrate knowledge of teaching skills
  • Once you receive your CE in ESL and have a teaching position, you must enroll in a state-approved ESL teacher preparation program in New Jersey and complete 15-21 credit hours.

• Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) in ESL– Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution AND have completed a state-approved teacher preparation program in ESL
  • Must meet the GPA requirements listed above
  • They must meet the physiological and hygienic requirements listed above.
  • Your program must include a student teaching component.

In New Jersey you will find a good selection of ESL certification programs that will provide you with the courses you need to become ESL certified. Many of these programs are offered as ESL masters degrees and graduate certificates and are specifically designed for licensed educators.

For example, Caldwell University offers a graduate certificate consisting of 21 credits in the following subjects:

• Linguistics
• Language acquisition: first and second language development
• Theory and practice of teaching English to non-native speakers
• read basics
• Curricula in a multicultural society
• Structure of American English

Do you already have a bachelor's degree in another subject?

With a bachelor's degree in another discipline, you can qualify for a master's degree, which leads to a first teaching license. Many schools that offer bachelor's-level teaching certification programs also offer master's degree options, which include all of the courses and hands-on experience needed to become certified as a New Jersey teacher, with additional courses required to teach English to teach as a second language.

Step 2. Pass the exams required to become ESL certified in New Jersey

Whether you are pursuing a CE or CEAS in ESL, you must pass the following tests prior to certification:

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages ​​​​(ACTFL) Mündliches Kompetenzinterview (OPI)
• ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)

Prospective ESL teachers in New Jersey are currently exempt from taking the ESL Practice II exameducational testing service.

Step 3. Apply for your New Jersey Teaching Certificate

Once you have completed the steps above, you are ready to apply for your New Jersey Teaching Certificate.

If you are applying for a CE in ESL:

• Start the online application processHere
• Pay all required fees when completing the application
• Have the Educational Testing Service send your SAT, ACT, or GRE scores directly to the NJ Department of Education at the address below
• Submit all of the following documents together in one package to the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Certification and Induction, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500:
  • Proof of having passed the English language tests
  • Certificate of completion for meeting the 24-hour pre-service requirement
  • Sealed official copies
  • ReadyPledge of Allegiance/Accuracy Verificationform

If you are applying for a GEAS in ESL:

• Start the online application processHere
• Pay all required fees when completing the application
• Submit all of the following documents together in one package to the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Certification and Induction, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500:
  • Proof of having passed the English language tests
  • Sealed official copies
  • ReadyPledge of Allegiance/Accuracy Verificationform

Step 4. Consider pursuing a master's degree to obtain and update your New Jersey Teaching Certificate

If you have obtained a CE or CEAS in ESL, it is valid for life and you can apply for ESL teaching positions in New Jersey under this certificate. However, most certified teachers aim for an interim certification and a standards certification.

• Preliminary Certificationoccurs if you have a CE or CEAS and are employed at a New Jersey public school where you are completing an introductory program. You must complete 30 weeks of tutoring under the guidance of a teacher holding a standard certificate and your performance will be graded three times. You do not request this certificate; Rather, your school district will request you if you meet the requirements. The provisional certificate is valid for two years and can be extended up to two times

• standard certificationit occurs when you have completed the two-year induction program as part of your interim certificate. and have also met the following requirements (again, your school district will apply if you meet the requirements):
  • If you have an out-of-state teaching certificate, you must provide a teaching experience letter from a school official on school letterhead stating that you have taught full-time for one year.
  • If you have an NJ Teaching Certificate, you do not need to submit a teaching experience letter
  • If applicable, submit a copy of your foreign teaching certificate (if you have an NJ teaching certificate, you do not need to submit a copy)

Your default certificate never expires. However, you are expected to meet the professional standards listedHere. Because each district has its own unique needs, your school district will help you develop a customized professional development plan based on your needs and specifications. There is no centralized registry by the New Jersey Department of Education for professional development.

<!- ​​​​mfunc find_btn ->

<!- ​​​​/mfunc find_btn ->

college degrees

This could be the perfect time to start looking for oneAbsolvent in ESL. This type of degree can help you advance in your school district, seek ESL teaching positions at other schools in New Jersey, and potentially earn a higher salary. These programs are also designed for New Jersey teachers who are certified in another field but are pursuing ESL certification. Possible ESL degrees in New Jersey include:

• EdM with English as a Second Language Certification
• Master of Arts in Urban Education - ESL Specialization
• Med ESL teacher

Step 5. Find out more about ESL teacher salaries and jobs in New Jersey

As of May 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following salaries for educators in New Jersey:

Primary school

Early career (25^Ispercentile):59.790 $
Median:70.920 $
experienced (90^Ispercentile):100.760 $

middle school

Early career (25^Ispercentile):60.630 $
Median:73.160 $
experienced (90^Ispercentile):101.860 $

Secondary school

Early career (25^Ispercentile):63.420 $
Median:77.790 $
experienced (90^Ispercentile):107.200 $

BLS statistics also show what ESL teachers earn in some of New Jersey's largest metro areas (as of May 2020):

Atlantic City (Elementary School)

Early career (25^Ispercentile):61.560 $
Median:76.680 $
experienced (90^Ispercentile):102.240 $

Ocean City (Gymnasium)

Early career (25^Ispercentile):57.870 $
Median:71.290 $
experienced (90^Ispercentile):102.130 $

Newark (part of the New York metropolitan area) (high school)

Early career (25^Ispercentile):69.490 $
Median:89.620 $
experienced (90^Ispercentile):132.510 $

Find ESL teaching jobs hereOnline-Jobportalfor New Jersey public school jobs and learn more about the New Jersey ESL education field through NJ Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/NJ Bilingual Educators –NJTESOL/NJBE.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics Wage and Labor Market Trends forprimary school teacher,high school teacher, jhigh school teacher. Numbers represent state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your region may vary. Data consulted in June 2021.

National Center for Education Statistics, English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools by state: selected years, Fall 2000-Fall 2018. Data accessed June 2021.

<!- ​​​​mfunc feat_school ->

<!- ​​​​/mfunc feat_school ->

go back up