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As I mentioned before, I'm looking to get myself qualified in several states by taking Praxis II exams.
I notice that with Maine and CT, I need to take Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 in order to be a secondary social studies teacher. In Vermont, for the same position, I need to take Social Studies: Content Knowledge and Interpretation 5086.
If I were to take the 5086 exam, would that, by default, make me eligible for states that require 5081? I assume that since 5086 has an extra element, that any state that requires 5081 would also be wiling to accept someone who has taken the more difficult exam.
As I mentioned before, I'm looking to get myself qualified in several states by taking Praxis II exams.
I notice that with Maine and CT, I need to take Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 in order to be a secondary social studies teacher. In Vermont, for the same position, I need to take Social Studies: Content Knowledge and Interpretation 5086.
If I were to take the 5086 exam, would that, by default, make me eligible for states that require 5081? I assume that since 5086 has an extra element, that any state that requires 5081 would also be wiling to accept someone who has taken the more difficult exam.
It goes back to what I originally said-every state is different with different requirements, don't assume that X in one state is transferable to another because it's "harder".
Just as an example, when we moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland, over forty years ago now, my wife's certificate would not transfer. It took years, unmeasurable correspondence and me luckily connecting with a state education official to get it straightened out.
The problem? Pennsylvania called the certificate "Library Science and Media", Maryland called it "Media Specialist". No one in Certification could connect the dots.
It goes back to what I originally said-every state is different with different requirements, don't assume that X in one state is transferable to another because it's "harder".
Just as an example, when we moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland, over forty years ago now, my wife's certificate would not transfer. It took years, unmeasurable correspondence and me luckily connecting with a state education official to get it straightened out.
The problem? Pennsylvania called the certificate "Library Science and Media", Maryland called it "Media Specialist". No one in Certification could connect the dots.
Thanks. Oh well. I just may take the 5081 now because it looks easier
You really should target one state where you want to get certified. It's not just the Praxis exams, but the other stuff like the anti-bullying, child abuse and more that will hold you up from getting a job. The list for the "certificates" keeps increasing.
You really should target one state where you want to get certified. It's not just the Praxis exams, but the other stuff like the anti-bullying, child abuse and more that will hold you up from getting a job. The list for the "certificates" keeps increasing.
True, but in a lot of states, they'll hire you and help you complete your requirements. States like Maine and NH seem pretty easy, but CT might be a challenge.
As for my top choices, MA is number 1, but I've already completed the Mass specific tests. The rest of New England used the Praxis. My heart says I should go for VT, NH or ME since I love northern New England, but my mind says I should go for CT since it has better pay and a decent economy.
True, but in a lot of states, they'll hire you and help you complete your requirements. States like Maine and NH seem pretty easy, but CT might be a challenge.
As for my top choices, MA is number 1, but I've already completed the Mass specific tests. The rest of New England used the Praxis. My heart says I should go for VT, NH or ME since I love northern New England, but my mind says I should go for CT since it has better pay and a decent economy.
Remember, CT and MA are two of the states that do not allow teachers to contribute to SS. Upon retirement, if you have taught long enough, you can qualify for their teacher state pension. Some states allow you to qualify for both the state pension and social security. Have a good investment strategy to make up for the loss.
Remember, CT and MA are two of the states that do not allow teachers to contribute to SS. Upon retirement, if you have taught long enough, you can qualify for their teacher state pension. Some states allow you to qualify for both the state pension and social security. Have a good investment strategy to make up for the loss.
How does that work? For example, let's say I teach for 10 years, how would I get a pension?
How does that work? For example, let's say I teach for 10 years, how would I get a pension?
In my state (Virginia) you are vested after 5 years of employment, but you cannot take your full pension until you are at your FRA. Each state is different - you can google each state and find the specifics for each one.
In my state (Virginia) you are vested after 5 years of employment, but you cannot take your full pension until you are at your FRA. Each state is different - you can google each state and find the specifics for each one.
It's also true that some school systems (such as Fairfax County, Virginia) have a separate local pension in addition to the state pension.
How does that work? For example, let's say I teach for 10 years, how would I get a pension?
Most pensions use a formula based on two factors: The number of years taught and your highest average salary (usually highest 3-years or highest 5 years). And then there is a multiplier.
Take Texas, for example, which I know because I taught there. Let's calculate a pension for a hypothetical teacher who taught for 10 years and who's average salary for their 3 highest years was $50,000. The multiplier in Texas is 2.3%.
So their annual pension would be as follows:
10 years X 0.023 X $50,000 = $11,500/year or $958 per month.
Which you will start drawing when you reach full retirement age (probably between 62 and 65 depending on the state). It doesn't come to you automatically. You have to file for it. And as long as you are vested (which usually takes about 5 years) you will get something, but that something could be pretty small if you didn't teach many years, or if you taught a long time ago when salaries were much lower.
Understand also that in Texas and many other states they do not pay into social security for teachers. So not only will you not get social security for the years you taught, the Social Security program will claw back some of your social security earnings from other jobs due to something called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) so your social security payment can be cut for an amount up to the amount of your teacher pension. This very much sucks. But you should understand the implications of it if you are planning to teach and have social security earnings in other jobs. Read about the WEP here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf
I was in this position after 9 years of teaching in Texas and then moving back to Washington. I had about 20 years of previous social security earnings and didn't want to see them hacked up due to my Texas pension which was going to be meager anyway. So I cashed out the Texas pension and rolled it into an IRA where it has doubled in the past 8 years but still isn't back to where it would have been. When you cash out the pension in Texas you only get your contributions back. The pension fund gets equal contributions from you and your district. So after 9 years of teaching I only got about $38,000 back to roll into an IRA.
Basically Texas very much screws over teachers in retirement because they don't pay into social security and the Texas teacher's pension has no COLA. So it will never go up a dime no matter how long you are retired and how much inflation eats away at it. If you teach a full career of say 40 years in Texas you will essentially retire at about 92% of your final 3-years average salary but it will be fixed at that amount for the rest of your life. So you very much want to open up your own IRA or a good 403(b) plan through your district.
Every state is different. Here in WA the pension is decent and has an inflation COLA and they pay into social security so there is no WEP.
Do your research.
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