---

For those interested in switching careers to become a teacher, community colleges are a quality (and affordable) stop along the way to earning certification. More than 90 percent of community colleges in the United States offer teacher education coursework, and nearly 50 percent have teacher education programs. That’s a lot, considering that there are nearly 1,200 community colleges in the nation.

However, some myths associated with community colleges undermine the importance of the work they are doing in creating tomorrow’s teachers. A report by the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs helps to dispel some of them. Here are some key points from the report:

Myth: Community colleges do not play a role in the preparation of teachers.
Reality: Most community colleges offer either teacher education coursework or programs to fulfill the first two years of course requirements for a bachelor’s degree in education. There are real positives to going through this route: Community colleges offer more affordable tuition and often require less travel (or more online coursework) than universities. They can make the transition back to school smoother for potential encore teachers.

Myth: People with bachelor’s degrees cannot complete teacher preparation work at community colleges.
Reality: For those who already have a bachelor’s degree, more and more community colleges provide pathways to switch careers and become certified as teachers. Click here to find a few examples of these programs.

Myth: Community college teacher preparation work is less rigorous than in four-year colleges.
Reality: In many states, community colleges are under the same state-level requirements for program approval as four-year institutions. Additionally, community colleges often use boards and advisory committees that include members of the K-12 education system to review the quality of course offerings.

Myth: Very few teacher education students attend community colleges.
Reality: More than 50 percent of the nation’s current classroom teachers attended a community college for at least part of their education. Additionally, it is estimated that 40 percent of teachers completed some of their math and science courses at community colleges.

Read 10 Myths & Realities About Community College Teacher Education Programs.

Read about Civic Ventures’ work to highlight encore colleges, and find one near you.