Nevada implemented the Common Core State Standards for math in its curriculum in the 2013-2014 school year. The Nevada Department of Education designed the Nevada Academic Content Standards for Mathematics to align with these national standards at the state level. Math teachers adhere to these standards as they teach their students to understand key math concepts and to become skilled at problem solving.
Here you will find the steps necessary to become a math teacher in Nevada:
Step 1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree at Minimum Including a Teacher Prep Program
The first step to becoming a math teacher in Nevada is to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher. The standard approach to becoming a math teacher is to study the field of math education through a bachelor’s or master’s program designed to produce graduates that meet eligibility requirements for Nevada teacher certification.
You will have to choose between elementary and secondary education when you plan your field of study. When endorsed at the secondary level, you are licensed to teach grades 7 through 12.
Bachelor’s Degrees Designed for Teaching Math
The Nevada Department of Education provides a list of approved teacher education schools. As of 2014, eleven schools were approved to train Nevada’s teachers. All of these schools offered programs in math education designed to lead to a teaching license.
Some of the available bachelor’s degrees include:
- B.A. in Mathematics Education with Nevada Secondary Licensure
- Secondary Education B.S. with a Concentration in Mathematics
- B.A. in Secondary Education
- B.S. in Secondary Education
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
If you are already a secondary teacher, but want to become certified to teach math, you can take part in an RPDP program (Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program). One such program confers an M.Ed. in Mathematics Education Secondary-RPDP (7-12).
You will need teaching experience to get your license. Some of the programs offer student teaching as part of their coursework, while one requires that you spend an additional semester as a teaching intern after your graduation. You will need to submit proof of your teaching experience as part of your application when you apply for your license.
Requirements for a Math Endorsement in Nevada
You can get an endorsement to teach secondary math in Nevada by getting a major or minor in math. The Nevada Department of Education has very specific requirements that you need to fulfill to be able to get your certification to teach math.
Math Major – To get a major in math, you must take 36 semester hours of math courses. Nine of these hours must be in calculus. You must also take 27 hours of courses in each of these areas:
- Abstract or modern algebra
- Finite mathematics or discrete processes
- Linear algebra
- Number theory or numerical analysis
- Probability or statistics
If you need additional credits to meet this 27-hour requirement, you can take courses in any of these areas:
- Euclidean geometry
- Non-euclidean geometry
- Mathematical computer applications, data structures or programming
- History of mathematics
- Differential equations OR
- Real number analysis
Math Minor – You are required to take 6 semester hours of calculus in order to get a math endorsement through a math minor. You must also take 18 credits in the following areas:
- Abstract, linear, or modern algebra
- Discrete mathematics, finite mathematics, numerical analysis or number theory
- Probability or statistics
If you need additional credits to meet the 18 credit requirement, you can take any of these courses:
- Differential equations
- Euclidean geometry
- Non-euclidean geometry
- History of mathematics
- Mathematical computer applications, data structures or programming
- Multivariate calculus
- Real number analysis
Post-Baccalaureate Training to Teach Math
If you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-teaching field, you can take part in two post-baccalaureate programs to get the training to teach math. Both of these programs will make you eligible to apply for a teaching license in Nevada.
If you are interested in an advanced degree, you can get your bachelor’s degree and teaching license in four years, then earn an M.A.T by taking classes at night for a year while you teach during the day. Master’s degrees that you can earn in Nevada include an M.Ed, M.S., and M.A.
Step 2. Take the Praxis CORE and Math Exams
In addition to completing your coursework in math and the principles of education, you will need to pass two Praxis exams to get your math teacher’s license in Nevada. You may have to take these exams to get accepted into your upper level teacher preparation program.
The Praxis CORE test measures your general academic skills. Normally teachers applying for an initial license have to take the Praxis PLT exam, but you are exempt from that, because you have taken a specific pedagogy test in math.
Praxis II Math Exam
You will also need to take the math content exam (5161) and obtain a score of 160 to pass it. This exam is not designed specifically for Nevada. It is designed to follow the recommendations of several national studies on math education.
This 150 minute computer based exam has two sections. One is on Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, and Calculus, while the other is on Geometry, Probability and Statistics, and Discrete Mathematics. Nearly 70% of the exam is dedicated to the first content category.
You will have an on-screen graphing calculator available to you while you take the exam. The testing agency lets you download a 30 day free trial, and they urge you to practice with the calculator before you take the exam. You are also strongly advised to use the study companion provided for the exam.
Step 3. Apply for Your Nevada Math Teacher’s License
There are two steps involved in applying for your Nevada math teacher’s license. You will need to be prepared to submit a fingerprint card. This will involve providing two forms of legal ID. Your prints will be checked in the FBI and the Nevada Records of Criminal History databases.
Then you obtain your application at the Nevada Department of Education’s Educator Licensure website. You can only apply if you are a US citizen, have filed a petition for naturalization, or can verify that you are a lawful permanent resident of the US. You will have to provide official college transcripts along with the application.
Step 4. Fulfill Nevada’s Professional Development Requirements
After you have been teaching for three years, you will need to renew your license. The state of Nevada requires that you show that you have a good understanding of the federal and Nevada Constitutions and Nevada school law. You can demonstrate this by either scoring at least a 70% on exams of these areas or by taking approved courses on them.
You will also have to show that you have completed six hours of education in professional development. You can do this by taking math or education courses. One option is to take courses that are part of a master’s program in math education. Furthering your education in this manner will improve your understanding of reflective teaching practices, educational theory, and research skills.
You may also want to join professional organizations to hone your expertise in teaching math. One option is the Southern California-Nevada Section of the Mathematical Association of America.