Secondary K-12 Certificate (Alternate Route) online
Obtain respected qualifications and upgrade from an eligible candidate to a certified educator with a CAEP-accredited program that honors your prior accomplishments.
Program Overview
Substantiate your skills with the online alternative teaching certification
Validate your teaching expertise by gaining official credentials through the Secondary K-12 Certificate (Alternate Route) online program from William Paterson University. Coursework will strengthen your ability to design and deliver effective lessons for secondary students with diverse needs. Put your new knowledge into practice in your current classroom and improve your instruction by applying observation feedback from our industry-expert faculty.
This alternate route is for candidates who have earned an undergraduate degree in the subject you want to teach, a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited CE, and currently teach in a New Jersey school. Complete this reputable program holding a NJ teaching certification. To earn a master’s degree in education, WP requires the completion of only two additional courses following this program.
Enroll in this reputable program and prepare to graduate with new knowledge in these learning outcome areas.
Career Opportunities:
- Secondary School Teacher
- Coach
- Curriculum Developer
- Instructional Coordinator
- Secondary School Teacher
- Coach
- Curriculum Developer
- Instructional Coordinator
Also available:
WP Online offers a diverse range of teacher preparation and education programs. Explore all our online education programs.
The College of Education at William Paterson University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Need More Information?
Tuition
This affordable tuition fits into your budget
The William Paterson University College of Education offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to all of our online students, wherever they reside. All fees are included in the total tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary K-12 Certificate (Alt Route) | $624.55 | $1,873.65 | $14,989.20 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Add these essential program dates to your calendar
William Paterson University online education programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, with 7-week courses and six start dates each year.
Now enrolling:
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I | 5/19/25 | 4/27/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/14/25 | 7/6/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer II | 7/14/25 | 6/22/25 | 6/24/25 | 7/3/25 | 7/9/25 | 8/31/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall I | 9/8/25 | 8/17/25 | 8/20/25 | 8/29/25 | 9/3/25 | 10/26/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall II | 11/3/25 | 10/12/25 | 10/15/25 | 10/24/25 | 10/29/25 | 12/21/25 | 7 weeks |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Take steps toward certification with our straightforward admission process
At William Paterson University, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the Secondary K-12 Certificate (Alternate Route) online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. Review the Program Map to determine eligibility of this program in your state. Not yet working as the teacher of record in the classroom? Consider the MAT Secondary Education traditional route or the Secondary K-12 Certificate program.
The requirements include:
- Undergraduate degree in the content area you want to teach
- Position as the teacher of record in a New Jersey school
- Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited Certificate of Eligibility (Limited CE) in New Jersey
- Submit online application and $50 application fee
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Every candidate should have an undergraduate degree in the content area in which they wish to teach
o Content area options supported by WP include Art, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, French, Japanese, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physical Science, Social Studies, and Spanish
o This content area of focus must include at least 30 credit hours in the defined subject area
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment aligned with the student’s desired area of teaching
- Resume with names and contact information of two references
- Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited Certificate of Eligibility (Limited CE) issued by the state of New Jersey
Special Note: Applicants to the Alt Route must be working as the teacher of record in a NJ school. Long-term substitute teachers, student aids, or paraprofessionals are not eligible and should consider the Secondary K-12 Certificate traditional route.
Note: Admission is open to NJ residents as well as individuals who plan to become NJ-certified teachers and work in NJ schools.
Official transcripts and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:
Email address: [email protected]
Mail address:
Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment ServicesWilliam Paterson University
Morrison Hall 102
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Courses
Learn more about the courses in your Secondary K-12 Certificate (Alt Route) online program
For the Secondary K-12 Certificate (Alt Route) online program, you must complete a total of 27 credit hours of core courses.
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