Graduate Elementary Education Certificate
Graduate Elementary Education Certificate
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Take your first step toward becoming a certified teacher. Earn your elementary education certificate from Grand Canyon University. Fill out the form on this page to learn more.
The elementary education certificate offered through Grand Canyon University's Canyon L.E.A.P. to Teach program is intended for those looking to become a certified teacher. This program is designed specifically for those who already hold a bachelor's degree, are not working as a teacher, and have access to an elementary education classroom.
The elementary teaching certificate program assists candidates as they work as a teacher of record in an elementary classroom and pursue a non-traditional route to teacher licensure with the support of their school district.
GCU offers the graduate certificate in elementary education online. Programs following the Canyon L.E.A.P. to Teach are designed to be accessible both for full-time students and for working professionals. Because of this, classes are offered online to afford you convenience and flexibility.1
The University will accept one course of the total certificate requirements in transfer.
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
This post-baccalaureate elementary education certificate serves as an alternative route for entering the field of education to champion students mental, emotional and social development, as well as to provide students with an academic foundation and passion for learning.
Courses within the elementary teaching certificate program teach you to:
Meet the educational needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities and their families
Identify the cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional patterns for students with exceptionalities
Teach foundational skills to develop proficient readers
Prepare elementary students with reading literacy skills across a range of texts and disciplines
Examine the foundations of Structured English Immersion (SEI) and other instructional programs for E
Incorporate principles of language acquisition and the role of culture in learning
Learn methods of assessment and strategies for using assessment to direct teaching strategies
Create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, positive social interaction,
Build upon foundational knowledge of equipping students to establish and maintain positive collabora
The Canyon L.E.A.P. to Teach program is an innovative, non-traditional approach to earning a teaching certificate. This structured L.E.A.P. program can prepare teacher candidates to earn their elementary education certificate through an immersive learning experience. This includes daytime teaching, professional development, mentor support and graduate coursework.
This comprehensive approach ensures that you are supported during every step of the pathway and have the opportunity to develop their pedagogical skills.
The elementary education certificate program’s requirements include:
If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).
1 Online courses exclude programs with residencies and field experience.
2 Sartore, M. (3, March 2023). Teaching Requirements by State. The Best Schools. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, as of May 2021, retrieved on May 16, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as kindergarten and elementary school teachers. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
By earning your elementary education certificate, you can prepare yourself for a career in teaching and supporting elementary-aged students in their academic endeavors. Through the Canyon L.E.A.P. to Teach program, this graduate certificate in elementary education can help you gain licensure to become a licensed teaching professional. With your certificate, you may pursue job opportunities such as a postsecondary education teacher, or elementary school teacher, with the exception of special education. Be sure to check with your specific state for licensure requirements.
Median annual salary of kindergarten and elementary school teachers in May 2021.3
If you’re looking to teach elementary school students and enroll in a graduate certificate program, reach more about this career path in our frequently asked questions below.
A graduate certificate teaches you the foundational knowledge of a specific focus area that can help prepare you to pursue a career in that field. After earning a graduate certificate in elementary education, you may be better prepared to enter into graduate teaching programs or pursue teaching licensure to teach elementary school students. Requirements for licensure depends on the state in which you plan to teach.
To be eligible for the online elementary education certificate program, you must have a previous bachelor’s degree. You can view our graduate admissions requirements page to see additional eligibility requirements and determine if you may be eligible for the certificate program. Fill out the form on this page to speak to a university counselor to better understand if you meet the admission requirements.
Yes. States have varying requirements when it comes to what you need to be able to teach elementary school. These requirements may include a specific level of degree, coursework, certifications and experience held. However, all states require licensed elementary school teachers to earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.2 Make sure to check your state’s requirements so you can plan your ideal academic route.
Your salary will ultimately be based on your specific school district, location and job title; however we can look at the national median annual salary as an example. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, kindergarten and elementary school teachers had a median annual salary of $61,350 in May 2021.3
The elementary education graduate certificate program requires a total of 16 credits for completion. The majority of your online classes are six weeks in length each. To help determine a specific timeline of completion for this program, fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor.
This L.E.A.P. to Teach program can provide you with the opportunity to earn teaching licensure in Arizona through a non-traditional format by earning your graduate certificate. You may have the ability to work within your school district as a teacher of record while completing the certificate program, gaining crucial knowledge of various areas of teaching while directly applying your studies in your work setting.
