Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
Yes, you may still qualify. The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program is designed for STEM professionals with industry experience, STEM graduate students with research assistant experience, and individuals with subject-matter expertise and a passion for math and/or science. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a STEM subject, you qualify, even without industry experience. Individuals with a demonstrated passion for STEM are also encouraged to apply. Please visit the Eligibility page for details.
Yes. Previous coursework or experience in education is not necessary. The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program is designed to support professionals and experts in the science, technology, education and math (STEM) fields who are interested in exploring teaching in high-needs schools, and who demonstrate leadership, achievement, and a commitment to urban education.
The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program is designed for STEM professionals with industry experience, STEM graduate students with research assistant experience, as well as individuals who have subject-matter expertise and passion for math and/or science. Please Apply and provide details on your STEM experience, education and demonstrated passion for STEM.
If you already possess a current teaching credential / certification or teaching license in a core subject in the state in which you are applying, you are not eligible for the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program.
However, if you hold a Career and Technical Education (CTE) credential and wish to earn a teaching credential / license / certification in a core subject or hold an out-of-state credential, you are eligible.
We currently serve the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles Area, North Orange County, Greater San Diego Area. Greater Riverside Area, as well as the Greater Sacramento Area. View Program Overview for map of where we work.
If you are planning to relocate to these regions and would be available for in-person training in the region within a month of accepting a Teaching Fellowship, please apply. If you do not currently live in one of our service areas, please be in touch with us once you relocate. We can not currently respond to applications from outside our service areas.
You do not need your transcripts when you submit an application, but you will need to provide your GPA on a 4.0 scale. Please note that official transcripts will be required when you apply to a teacher credential program.
Reach out to a recruiter at apply@encorps.org or visit the MEET page to attend an upcoming information session or book a call with a recruiter.
Application
No. All applications must be submitted online.
The entire process should take you 15-20 minutes. You do not have to complete the application in one sitting.
Please go to the Apply page for information on the process.
If you can’t find our emails in your spam folder, please contact us at apply@encorps.org.
Interviews
Successful candidates will demonstrate the potential to positively impact student learning and achievement in a high-needs school and share EnCorps’ belief in STEM educational equity. Please read our mission, vision, and core values.
The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program is highly selective. Our eligibility requirements are only the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for the program and meeting them does not guarantee acceptance.
Due to the volume of applicants, we are not able to provide individual feedback to candidates.
Because we receive an exceptional number of applications each year, we are unable to provide personalized feedback to applicants who have not been accepted to the program. We encourage all applicants interested in education to continue to pursue teaching through other avenues.
Program Commitments
In addition, you commit to completing online professional development and attending Volunteer Guest Teacher Training. You also commit to volunteering a minimum of two hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks with an EnCorps Host Teacher in one of our high-needs partner schools in California. Participants only receiving credentialing support are not required to volunteer.
You will be matched with one of our high-needs partner schools for volunteer Guest Teaching. If you decide to enter the classroom full-time, we help you make connections with principals and schools. As an EnCorps Fellow, you will join a network of like-minded professionals dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for students who lack equitable access to a high-quality STEM education.
As an EnCorps Fellow you will:
- Make a direct impact on students through your 10-week volunteer guest teaching
- Gain valuable field experience in a high-needs classroom
- Receive mentorship from EnCorps staff and your experienced host teacher
- Have access to a robust slate of professional development
- Join a collaborative cohort of peers to share ideas, support, and best practices
- If you pursue teaching, receive exam support and credentialing/licensing/certification guidance
The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program is free of charge. Our support includes, but is not limited to, coaching, access to our twice-monthly online professional development, volunteer guest teaching opportunities, and a community of like-minded STEM professionals. EnCorps also assists Fellows with finding financially feasible teacher credentialing/licensure/certification programs, grants, scholarships, and financial aid to offset the cost of obtaining a teaching credential.
While EnCorps support services are free, you are responsible for Tuberculosis testing fees, test registration fees, and fees associated with ordering transcripts. However, we will reimburse school-required fingerprinting costs associated with volunteer guest teaching. As an EnCorps Fellow, you are also responsible for all credentialing/licensure/certification tuition, as well as all materials and textbooks required by a credentialing/licensure/certification program.
During volunteer guest teaching, you are considered a volunteer and are unpaid. However, a $150 travel stipend is available once you complete your guest teaching requirements. We will also provide a $100 stipend towards fingerprinting fees upon submission of proof of payment and $50 towards CSET preparation.
No. The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program does not hire, pay or financially subsidize participants.
That is up to you. Volunteer guest teaching is your chance to experience the classroom before making a decision. If you choose to pursue teaching, EnCorps will guide you through next steps, support you while you complete a credential program, and help you as you look for a teaching position. If you decide teaching is not the right path for you, you are welcome to continue volunteering in a classroom, or you may exit the program.
Yes. EnCorps’ volunteer Guest Teaching is designed to allow you to continue working in your industry as you gain experience teaching. You will work with your host teacher to schedule your two hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks Guest Teaching commitment.
Guest Teaching
As a volunteer guest teacher, you are paired with a mentor teacher and spend 2 hours per week in the classroom observing, working with individuals and small groups of students, and eventually teaching portions of lessons and whole lessons to the class. For those exploring a career in teaching, this provides an opportunity for you to gain valuable classroom experience and to make connections with schools that may eventually be looking to hire STEM teachers.
Your Program Manager will propose partner school options based on information you provided during your welcome call, including your work schedule, geography, grade level, or subject preferences. We do our very best to match you with a partner school site that meets your needs.
EnCorps is only able to place Fellows in schools with whom we have a written agreement.
If you have a school in mind that is not an EnCorps partner school, we can see about forming an agreement with that school, but please be aware that this process can take several months.
Once you are selected to be an EnCorps Fellow, along with other expectations, you will need to:
- Complete EnCorps Guest Teacher Training.
- Complete a child abuse prevention training course.
- Complete a background check.
Depending on your placement school, you may also need to undergo fingerprinting or obtain a tuberculosis (TB) test. Please wait to hear from your program manager before completing either of these, as they will let you know if they are required for your site.
Teaching
It depends on your path. Fellows who pursue teaching typically begin within one to three years of applying, depending on when they enroll in a credential program and how long it takes to complete. Your Program Manager will work with you to map out a timeline that fits your situation.
Yes. Substitute teaching can be a great stepping stone toward earning your teaching credential and teaching full time. It is also a way to earn income while you transition to teaching. Substitute teaching is not a formal part of the EnCorps program.
To substitute teach in California, you will need a substitute teaching permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Visit the CTC website for current requirements and how to apply, and speak with your Program Manager about next steps.
Please note: Some school districts may have additional requirements.
The EnCorps program is designed so that you can continue working. Volunteer guest teaching is approximately two hours per week for ten weeks at a school site. Some Fellows who are not working full time also choose to substitute teach. If you decide to pursue a teaching credential, it is possible to complete one part-time or online while you continue to work. Your Program Manager can help you find a path that fits your schedule.
Teacher Credentialing
There are several ways to earn a teaching credential in California. The right one depends on what you want to teach, your background, and your schedule. EnCorps is not a credential program, but your Program Manager can help you compare options and choose a path that works for you.
Career Technical Education (CTE)
A CTE credential allows you to teach career-focused courses tied to an industry sector (engineering or computer science, for example). It is based on your professional experience, generally at least three years in your field. CTE programs do not include student teaching, are often offered online or on evenings and weekends, and can usually be completed while you work.
A CTE credential does not authorize you to teach core academic classes like geometry or chemistry, and not all schools offer CTE courses. For more information, visit California CTE.
Single Subject Credential
A single subject credential allows you to teach core academic subjects such as math, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science. There are three main ways to earn one.
Traditional programs: Coursework followed by student teaching, usually through a college or university. Programs can be completed full-time in about one academic year or part-time over a longer period.
Residency programs: A full-time, yearlong classroom placement alongside an experienced mentor teacher while you complete coursework. Many residencies include a master’s degree and pay a stipend. Amounts vary by program.
Intern programs: You work as a paid teacher of record while completing credential coursework on evenings and weekends, usually over one to two years. Interns lead their own classroom from the start, so this path offers less supervised practice before you begin.
Requirements, costs, and financial support change often. Visit the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for current information, and speak with your Program Manager about next steps.
EnCorps recognizes our military backgrounds and sees the potential of the discipline and integrity and everything that makes up a service member… Mission comes first, here is your mission: Your mission is to teach these kids.
– Miguel Cruz, a Los Angeles EnCorps STEM Teaching Fellow who also served admirably in the army