In order to meet basic eligibility requirements to become an EnCorps Fellow, a candidate must:
•Currently live in an area we serve (Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles Area, Greater San Diego Area, Greater Denver Area, Greater New York City).
•Have at least 1 or more years of work or research experience as a STEM industry professional OR possess an advanced degree in a STEM field.
•Be fully eligible to work in the United States (US Citizen or Permanent Resident)
•Possess a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.50 or higher (foreign degrees must be independently evaluated to determine equivalency – find out more)
•Not currently hold a teaching credential / license / certification in a core subject in the state in which you are applying
•Complete and submit EnCorps’ online application
This FAQ is for our STEM Teaching Fellowship program. To find out about STEMx Tutoring eligibility, please see our STEMx Tutor Applicant FAQs.
Reach out to a recruiter at apply@encorps.org or attend an upcoming info session.
For the Fellowship we ask that you include a resume so we can see your full education and work experience.
Unfortunately, some of our emails may end up in your spam folder. If you’ve checked there and still don’t see anything please email us at apply@encorps.org. One of our recruiters would be happy to help!
The EnCorps team will invite qualified candidates who seem like a good fit for the STEM Teaching Fellowship to record a video interview via an email invitation to our video interview platform. We want to learn about you and your desire to explore teaching. We do not look for perfection, we are simply looking for your authentic response to our questions. You must use a computer with a webcam and Google Chrome browser in order to record your video. You will know the questions we are going to ask in advance and you are free to record up to three times.
A lot of us feel anxious when recording a video. However, our platform allows you to delete and re-record the video several times. We care more about your answers than your ability to get your video right on the first try.
When you join EnCorps, you are committing to explore the process to become a teacher in a low income middle or high school in the next 1-3 years.
In addition, you will commit to completing online professional development, attending Guest Teacher Training, volunteering a minimum of two hours/week for one or two semesters with an EnCorps Host Teacher, taking steps toward completing a personal development plan for your exploration of teaching, and attending the Fall, Spring and Summer Institutes.
EnCorps provides our Fellows with support, resources and coaching, free of charge. This includes, but is not limited to: test prep materials (if needed), coaching, professional development, and support services including Summer Residential Institute, Fall and Spring Institutes and online webinars, forums, tools and resources. 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, Fellows are responsible for fingerprinting fees (in California/Colorado, a $100 stipend is available towards fingerprinting fees upon submission of proof of payment), Tuberculosis testing fee, test registration fees and fees associated with ordering transcripts. They are also responsible for all credentialing/licensure/certification tuition, as well as all materials and textbooks required by a credentialing/licensure/certification program. EnCorps does offer scholarships to our Fellows on an application basis to cover part of their tuition.”
During Student/Guest Teaching in California/Colorado, Fellows will receive a $200 travel stipend once they complete all guest teaching. In New York, Fellows will receive $500 stipend for guest teaching and $150 travel stipend once they complete all guest teaching requirements.
During Guest Teaching, Fellows are considered volunteers and are unpaid.
All EnCorps Fellows will engage in volunteer Guest Teaching for at least one semester of 2-5 hours per week when beginning the EnCorps program as a way to gain field experience working with students. This time period also provides Fellows with time to take any required exams.
As a volunteer Guest Teacher, Fellows are paired with a mentor teacher and spend 2-5 hours per week in that teacher’s classroom observing, working with individuals and small groups of students, and eventually teaching portions of lessons and whole lessons to the class. This structured, semester-long program provides an opportunity for Fellows to gain valuable classroom experience and to make connections with schools that may eventually be looking to hire STEM teachers.
EnCorps recommends that Fellows take time before their first teaching job to invest in their own training and preparation as much as possible. Timelines differ by cohort / application date. In the accelerated pathway, Fellows may teach within 9-19 months. In the standard pathway, Fellows may teach in about 2 years. Please review more information on our Teaching Fellowship page.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Credentials
CTE programs are shorter and less expensive than single subject programs and are typically online or evenings/weekends. They do not include student teaching or classroom-based experience and take into account your 3+ years of professional STEM experience. There are online CTE programs that start on a rolling basis year-round, so you will be able to complete a CTE credential in the fall, winter, spring or summer. The CTE credential program can typically be completed over the course of about 4-6 months. Generally speaking, CTE credential programs can be completed alongside work obligations.
EnCorps, in general, does not consider the CTE credential program on its own sufficient training for the rigors of full time teaching, even though it may give you a certification. CTE credential programs do not include a student teaching component, and therefore the EnCorps Guest Teaching experience is an important component of becoming a CTE teacher.
A CTE credential enables you to teach specialized elective courses that correspond to industry sectors. You are not able to teach core or traditional classes (like geometry or chemistry) with a CTE credential. Not all schools have CTE programs, so it’s important to know whether schools you are interested in working with have this option for students.
Single Subject Credentials
A single subject credential allows you to teach traditional core subjects such as math, physics, chemistry, biology and earth science.
Traditional Programs – This standard course of teacher preparation provides coursework and then student teaching. This option is largely based in a university or college, and includes a student teaching component. A traditional program can be completed full time for 1 academic year, or part time for 1.5-2 academic years.
Residency Programs – Modeled after a medical residency, a teaching residency program focuses on the “clinical experience” as opposed to coursework. This gives teaching students or “residents” hands on experience in classrooms and the chance to implement ideas in a classroom setting, while receiving feedback and support from expert practitioners. Residents simultaneously take graduate level classes. Residency programs are less common and more selective. Residency programs usually include a master’s degree in education and are full time commitments that usually last one academic year.
Intern Programs – An internship program allows individuals to work in the classroom as a paid “teacher of record” while simultaneously completing a credential program. Interns are working teachers and paid a salary by the school/district. Interns need to complete credential requirements during evenings and weekends, on top of their teaching duties. This coursework takes 1-2 years to complete, and interns do not have the benefit of receiving training and practice before starting. It’s also important to note that by law, schools must give hiring priority to any candidate who has a preliminary credential over an intern, so interns are usually hired later in the hiring season.
Colorado EnCorps Fellows may earn a teaching license in math or science.
Initial Teacher License
Traditional Programs – This standard course of teacher preparation provides coursework and then student teaching. This option is largely based in a university or college, and includes a student teaching component. A traditional program can be completed full time for 1 academic year, or part time for 1.5-2 academic years.
Residency Programs – Modeled after a medical residency, a teaching residency program focuses on the “clinical experience” as opposed to coursework. This gives teaching students or “residents” hands on experience in classrooms and the chance to implement ideas in a classroom setting, while receiving feedback and support from expert practitioners. Residents simultaneously take graduate level classes. Residency programs are less common and more selective. Residency programs usually include a master’s degree in education and are full time commitments that usually last one academic year.
Alternative Teacher Licensure
Teacher of Record Programs – An alternative teacher licensure program allows individuals to work in the classroom as a paid “teacher of record” while simultaneously completing coursework for their teacher license. Teachers of Record are working teachers and paid a salary by the school/district. You will need to complete licensure requirements during evenings and weekends, on top of teaching duties. This coursework takes 1-2 years to complete. It’s also important to note that by law, schools must give hiring priority to any candidate who has an initial or professional teacher license over an alternative license, so teachers of record are usually hired later in the hiring season.
