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K-12 Subject Matter (SM) Educator Preparation Program

Brookdale Community College is a proud member in good standing with the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The Brookdale Community College Alternate Route to Teaching program has received AAQEP’s initial accreditation, valid through December 31, 2029.

This accreditation underscores the program’s commitment to excellence in preparing effective, growth-oriented educators and highlights its dedication to maintaining the highest standards in educator preparation.

Do you aspire to become a teacher but do not have a degree in education?
Looking for the fast-track to a new, rewarding career as an educator?

The Alternate Route to Teaching is a non-traditional teacher preparation program designed for those individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to obtain the necessary training to become a NJ certified teacher in their degree subject area. Teacher candidates may work full time as educators while completing program requirements.

What is the motivation for our typical Alternate Route to Teaching student?

Alternate Route Teachers tend to be:

  • individuals seeking a career change.
  • individuals seeking to finish an incomplete education degree.
  • substitute teachers who wish to teach full-time.
  • recent college graduates.
  • individuals seeking a new career after a period outside the workforce.
  • individuals seeking a rewarding career positively impacting students in a formal education environment.

Brookdale Community College’s comprehensive teacher preparation program is regulated and approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and prepares you to confidently enter the teaching profession.

Alternate Route to Teaching Community College (ART-CC)

Your First Step

Enroll and take our Introduction to Teaching Pre-Service course (50-Hours)

The fifty-hour course is entirely online and includes a combination of Zoom classes, asynchronous course assignments, 8 hours of classroom observations, analysis, and 12 hours of clinical experience.

The program’s main goal is to give the prospective teacher an overview of the teaching profession, featuring classroom management, lesson planning, and job search strategies.

Cost: $325. Does not include textbooks.
Course Requirements: Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree and meet state requirements.

GPA (Grade Point Average) Requirement:

  • Applicants who graduated prior to September 1, 2016: 2.75 or higher
  • Applicants who graduated after September 1, 2016: 3.0 or higher
  • Brookdale ART-CC accepts teacher candidates that have earned the Limited Certificate of Eligibility
  • See Department of Education website for possible exceptions, like the Limited CE Pilot Program.

Next Steps

Complete the remaining 350 hours of course offerings towards your teacher certification. These six (6) courses are also entirely online and include a combination of Live Zoom classes and asynchronous course assignments. Teacher candidate must prove required employment in your CE subject area with enrollment in The NJDOE’s Provisional Teacher Program (PTP) by the third course.

*Candidates must apply for their Certificate of Eligibility through the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) which requires a bachelor’s degree. View NJDOE licensing requirements.

Remaining six (6) teacher preparation courses (350 hours)

Cost: $4,900 (Averages $816 course. Does not include textbooks.)
Course Requirements: Successful completion of the 50-hour course and a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) in your subject area, employment in a public, private, or parochial school.

50-hour Pre-Service Introduction to Teaching Course (ART-CC)

The 6-week course consists of weekly online assignments and three (3) mandatory remote live instructor-led Zoom sessions. You must be present for all three to earn completion.

Course number: XCART-001-JAP02
Runs from: 1/28/26 – 3/11/26 with weekly online assignments
Dates of Zoom meetings/Live class: Wednesday 1/28, 2/11 & 3/4
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

To enroll: Please contact Kristin DeRose, at 732-224-2883 or email kderose@brookdalecc.edu.

The Processes of Teaching and Learning course 002

This course consists of weekly online assignments and five (5) or six (6) mandatory remote live instructor-led Zoom sessions. Please note, we are offering The Processes of Teaching & Learning course 002 over 10 or 15 weeks. The 10-week option is the same amount of coursework in a condensed amount of time.

Spring Courses Available

The Spring 2026 Alternate Route to Teaching Program application is now open!

Spring 2026 Alternate Route to Teaching Program Application

You will be prompted to create an account. A $25 application fee is required.

Select the Academic Program that aligns with the Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Limited CE that you hold.

  • Alternate Route to Teaching (K-12 Subject Matters i.e. English, Spanish, Health & PE, etc.).
  • Alternate Route to Teaching K-6
  • Alternate Route to Teaching P-3

Depending on your program pathway, your application may require the following supporting documents.

  • Proof of completion of the 50-hour Introduction to Teaching course. You should have received a Verification of Course Completion from the institute where you completed the course.
  • CE or Limited CE.
  • Proof of employment (required for P–3 or Elementary K–6 only). Acceptable documentation includes a signed contract, a letter from your principal or supervisor, or minutes for the Board of Education meeting where your employment was approved.
15-Week Options

Course number: XCART-002-JAP01
Runs from: 1/24/26 – 5/9/26 with weekly online assignments
Dates of Zoom meetings/Live class: Saturdays 1/24, 2/14, 3/7, 3/28, 4/18, 5/2
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Course number: XCART-002-JAP02
Runs from: 1/24/26 – 5/9/26 with weekly online assignments
Dates of Zoom meetings/Live class: Saturdays 1/24, 2/14, 3/7, 3/21, 4/18, 5/2
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

10-Week Options

Course number: XCART-002-JAP03
Runs from: 1/31/26 – 4/11/26 with weekly online assignments
Dates of Zoom meetings/Live class: Saturdays 1/31, 2/14, 2/28, 3/14, 4/11
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Course number: XCART-002-FEP01
Runs from: 2/7/26 – 4/18/26 with weekly online assignments
Dates of Zoom meetings/Live class: Saturdays 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 3/21, 4/11
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

To enroll: Please complete the application or contact Kristin DeRose, kderose@brookdalecc.edu for additional information.

Request Information: Alternate Route to Teaching Program

The Alternate Route to Teaching Program is designed for aspiring individuals who already have a Bachelor's Degree and Certificate of Eligibility (CE) and are interested in pursuing a K-12 license to obtain employment as a teacher in a public, private or parochial school.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Please list the endorsement area(s) and code(s) for all CEs you have applied for, are interested in applying for, or that have been issued to you.