Education is the pillar of society and is an undeniable fundamental part of human development. However, this crucial factor for human advancement has been facing ongoing challenges with the most effective learning tool. The world has been struggling with a teacher shortage.
A report from Global Status of Teachers 2024 (GST) brought a concerning fact into light. It revealed the key implications of teacher shortages in the educational systems based on the data gathered from 204 teacher unions in 121 countries.
As a matter of fact, the United States is not exempt from experiencing an educational crisis. According to a 2022 report by the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 406,964 teaching positions are unfilled or held by instructors without full certification across 49 states. This indicates that about one in eight teaching positions is vacant or is not filled by qualified educators. In detail, almost 74% of U.S. school districts showed that there is difficulty in hiring qualified teachers.
This crisis is even more intense in areas where poverty is high, which leads to overcrowded classrooms and instead compromises the quality of education.
The 2025 Teacher Shortage Crisis
The dilemma of the teacher shortage in the U.S. remains alarming and widespread. Reports discovered that the highest vacancy rates are in states like Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California. These states hold the record of fast population growth, urban extension, and teacher attrition that have overtaken the recruitment efforts. Nevada, for example, has only 43.65 teachers per 1,000 students. This ratio is below the national average, and its teacher turnover rate grew from 9% to 12% over the recent year. States like Florida, Alaska, and Idaho are also facing similar shortages in classroom staffing.
Apparently, there are several factors that contribute to the teacher crisis. First on the list is the pandemic. The aftermath of the pandemic has resulted in burnout from virtual learning, extended working hours, and the need to balance personal and professional duties. Second is the low pay and limited career advancement. The issue on salary leads many of educators to leave the profession or retire early. This also resulted in job vacancies, especially in areas in STEM, special education, and bilingual instruction.
Shortages have set off a domino effect and brought widespread consequences. Classrooms became overcrowded, which hampered student engagement and performance. The limited course offerings also slowed down educational enrichment. These issues widened the achievement gap and are more concerning in communities that are already facing resource constraints.
States have taken initiatives in alleviating the crisis by means of raising salaries, offering signing bonuses, and launching targeted recruitment campaigns. But are these measures sufficient to address the crisis?
State Emergency Licensure Programs for Foreign Teachers
The growing demand for qualified educators in American classrooms points out that there is a need for alternative recruitment means. This could be done through hiring foreign-trained teachers. Many states have actually introduced emergency licensure programs to assist qualified educators in obtaining fast licensure, which addresses staffing shortages and at the same time, improves the academic environment.
At the heart of this solution is the process of credential evaluation. It is an alternative way of bridging the qualifications of foreign-trained professionals with the licensing requirements of U.S. states. The absence of reliable and accredited credential evaluation services would slow down the hiring process and leave vacancies unfilled, and would circle back to mediocre teaching quality.
A number of states have presented emergency licensure programs that welcome foreign-trained teachers into their school systems to lessen the crisis. These alternative certification ways enable individuals to hold foreign teaching credentials to skip the long process of traditional educator preparation programs, yet remain to attain essential state requirements. This efficient process enables schools to quickly fill positions in high-need areas.
Some states have initiated special programs for emergency teaching licenses. For example, Massachusetts, has allotted over 7,000 emergency licenses from 2020 to 2023. Florida and Georgia also issued flexible certification processes to make it easier for teachers educated from abroad to get certified.
The benefits of these programs include tailored professional development, mentorship, and a quicker route to certification. Foreign-trained teachers need a bachelor’s degree, teaching experience, pass a test, and provide verified credentials. The emergency licensure process mostly takes six months to a year, which enables schools meet urgent staffing needs while maintaining quality.
The Critical Role of Credential Evaluation
Credential evaluation has an integral role in these emergency pathways. It serves as the vital connection that bridges a teacher’s foreign qualifications to meet U.S. state licensure requirements.
The evaluation process validates the authenticity of transcripts and diplomas obtained abroad. It ensures that these documents meet U.S. educational standards. It also assists applicants who often experience challenges with the different grading systems and degree structures. Evaluations help applicants to translate their credentials into U.S. equivalents for licensing purposes.
It is also essential to use accredited services. Only National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) affiliated credential evaluation agencies ascertain that state licensing boards accept their reports. This evaluation permits boards to make informed and timely decisions about an applicant’s suitability for the position. As a result, processing times are lessened, and job placement is more advanced.
How ERES Supports International Educators
The Educational Records Evaluation Service (ERES) is a credential evaluation that assists foreign-trained teachers in obtaining U.S. teaching licenses. ERES, founded in 1981, has evaluated credentials for more than 40 years. It enables applicants from around the globe to have their academic credentials recognized in the U.S. The agency has also a member of NACES since 1993, which ensures that its reports are accepted by state licensing boards, universities, and employers around the country.
In addition, ERES specializes in reporting comprehensive evaluations that are tailored to the teaching profession. The services also include addressing the specific requirements of each state’s certification process. These reports facilitate teacher licensure, academic credit transfer, employment placement, immigration applications, and military enlistment. ERES assists applicant teachers in comprehending the intricacies of the U.S. education system and fulfills professional licensing requirements by offering reliable and comprehensive evaluations.
Furthermore, ERES has a five-star reputation for its accuracy and efficiency, which makes it a preferred choice among licensing authorities. For these reasons, ERES evaluation is a good pathway in the journey of opening opportunities for foreign-trained teachers by guaranteeing that their qualifications are recognized and valued in the U.S. education system.
But are these measures sufficient to address the crisis?
Credential evaluation is a sufficient measure to address to help the states mitigate the teacher shortages crisis. It is also a significant key for qualified foreign teachers to be in the U.S. classrooms. By utilizing emergency licensure programs sponsored by the state and reliable services like ERES, opportunities are more accessible for foreign-trained teachers who are willing to teach in the U.S.
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