AboutJames J. Kovalcin Expertise I am teaching or have taught AP physics B and C [calculus based mechanics & electricity and magnetism] as well as Lab Physics for college bound students. I have a BS in Physics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Teaching from same. I have been teaching physics for 27 years.
Question QUESTION: Recently migrated to USA, living in San Francisco bay area, hold employment authorization document and SSN as well. I have my masters degree in science with Atmospheric Physics as major earned from Tribhuvan University of Nepal. I used to be a lecturer (teacher) of the same university with job assignments of teaching physics to the students of 12 level.
The ECE of USA got my credentials evaluated equivalent to Bachelor degree of science majoring in Physics and concentration in Atmospheric Physics. With the help of a non profit organization, I have built up my resume suitably and applied for teaching Phyiscs in a private school here. Got interviewed on 2/14/08. Please advise if I may obtain this job when I do not hold any credential for teaching in USA.
I am badly in need of a teaching job.
Regards, Bijaya
ANSWER: Unlike your country of origin, every state in the US has a different set of requirements! The positive is that there are some areas of the country where the shortage of qualified physics teachers is so severe that ANY prospect is better than none. So, look around and be optimistic! My biggest concern for you would be the very dramatic cultural differences between the US and India/Nepal. One very useful site that has links to EVERY state's teaching requirements is http://www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html.
Finally, let me note that some states have "alternate route" certification based more on past experience rather than some specific paperwork. [New Jersey is one of the states with this possibility. You find a job first and then complete the formal requirements.
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QUESTION: Thank you for your prompt reply. I will look around for a suitable teaching job around San Francisco and will also wait for the reply from the private school which interviewed me for their job posting of Physics Instructor. In the meantime, please suggest me how do I negotiate salary if they select me. I have no idea of pay scale for private high school physics teacher, neither do I know about salary public schools offer. I have more than 15 years experience in teaching physics.
Regards, Bijaya
Answer Most public schools have "salary guides" based primarily on years of experience and to a lesser degree educational credentials. When you are hired you are free to try to negotiate where should be placed on the guide based on your years of experience. Public school salaries vary dramatically from state to state and even from district to district within a state. The lowest starting salaries in the public schools are about $30,000 [North Dakota] and vary to a high salary in excess of $100,000 is some eastern states [New York, New Jersey and Connecticut].
Private schools are an entirely different matter. Technically, they have no formal [meaning legal] requirements regarding credentials. In addition, salaries in private schools are frequently only 1/2 of what would be paid in a public school [there are private schools that pay well, but they are few and far between!] You are free to negotiate whatever you would like with private schools. There are no formal rules. It all depends on how desperate you happen to be!
