When you complete your student teaching and all of your other graduation requirements, the University Certification Official will recommend you to the State of Iowa for licensure. You may then apply to the Iowa Department of Education for licensure with the endorsements for which you are prepared; the license will be valid for a two-year period. More information about this process and how the university determines their recommendations can be found in the current catalog.

As you might expect, most of our graduates teach in elementary or middle schools. However, education can be a lifelong process, and we welcome our graduates to continue learning through pursuing additional endorsements. With further training, you can also go on to become a guidance counselor, school administrator, media specialist, or a special programs teacher.

The foundation required for teaching involves strong communication, planning, and interpersonal skills, along with courses in psychology. Many jobs outside of education also value these skills, and as such, you may wish to pursue a career in business, publishing, or other related fields.

As in many other fields, your salary will depend on location. Opportunities for salary increase for teachers include coaching and other extracurricular activities as well as additional coursework or Masters degree. *First year graduates report salaries ranging from $15,000-$45,000.

*These salaries are ranges reported by Mount Mercy 2002 graduates.