Media specialist/librarian question (Austin: employment, transfer, schools)

[famv5]

I hope someone on here can help me.

I am in Pennsylvania and have my MLS degree with a certification in library/media specialist K-12. My husband is being transferred to Austin next summer and I have been researching employment there. Everything states that not only do I need the MLS degree that I have but also a teaching certification or at least proof that I was in school for two years. What?????? Is that true?

In Pennsylvania, they do not require a teaching certification along with the MLS. The media specialist certification required many of the same education classes that teachers take along with the PRAXIS state exams which teachers take.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm just completely shocked that they want me to have basically two degrees to work in the library field. There is just no way I can go back and seek a second degree. I have spent a lot of money, time and effort in just obtaining the masters.

Can anyone clarify this and maybe tell me I'm wrong? (haha) This is one time in my life that I'm hoping I am.

Thanks so much!!!

[itsasmallworld]

Originally Posted by famv5

I hope someone on here can help me.

I am in Pennsylvania and have my MLS degree with a certification in library/media specialist K-12. My husband is being transferred to Austin next summer and I have been researching employment there. Everything states that not only do I need the MLS degree that I have but also a teaching certification or at least proof that I was in school for two years. What?????? Is that true?

In Pennsylvania, they do not require a teaching certification along with the MLS. The media specialist certification required many of the same education classes that teachers take along with the PRAXIS state exams which teachers take.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm just completely shocked that they want me to have basically two degrees to work in the library field. There is just no way I can go back and seek a second degree. I have spent a lot of money, time and effort in just obtaining the masters.

Can anyone clarify this and maybe tell me I'm wrong? (haha) This is one time in my life that I'm hoping I am.

Thanks so much!!!

Pennsylvania is more lenient than some other states when it comes to who can work in the school system. As a speech-language pathologist, I cannot work in the schools because I don't have teacher certification which requires student teaching, a liberal arts & sciences test, a content specialty test, and assessment of skills test. I have already taken the GRE, gone to grad school for 2.5 years after fulfilling prerequisites, done an extensive practicum (most of which was pediatric), and passed national certification exam. But alas, I am not qualified to work in the schools here.

Go figure.

[achtungpv]

Don't get too worked up over it. With the current state of TX schools, it's doubtful there would be any schools filling those types of positions. If a vacancy happens it would most likely be cannibalized and turned into a teaching position.