摘要:There is a national conversation about a secondary teacher shortage and thelack of qualified teachers in the classroom. Over recent years, there has been arise in the number of alternatively certified teachers to fill these positions. Thisis particularly true in the field of career and technical education. However, thereis a debate on whether an alternatively certified teacher is as effective as atraditionally certified teacher. The level of preparedness has been identified as acritical factor in teacher effectiveness. This study looks at the differences inperceived preparedness of early career technology and engineering educationteachers to determine if there is a difference between alternatively andtraditionally certified teachers. The Schools and Staffing Survey TeacherQuestionnaire was used as a generalizable national dataset. The results show thatthere is no statistically significant difference in the level of perceivedpreparedness of early career alternatively and traditionally certified technologyand engineering education teachers. One construct within preparedness,behavior management, was statistically significant for traditionally certifiedteachers. By better understanding the nature of teachers in regard topreparedness and certification type, further research can be conducted to betterprepare teachers in the field of technology and engineering education.