This article discusses the impact of instructional television, directed study courses, and other alternative teacher certification methods. Colleges and universities are becoming aware of nontraditional programs that require minimal, if any, time on campus or direct contact with instructors. Soon, there will be a proliferation of Internet courses. This trend may result in: teachers who are proficient in procuring the most credit hours with the least work; teachers with significant theoretical knowledge but no interpersonal skills; and people who lack the college experience. Research shows that: in times of high competition for teaching jobs, most teachers are traditionally certified; in times of high demand for new teachers, significant numbers of new teachers are either alternatively certified, given emergency certification, or uncertified; alternatively certified teachers are less qualified than traditionally certified teachers; and better qualified teachers produce better qualified students. There is a concern that special educators are not receiving sufficient training to handle their students' special needs and that regular educators do not have the skills to teach mainstreamed students. The paper cautions that people may begin to question the skills of teachers who have taken mainly correspondence and web based courses to fulfill their degree requirements. (SM)