The past year has seen the emergence of a broad consensus on raising the standards for entering the teaching profession. The NEA, AFT, and Council of Chief State School Officers all have said they want higher entry standards. Such an exam would be modeled after other professions and is a potential game changer. If sufficiently rigorous, the exam could change who is drawn into teaching, develop a more consistent, higher level of skill across all teachers, improve student outcomes, and greatly increase public regard for teachers and teaching. Over time these changes could lead to increased respect for teachers, improved results for students, potentially higher pay, and, in the long run, greater desire by talented people to join the profession.