what do i have to study to become a teacher

How to Become a Teacher

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How to Get a Instructor

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Great teachers are always in demand.

As part of a dynamic professional workforce, teachers assistance shape lives and strengthen communities. If y'all're ready to bring your creativity and passion to work, nosotros'll help you lot notice the path to the classroom that'southward right for y'all!

Similar other loftier-skilled professions, you'll need to run into the professional person requirements, and each state has its own requirements. Nosotros'll walk you through it all in our comprehensive guide to the profession.

What's in this Guide?

• At a glance steps to becoming a teacher
• Deciding if instruction is right for you
  • Didactics career basics
  • Educational activity salaries and job outlook
  • Questions to ask yourself—is pedagogy a good fit?
• The step-past-step Guide
  • Decide what yous want to teach
  • Earn a bachelor's degree
  • Choose an educator preparation plan (EPP)
  • Pass the instruction tests
  • Apply for your teaching certificate
  • Become your instruction chore!
• What is "alternative certification?"
• Accept more questions? Read the FAQ.

Overview: The steps to become a teacher

• Decide what you want to teach.

  The field of study, grade or specialty you want to teach will help decide your next steps. (Merely don't worry if you're still undecided!)

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• Earn a bachelor'due south degree.

  Y'all'll need a degree to teach most subjects. Which major? That depends on what you lot want to teach. Read on!

  Read More

• Choose an educator prep program.

  Educator Prep Programs (EPPs) are where y'all'll complete land requirements and get experience in the classroom. You can enroll during your bachelor'due south or later you've earned your degree.

  Read More

• Laissez passer the teaching tests.

  You'll likely need to pass one or more tests to earn your educational activity license. Nosotros'll outline the most common requirements.

  Read More than

• Utilize for your teaching certificate.

  Once you've met all state requirements for your license, you lot'll utilize directly to your land department of education.

  Read More than

• Get a teaching chore.

  Depending on your EPP, y'all may have already been a educatee teacher or completed a fellowship or mentorship program. Put all of it on your resume and outset applying!

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Decide if teaching is right for you.

As a teacher, no ii days are the same. You'll plan lessons, work with students, apply new technologies and collaborate with colleagues and school leaders. Teaching keeps you growing and learning—with opportunities to grow creatively and professionally.

Teaching Career Basics

When school is in session , yous'll spend some of your time planning lessons and reviewing student piece of work, planning ways to assistance each student grow. You may plan lessons on your ain, or aslope other teachers in your grade level or subject field.

Lesson planning allows y'all to bring your creativity and passion for your subject to create inspiring learning experiences for your students.

Of course, you'll spend much of your 24-hour interval working direct with students in the classroom. But don't worry—that doesn't mean yous'll be continuing at a chalkboard talking incessantly to a class of seated students. (OK—maybe sometimes.) You can suit students in groups, utilize learning games and fix word circles—just to proper noun a few options.

Read about " The surprising ways teaching is changing in the 21st century. "

During schoolhouse breaks, many teachers take the opportunity to nourish professional evolution courses, continue their education with advanced classes or even teach additional enrichment courses. But yes, you'll get enough of holiday time, besides.

Teachers piece of work in many unlike types of schools and learning environments. Many teachers choose to teach in the same surface area where they grew upwardly. If that'southward the case for you, then you may have already been in your futurity classroom—equally a educatee!

If you're branching out from your hometown, you can research the school communities where you think you'll fit best. Y'all may prefer to teach in a small town or in a large city. While you lot'll probably find more openings in a larger commune, many rural areas are looking to attract teachers, as well.

The short answer—probably!

In the Spring 2020 semesters, many teachers transformed their contiguous classrooms into virtual learning environments when schools were airtight due to COVID. Many schools volition continue offering hybrid course opportunities both online and in person.

No one knows quite still what the future holds for online teaching and learning. It'southward safe to say that y'all'll probably have opportunities to develop strong instructional practices online and off.

You have many opportunities to grow as a teacher and leader in education. What starts every bit a career in the classroom can take you as far as you want to become.

Y'all can abound as a master teacher and mentor to your colleagues. Or work toward school and commune leadership as a principal, superintendent or other administrator. Many nonprofit leaders and national advocates got their start as teachers.

In our recent live event, Exist the Modify: The Impact of Black Teachers and How You can Join the Profession , we heard from three nationally renowned educators. They all started as teachers and took unlike paths:

• Dr. Precious Symonette has been a teacher in Miami Dade County for 14 years, earning nation-wide accolades and honors.
• Mr. Sharif El-Mekki grew his career from classroom teacher to school chief. He'southward at present the founder and CEO of The Center for Black Educator Development .
• Dr. John B. Male monarch, Jr. is the president and CEO of the Education Trust and served equally U.S. Secretary of Education in the Obama administration. He is a one-time teacher and master.

Learn more about your career options on our Career Paths page .

Instruction salaries and job outlook

Salary

Wondering how much you'll make? We don't blame you lot. The truth is that instructor salaries vary widely from state to state. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (one), nationally, teachers brand a median salary of $61,600.

Of course, a median bacon merely tells y'all the bacon in the middle, which includes teachers with many years of experience. And then, start teachers will outset at a lower bacon and experienced teachers will earn more.

Check out the National Pedagogy Statistics report for more than information and to find your state. (2)

Job Outlook

In addition, the Bureau projects that teacher employment volition increment past 5 percent over the next decade. Betwixt 2014 and 2024, there will exist virtually two million job openings for teachers across the country.

Task prospects are even ameliorate if you choose to teach in a high-needs subject area, specialty or location. These change from year to year, but usually include math, science, English language equally a 2nd language, earth languages, special educational activity and many subjects in rural schools.

Questions to enquire yourself—is teaching a good fit?

For this ever-changing work, you can inquire yourself a few of the more obvious questions (3). Practise you enjoy being around kids? Are you lot dependable? Practice you have a genuine passion for an academic bailiwick? (Calling all history buffs, volume worms and data nerds!)

We recommend thinking through some less obvious questions, too.

• What's your motivation? Some teachers became educators because they were inspired past their own teachers. Some are responding to a need in their community for teachers from diverse backgrounds with unique insights and experiences.
• Can you endeavor out teaching before you lot commit? If yous're able to explore jobs, consider trying out teaching through a job or volunteer feel. Y'all can tutor, work as a teaching assistant or assistance with an after schoolhouse program. If you make up one's mind didactics is right for you, having relevant feel on your resume will assist you stand out.

A step-by-stride guide to becoming a instructor

Past now yous know you need a teaching certificate to teach in public schools (some states call it a license—just it's the aforementioned thing). Depending on your starting point and your land, your path may exist very dissimilar from another future instructor'due south path. We intermission downward the primal steps y'all'll take no affair where or what you want to teach.

1. 1

   Decide what yous want to teach.

   

   OK—this doesn't necessarily demand to be your first stride, but it tin can help yous brand a few key decisions if you accept an thought what you'd like to teach.

   If you lot already know the subject area or specialty you want to teach, consider heading over to your land department of instruction for a list of subjects and grade levels for your certificate (4). For instance, some states may certify middle school teachers with unlike requirements than high schoolhouse teachers. Others may offer general or specific content areas, like secondary science versus biology or physics.

   If you're still undecided, don't worry, yous'll be able to narrow information technology down equally you larn more than!

2. two

   Earn a bachelor's degree.

   

   You'll need a bachelor's degree to be eligible for a educational activity certificate in almost all subjects. For some skilled career and technical positions—recollect electrical engineering or health sciences—you may be able to substitute work experience.

   Some states require teachers to earn a chief's degree, though y'all may be able to work towards your degree while you're already teaching.

   Finally, if y'all don't already have your available'south degree, you can often earn your degree and your educational activity certificate at the aforementioned time. If you're wondering about your major, we reply those questions below!

3. 3

   Choose an educator grooming program.

   

   You lot will demand to consummate a state-approved educator preparation program (EPP) to earn a teaching certificate. Your EPP will provide yous with the coursework, tools and resource yous need to be successful in the classroom.

   In many states, you lot tin can enroll in an EPP while still in your bachelor's program, so yous graduate with your degree and your instruction document. If you've already earned your caste, you can cull an EPP that offers a principal's degree or a certificate-only option.

   Some EPPs are designed with working adults in mind, then you can find an pick that allows you to work and get certified at the aforementioned time. You lot may even be able to start teaching while working towards your certificate. There are many options! Check out our Plan Explorer to start your search for programs in your state.

4. 4

   Pass the teaching tests.

   

   Depending on your state and the EPP you choose, you'll need to have one or more tests as part of your certification procedure. Usually this includes a subject-affair test that shows you know enough about your chosen subject to teach it.

   Well-nigh states require the Praxis tests (v) in your subject field. Some may also crave a test covering instruction methodologies or an assessment that includes a portfolio of teaching materials. Finally, some states take their own state-specific tests, such as the TExES in Texas or the MEGA in Missouri.

5. 5

   Apply for your instruction document.

   

   In one case y'all've completed your program and passed the required tests, yous're nearly a certified instructor! Since teachers are licensed at the land level, you'll need to apply to your country education bureau to go far official.

   You'll typically provide proof of your degree, your EPP and your test scores. You'll need to laissez passer a background cheque besides. States might have boosted requirements depending on your grade and subject. Your EPP should assist you prepare for this last step.

6. 6

   Go your education job!

   

   Equally yous consummate your requirements, you lot'll starting time looking for your showtime teaching job. Check out district task fairs, virtual fairs and recruiting events with your EPP. In some cases, your EPP may take connections with i or more specific schoolhouse districts.

What is "alternative certification"?

You may accept heard the terms "alternative certification," "alternative licensure" or "alternate path to teaching." Don't allow the name confuse you—there's nothing "alternative" about the training and preparation you'll receive in high-quality alternate path programs.

These programs are typically created with working adults in mind, so they have different processes and timing than traditional undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many programs offer online and function-time modules or shorter timelines that become you in the classroom faster.

Hither's a few examples of an alternative certification program:

• Residency programs prepare teachers for certification with on-the-job training. With a residency program, yous get a paid job at a school and work with a mentor teacher. Some residency programs allow you to earn a master's degree at the same time.
• Accelerated programs are designed for mid-career professionals interested in teaching. If you're thinking about a career switch merely need to go along working while you earn your license, an accelerated program could work for you. They typically offer hybrid online and in-person coursework and flexible arrangements for practice education.
• School commune programs allow you to apply straight to a school district that has instructor openings to fill. In many cases, these programs run in large schoolhouse districts that have the resources to prepare their own teachers. Y'all'll apply in the bound or summer, take courses in the summer or fall and then work during the school year with a mentor instructor before taking over your ain class in the district.

Frequently Asked Questions

Didn't see your topic above? We reply a few other common questions below. It's a good idea to talk with staff at the teacher prep programs too. They're experts on teacher certification in your state!

The brusk respond is, probably not.

Here are 3 common scenarios:

• Yous have a degree in the subject field you lot want to teach. For most secondary subjects, you likely have a degree or pregnant coursework in your subject. For example, if yous desire to exist a math teacher, you'll demand junior- and senior-level coursework on your transcript and the ability to pass a rigorous math test. Same with science, English, fine art and other eye and high schoolhouse subjects.
• You have a degree in education. If you want to teach in elementary grades or specialties like special instruction, a degree in education can provide a strong foundation. Check with your college counselor if yous're notwithstanding earning a degree, or with your teacher preparation plan if you've already graduated.
• Yous have a caste in any subject field + testing or work feel. If you have a degree just want to teach in a unlike subject, y'all still accept options. Depending on your state, y'all may simply need to pass a content test in the subject to qualify. In other states, you may need to take boosted subject coursework while in your EPP or have relevant professional work experience.

Yous need a teaching document or license in order to teach in public schools. Yous may exist able to brainstorm teaching under a mentor teacher before you've earned your certificate. Or you may be able to work as a teaching assistant while y'all're completing your requirements. Bank check with your state education bureau and your local school commune to learn about your options.

A pedagogy degree leads to a teaching certificate. If a college offers a "teaching degree" it means that y'all will have all of the courses you need to exist proficient in your teaching discipline along with coursework that prepares y'all to plan lessons and atomic number 82 a class.

At the stop of this degree program, you will still demand to apply to the state for your teaching certificate or license. So a degree is awarded by the higher whereas the document is awarded by the country.

Showtime with the basics. First, y'all'll desire to narrow downward the EPP options in your country to those that:

• Are approved past the land to offer an EPP.
• Take a program for the specific class, subject and specialty yous intend to teach.
• Offer a program for your current educational groundwork (undergraduate, graduate or career changer)

In one case you've narrowed the listing, you can find programs that piece of work for your specific needs and goals. Consider the following criteria:

• If you're working towards a degree, does the program work with your degree?
• How long will it take to complete? And are the courses and required elements offered at times that work with your schedule?
• Can yous meet all of the requirements for applying to the program?
• Is it affordable? Or, does the program offer a teacher-while-yous-learn option?

For more, check out this article on Choosing Your Training.

Typically, information technology takes anywhere from nine months to iv or 5 years to go a teaching certificate depending on where you are in your career or teaching. Culling educator prep programs are usually the shortest route if you lot already accept a degree, while programs that result in a bachelor'south or master's caste take longer.

In some cases, y'all can begin teaching while yous earn your certificate.

The curriculum for your educator prep plan prepares y'all for the specific tests your state requires. These tests often focus both on specific subject field matter and full general pedagogy methods and practices.

Some states require you to accept and pass tests earlier you can enter the classroom. Others allow you lot to begin pedagogy while preparing for the test.

You may be eligible to teach in your desired state past transferring your certificate or some of the requirements through "state reciprocity."

This term applies to the rules and regulations that each state applies to teachers from outside the state. And so whether or not your electric current document meets all the requirements of the new state will depend on your new state'south reciprocity rules. Start past checking with your state teaching bureau to see if you can fill out a simple application for a certificate. They volition allow yous know if you need to consummate boosted requirements.

Want to go along exploring?

Nosotros know this is a large decision, so have the time you need to explore your options and practise your research. Hither are a few more than resource that tin can assistance.

• Larn More

  Cheque out how-to articles and expert stories nigh teaching and applying to programs.

  Read More

• Program Your Career

  From the classroom to the boardroom, a pedagogy career can take you far.

  Learn More

• Go Certified

  Read our deep dive article virtually certification programs and pathways.

  Get Started

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Source: https://www.teach.org/become

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