Teaching is one of the most fulfilling careers in the world. But how do you get there? Becoming a teacher requires several years of study to earn a bachelor’s degree, gain field experience, and pass certification exams. But there are alternatives to the traditional route. They allow you to become certified in subjects and age groups that interest you.
Determine Your Academic Goals
There are many routes to becoming a teacher, and your path will depend on what subject area and level you want to teach. Generally, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to qualify as a teacher in the United States, which takes about four years. If you need clarification on whether teaching is the right career choice, try job shadowing or volunteering in schools to see what it’s like to be a teacher.
When you’re ready to pursue your teaching degree, set academic goals for yourself. Ensure that these goals are quantifiable to tell when you have reached them. For example, if you’re nervous about your Spanish class, a clear plan would be to end the semester with a B average or better. Ensure you choose a major related to the subject or grade level you want to teach. For example, if you teach high school English, you’ll need a bachelor’s in English. Likewise, if you’re going to teach science, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in the relevant scientific field.
Choose Your Major
If you decide to become a teacher, the next step is to select a bachelor’s degree program that will meet your state’s requirements. While many aspiring teachers choose to major in education, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education and still earning a teaching license is not impossible. Get an online teacher certification and ensure you’ll be able to demonstrate that you have the experience and knowledge to teach your subject to pass a state licensing exam. It could be done through an internship or by obtaining a substitute teaching position before you begin your full-time job as a teacher.
Choosing your major is also a good opportunity to consider what level of education you want to teach and whether you would like to focus on a particular academic subject. For example, if you plan to teach history or math, you should choose a bachelor’s degree in those subjects. You may also decide to teach at a specific school or grade level, which can require specialized academic training. For example, if you plan to become a high school science teacher, you might need a bachelor’s degree in a specific scientific field.
Apply to College
Becoming a teacher is a commitment of time, money and resources. It’s important to fully understand what the profession requires before pursuing it. Some people know from a young age that teaching is their calling, while others choose this career path after achieving success in another field. Most teachers need at least a bachelor’s degree, which takes four years to complete. To ensure your education is geared toward your desired teaching specialty, it’s best to focus on an accredited degree program.
Additionally, it’s important to maintain a high GPA so you can get into a good college, which can help you find a better teaching job in the future. If you need to figure out whether teaching is the right career path, consider job shadowing or volunteering to observe teachers in action. It can help you see if you like the responsibilities and duties of the job. Additionally, it can help you determine if this is a position where you can be happy and successful. Observing can also help you learn more about the specific teaching skills and pedagogies you’ll be required to use.
Take the Exams
Graduating from your teaching degree program is insufficient — you must pass teacher certification exams. Every state requires a series of tests for teachers to earn their licenses.
These exams cover pedagogical subjects like the Principles of Learning and Teaching and subject matter knowledge for the grade levels and specialties you want to teach. To become a high school math teacher, you must pass the Praxis Mathematics and a Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). Passing these tests can be a stressful experience.
Finding a study program with support systems, like on-call exam support and free test material assistance, is important. Many future educators need to take more than one exam, and the wait for results can be long, especially for exams that include essays or constructed-response questions. Once you’ve passed your required exams, it’s time to find a job! Look for teaching positions at district job and virtual fairs and through your teacher preparation program.
Get a Job
Now that you have your teaching degree, it’s time to find a job. Start by deciding what level and subject you want to teach, as well as the school district and type of school you want to work in. Do your research, check online message boards, and talk to current teachers and school administrators. Once you have a few schools in mind, contact the principals to arrange informational interviews.
Bring your portfolio, including creative lesson plans, student materials, recommendations, and teaching philosophy. Show your portfolio to education professors, career counselors, and alums working in the field for feedback. Although it requires a lot of effort and commitment, becoming a teacher can be gratifying, from the amusing things children say to the joy of witnessing a challenging student finally “get it.” But it takes hard work and dedication. If you can commit to this, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to land a teaching position.
