How to become a teacher (steps, requirements and tips) (2023)

So you want to know how to become a teacher.Maybe you had great tutors when you were in school. Perhaps your own child underscores the importance of a good education. Whatever the case, you've already made up your mind.

Even if the way there does not seem to be easy, we are happy to accompany you on mutual career paths to the teacher to support your good choice.

This guide will show you:

• An easy career path to become a teacher or educator.
• Everything you need to become a teacher including degrees, certifications and more.
• How to get a teaching certificate, teaching license or teaching certificate.
• Easy steps to become a teacher from education to employment.

Disclaimer 1: Every place and every country has different requirements to become a teacher. This guide shows a general plan for becoming a teacher in the US, but is applicable in most English-speaking areas. Check with the school district you are interested in to make sure.

Disclaimer 2: This guide focuses on compulsory public education in the United States.

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Before you start and go through the bureaucracy of teacher training, it's important to plan your teaching career. First, you need to consider the general age and educational level of the students you intend to teach.

These are the different levels of education for American students before they reach university:

In the first three levels of education above, students are younger and the curriculum is broader. Therefore, a teacher here would be responsible for teaching different subjects.

On the other hand, prospective middle and high school teachers need to specialize in a particular area (biology, geography, etc.) as expanding the knowledge of these students requires it.

Special educators (as opposed to the general teachers above) are those who teach children with various learning disabilities and developmental disabilities.

How long does it take to become a teacher?

The time required to become a teacher varies greatly and depends mainly on the age and educational level of the students.

You may not need any experience and more than a basic certification to teach younger children. But the older the students, the longer it takes prospective teachers to prepare for the profession.

How many years of college to be a teacher? In general, it will take timeat least four yearsto qualify to teach, including the time required to earn the minimum degree and certification requirements.

What do teachers do?

Teacher salaries differ even more than the level of education. A teacher's salary varies by age group, job title, school district, length of service, field of study, and other factors. In general, tuition fees increase as students age. In addition, most teachers have two or three months off during the summer holidays, which they can work part-time with if they wish.

The average teacher salary in the US was about $61,000 for 15 years of experience. Canada was just above at $65,000 and Australia was just below at $60,000. On average, these numbers vary, mostly depending on the level of education: Kindergarten teachers in the US earn an average of $40,000 per year, while high school teachers earn more than 50% at $61,000 just because they specialize in a particular subject have specialized.

Die OECD hat agreat guidein average teacher salaries by country and subject, as well as theUS Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Pro tip:The US Department of Education also offers a higher salary or bonus to teachers who so desirework in a shortage areaB. a specific subject or geographic location.

Should I become a teacher?

If you are not sure whether an apprenticeship is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I want to teach?
• Will I be able to meet all teacher requirements?
• Is the general salary of the teacher acceptable?
• Do I have the patience and willingness to provide students with the best education?

career prospects for teachers.

In the United States, the employment of elementary school teachersProjects grow by 7%from 2016 to 2026 as the increase in student numbers is likely to increase demand. The recruitment of primary and secondary school teachers isexpects growth of 8%simultaneously.

You may not need a teaching degree per se, but you do need a degree to teach.

What title do you need to become a teacher?

Teachers must earn at least an accredited bachelor's degree. For prospective primary school teachers, they often specialize in primary school. Those teaching older students and higher levels usually specialize in the subject they wish to teach.

For example, learning how to become an elementary, kindergarten, or preschool teacher is easier than understanding how to become a high school teacher. However, as you may already remember, the compensation also varies greatly.

What grade should I get?

If you know you want to devote your career to teaching, you should choose a major that corresponds to the level of education or subject (for more advanced degrees) you are interested in.

What education do you need to become a teacher? Here are some common examples of the educational requirements to become a college teacher:

• ForHow to become a history teacherBachelor of Education (preferably with a history major).
• ForHow to become an English teacher:Bachelor's degree in English (or at least specialization in English).
• ForHow to become a math teacherpreferably a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in mathematics.
• ForHow to become a science teacher:Bachelor's degree in science education (preferably a bachelor's degree in a specific scientific field).

For more information, see our article onHow to choose a profession.

Pro tip:In addition to an elementary school degree, other specific degrees of popular education include special education, physical education, educational administration, and early childhood education.

What is TEACHING?

The Teacher Education Assistance Grant Program for Higher Education (TEACH) provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to US students who agree to become a full-time teacher at a school that serves students from low-income families. A student receiving the TEACH Scholarship is required to teach for four years within eight years of completing the program.See the US DOE website.for more information about the TEACH program.

Pro tip:You can get away with less than a bachelor's degree for pre-school education, but it's quickly becoming a requirement there too, so don't count on it!

We cannot allow anyone to teach our children more, any more than we can allow anyone to perform brain surgery.

Unfortunately, while this is a prudent move in our society, it means a little extra work for you.

How do I get a teaching certificate?

Here are general steps (in most states) to get a teaching certificate or license:

• Obtain a relevant bachelor's degree.
• Complete a district or state-approved teacher preparation program.
• Pass required school district and/or state tests (e.g. practice).
• Apply for a state teaching license.

Visit the US Department of Education website forResources from state to state. We'll get to how to get a teaching certificate if you already have a bachelor's degree.

Pro tip:Practice, a qualification earned with Practice I and Practice II, is the most common teaching certification. Forty states use practice, although each state has its own acceptable values.

Gain teaching experience

Gaining teaching experience is a requirement for most teachers.But wait, how can I get teaching experience if I don't already have a license to teach?

Most prospective teachers (depending on location) require a certain number of hours of supervised instruction in order to obtain a license. Just like the flight lessons before the full pilot training, these student lessons can take place during the course or after graduation.

Pro tip:A teacher training course can be part of your bachelor's degree, especially if you are studying elementary school or a teacher training course.

Consider National Board certification

IsNational Board Certificationis a US teaching certification for teachers with at least three years of full-time teaching experience. Although optional, the national teacher certification is the highest a general education or special education teacher can earn.

Alternative teacher certification

Alternative teacher certification is a way for someone to obtain a teaching license without completing a traditional teacher certification program. While a bachelor's degree is still required, the certification exam and supervised classroom instruction may not be required. In the US, alternative teacher certification is offered in 48 states and Washington DC. check theNational Association for Alternative Certificationfor more.

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Searching for apprenticeships will feel like a vacation after the years and tears it has taken to get here.

Here are general ways for prospective teachers to find open apprenticeship positions:

General job boards

General job search engines are the easiest way to search for vacancies.Laut G2CrowdSome of the most popular job search panels include Indeed, LinkedIn Job Search, Handshake or Glassdoor. Check out our post on itThe best job boardsto find an apprenticeship.google for professionsIt's a good start

niche job boards

Niche job boards are those that cater specifically to a specific industry or type of job seeker.

Education and related categories have their own niche job sites and these are the most popular:

AcademicKeys.com—Over a million prospective teachers use this site and it contains over 3,500 job vacancies related exclusively to teachers.

HigherEdJobs.com— As the name suggests, it prioritizes higher education but still has excellent resources for all teaching careers.

Profesores-Teachers.com– Over 2,000 employers of teachers (schools, districts, etc.) have listings on this site and the service is completely free (job seekers).

School and district specific websites

While searching online portals for specific schools and school districts is the least easy of the three, it is by far the best option.

It's harder, but not by much; It takes longer to visit the various websites for schools in your area.

Check with the school district first, which is a good place to start understanding all cities and schools. For example, if you're looking for a teaching position in New York City, check them outNew York City Department of EducationWebsite-Web.

The school district page may contain job openings, but these may be administrative or managerial in nature. Current vacancies for teachers can be found on the relevant school's website.

Pro tip:Finding a school is not as difficult as it seems. Depending on what you initially considered when deciding how you want to teach, you will also narrow it down by educational level.

you reduced it Now you have a specific school or schools in mind.

Create a Great Teacher Resume

A great teacher resume is the most important document you need to get right as it lists all your teaching experiences and certifications in one place.

Check out the Zety officerResume Guide for Teachers,Curriculum Guideand our guide uphow to write a summary, but we can also help you write oneCurriculum vitae of the substitute teacher,Curriculum vitae of the tutor, ÖCurriculum for Teaching Assistants.

Create a perfect cover letter for teachers

You need to grab the director's attention, and to do that you need to create the best possible cover letter. We have a guide on how to write awrite to teachers, from header to footer.

Pro tip:Don't stop at the Bachelor! Most public school districts require a minimum number of continuing education course hours for a teacher to renew their license. In addition, most professors are encouraged to pursue a master's degree.

send and track

• Submit your CVand cover letter.
• Check your online presenceto make sure everything is ok.
• consequencesafter submitting your request to ensure a response.

Teaching interviews are like regular interviews in which you are asked questions.

But that's the only similarity.

To excel at this type of interview, you need to do more than just answerBasic and general interview questions; You must have specific knowledgeTeaching interview questionsAnd answers.

Besides, it wasn't supposed to be an interrogation; You must be prepared for thisQuestions to the interviewer, Also.

Prepare more by understandingsituational interview questions,information session questions, OfBehavioral questions in the job interview.

Finally, write aThank you letter after interviewso they don't forget you!

Plus, a great cover letter that goes with your resume will give you an edge over other applicants. You can write it in oursCover letter generator here.It could look like that:

See moreCover letter templates and start writing.

So what do you think? I hope this guide has made it easier for you to understand the process of being a teacher.

As you learn how to become a teacher, keep these points in mind:

• Choose the right specialty.The sooner you understand which bachelor's or master's degree is right for your teaching profession, the better.
• Get the best teaching credentials.You can earn a teaching certificate or an alternative certificate, but look for a nationally recognized board certificate if you are eligible.
• Use the best job boards.The best job boards for teaching jobs are school and school district sites.

As William Arthur Ward once said, "The mediocre teacher counts. The good teacher explains. The head teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

We hope this guide has inspired you and put you on the right path to inspiring our next generation.

Do you have questions about the teaching profession? Not sure if you're in the right job? Contact us in the comments below and we will answer your question. Thank you for reading!