Careers in Teaching FAQs Part 1
What are the Different Paths that Lead To a Career in Teaching?
The traditional path towards teaching jobs is to major in education, and to complete the necessary coursework that will earn you a teaching certificate as an undergraduate. If you’re planning to teach at the secondary level, you will also have to earn a degree in the subject you plan to teach.
Depending on the university you’re in, education programs may be offered the moment you start college, or during your sophomore or junior years. These courses often have student-teaching programs, and some may require extra courses to satisfy state certification requirements for teaching jobs.
A career in teaching is also possible for people who majored in other disciplines. They can shift by attending a post-baccalaureate program that involves 1 to 2 years of preparatory courses.
What Do I Need To Do To Obtain Teacher Certification?
For teaching jobs, there are specific teacher certification requirements which vary by state. It is therefore recommended that you consult your State’s board of education if you’re planning to pursue a career in teaching. However, these requirements are often included in three main steps towards earning a teacher’s license.
- You must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. If you’re planning to teach at the elementary level, a major or minor in education is often required. However, some states will require you to have a post baccalaureate or a master’s degree in education in order to pursue a teaching job.
- If you’re planning a career in teaching at the secondary level, you will be required to hold a degree in the subject you’re planning to teach. You will also need to participate in an accredited teaching program to satisfy practicum requirements.
- In addition to earning the necessary degrees, some states may also require you to pass a state exam, or PRAXIS, to assess whether you have a solid liberal arts foundation. Teaching jobs, after all, rely on your ability to communicate knowledge effectively to students.
Is a Bachelor’s Degree Required to Qualify for a Teaching Job?
Under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy, all fully certified public school teachers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
However, a career in teaching is still possible for people without a bachelor’s degree. Private schools are independent of the NCLB and they can hire individuals who haven't graduated yet. Given this, your best option to land a full-time teaching job is to check out job openings in the private and independent school sector.
Becoming a paraprofessional is another teaching job option for individuals without a bachelor’s degree. A paraprofessional, in this case, is a non-certified teaching assistant. Paraprofessionals may be tasked to help in classroom organization, conduct one-on-one or small group tutoring sessions, assist students in a computer lab, and do other similar duties that teachers may require of them.
How do I Become a Teacher If My Degree Isn't in Education?
Although certification requirements for teaching vary per state, anyone with a bachelor’s degree has various options if he or she wants to pursue a career in teaching.
The first choice would be to take up Master’s degree in education to earn your credentials for a career in teaching. Depending on the program, you can finish your Master's in as short as 11 months.
Other paths that lead to a teaching job would be to join an intensive training program, or apply for internship in a school. These paths combine graduate courses with your training for a career in teaching. Many of these alternative programs allow you to teach while taking the classes you need to receive your certification. Moreover, some of these programs also offer a Master’s degree in education at a subsidized rate.
More FAQs in Part 2
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