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There are many careers which children dream of, astronaut, president, police officer. One of the most common among them is, unsurprisingly, to become a teacher, like the most influential role models in their life. While some kids will discover new passions as they grow, teaching turns out to be one of the most attainable childhood dream jobs to pursue as an adult. There’s far more to being a teacher in the US public education system than just wanting it from childhood, however, and the process can be rather complex, differing from state to state. Here, we’ll review some of the most common teaching requirements you’ll need to meet on your mission to launch a teaching career.
The first step for any aspiring teacher is to get an education themselves. Bachelor’s degree programs in teaching are fairly common, although they may have additional barriers to entry that other majors do not. A Bachelor’s in Education is often split further, depending on the age of the child you’d prefer to teach. Early childhood education focuses on the youngest students, teaching the basics like writing and reading. Primary education covers typical elementary school subjects, and teachers in this age range typically need a broad understanding of many different topics, since they are often the class’s only teacher. Secondary education applies to middle and high school students, and due to the deeper levels these courses reach, will require further specialization in a certain subject, like math or science. Your choice of age ranges will shape your undergraduate education substantially, as children in each age group have different needs, and you as a teacher will be given different responsibilities. Aside from ensuring that you have a solid understanding of the material you’ll be teaching, degrees in education also provide aspiring teachers with instruction in pedagogy (the philosophy of teaching), lesson planning, grading assignments, managing classrooms, and dealing with students directly.
Towards the end of a bachelor’s program in education, aspiring teachers will need to start making their first steps into the career. This is usually done in the form of a student teaching experience, akin to an internship in other fields, where the soon-to-be teacher begins working with actual children, under the guidance of a more experienced teacher. Obtaining permission to work as a student teacher can be difficult; student teachers must undergo background checks to ensure that it’s safe for them to be around children, will need to meet certain performance metrics in their courses, and may need special provisional licenses, depending on the state. Student teachers are constantly evaluated for the duration of the experience, and a positive evaluation overall is necessary to progress to later steps in the process.
With a student teaching experience completed, you’ll finally receive clearance to graduate. From there, you’ll need to obtain certification and/or licensure to begin teaching. Certification and licensure requirements can vary significantly from state to state, so be sure to check the teacher certification requirements that apply to you. In most states, you’ll need to pass a certification exam of some variety, either standardized or state-created, and may need to secure employment with a school system first. Licenses are valid for a limited period of time, and will need to be renewed, which may require further testing and continuing education. Licensure is not necessary for homeschooling or most private schools, although private schools will typically want some indication of a teacher’s competency, which may take the form of national certifications or their own evaluations.
Depending on the state and your ultimate career goals, this may not be the end of your educational journey, however. While a bachelor’s degree in education is enough to get started in most states, some states expect teachers to pursue a Master’s in Education after being licensed, and may make completion of the master’s program a necessary step in the renewal process. Even if you aren’t required to earn a master’s, you may wish to do so, as teachers with higher credentials often see higher pay, and these degrees may open the path to other education jobs like a principal.
Becoming a teacher can be a complicated ladder to climb, but as careers go, it’s hard to find one that’s more rewarding than the education of young minds. First, earn a degree in education, and then proceed onward to student teaching. Once that’s done, study hard and prepare to pass the necessary licensing and certification exams. Whether it takes the form of a full master’s degree or just conferences and lectures, continuing education will be a necessary part of maintaining that certification, so remember to nurture your own education as you do that of your students. With these steps complete, you’re clear to continue teaching for as long as this career fills you with the joy of a job worth doing.
Becoming a teacher can be a complicated ladder to climb, but as careers go, it’s hard to find one that’s more rewarding than the education of young minds. First, earn a degree in education, and then proceed onward to student teaching. Once that’s done, study hard and prepare to pass the necessary licensing and certification exams. Whether it takes the form of a full master’s degree or just conferences and lectures, continuing education will be a necessary part of maintaining that certification, so remember to nurture your own education as you do that of your students. With these steps complete, you’re clear to continue teaching for as long as this career fills you with the joy of a job worth doing. Becoming a teacher can be a complicated ladder to climb, but as careers go, it’s hard to find one that’s more rewarding than the education of young minds. First, earn a degree in education, and then proceed onward to student teaching. Once that’s done, study hard and prepare to pass the necessary licensing and certification exams. Whether it takes the form of a full master’s degree or just conferences and lectures, continuing education will be a necessary part of maintaining that certification, so remember to nurture your own education as you do that of your students. With these steps complete, you’re clear to continue teaching for as long as this career fills you with the joy of a job worth doing.
