- Earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program.
- Pass required New York state teaching exams. …
- Complete mandatory New York state child safety workshops.
25 Things You Should Know About Becoming a Teacher
How to become a teacher
Exceptional teachers do more than just educate their students. They give students motivation and support outside of the classroom, too.
If you want to become a teacher, you should think about taking these four actions:
1. Earn a bachelors degree
To qualify for a teaching position, teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree. You have the option of majoring in either the subject you want to teach, education studies, or both.
People who want to become teachers frequently choose one of the following college majors:
Early childhood educators are trained to work with children up to the age of eight while studying theories of child development. You can use this degree to get ready to teach kindergarten or elementary school. Additionally, you might be qualified for non-teaching positions like education administration.
Teachers can work with middle and high school students in both public and private schools if they hold a secondary education degree. Depending on the state where you teach, you might need to obtain additional certification.
A special education degree is necessary if you want to work with children who have special needs. Teachers in this program receive specialized training to help them meet the needs of students who have learning or developmental challenges.
This degree focus is required for teaching positions that involve physical education (PE), including supervising athletic programs in a school setting. This group of people includes school dietitians, sports managers, and physical education teachers.
Teachers who have administrative degrees in education frequently take on administrative or research positions. If you know this is what you want to do, you can major in education administration to jumpstart your career in that field.
2. Gain classroom experience
Hands-on experience is important in the educational field. Typically, you gain classroom experience during your undergraduate studies through a school internship or after you graduate. Before taking their teaching certification exam, teachers must have a certain number of classroom hours where they supervise in a learning environment.
Consider your interests and talents after spending some time in the classroom, and research state requirements to help you decide where you want to teach. The grade level, subject, and location of a teacher’s classroom, as well as the kind of school they teach in, are all determined by their career path.
3. Obtain your teaching license
With separate certificates for the following segments, certification typically follows grade levels:
Most states provide alternatives to teaching licensure if you have a college degree in a field other than education. Through these programs, aspiring educators can get started teaching right away while being closely supervised by an experienced educator. The candidate will be fully certified once they have finished the alternate program.
To obtain your state license, you might need to submit an application to the state department of education, pass tests, or complete additional coursework.
4. Continue with higher education
Once they have classroom experience, teachers frequently want to pursue a higher degree in order to increase their pay. To keep their state certification, all public school teachers must complete a predetermined number of hours of continuing education. Professional development programs are widespread as instructional strategies and content continue to advance.
What do teachers do?
The main responsibility of a teacher is to instruct students in one or more subjects, frequently using well-structured lesson plans. Teachers must carry out some or all of the daily tasks listed below to achieve this:
Becoming a teacher: FAQs
The following are responses to some of the most typical queries about teaching:
How much money do teachers make?
What’s the job outlook for teachers?
Depending on their area of expertise, teachers’ employment prospects are generally positive. According to the U. S. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for the following teacher types is anticipated to increase between 2020 and 2030:
What skills do teachers need?
A variety of skills are necessary for the profession of teaching, depending in part on the age of the students you will be instructing. But every one of the following soft abilities is required for any teacher:
Can you be a teacher without a degree?
Every state mandates that K–12 public school teachers possess a bachelor’s degree, typically in elementary or secondary education or, for older grades, majoring in a content area like math or science.
Can I still become a teacher if I don’t have a degree in education?
Although having a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field is more typical, people who want to become teachers can still do so after passing the state’s licensing test. For instance, if you have a degree in mathematics and want to teach high school math, you must pass a certification test for teachers, such as the Praxis, which assesses academic ability and subject-specific content knowledge.
How long does it take to become a teacher?
The typical time required to become a teacher, including earning a bachelor’s degree and passing certification exams, is four years. Depending on whether you already hold a degree before deciding to pursue teaching, the amount of time will vary.
FAQ
How do I get started as a teacher?
- Obtain a relevant bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a district- or state-approved teacher preparation program.
- pass the Praxis or other exams required by your state or school district
- Submit a state teaching license application.
Is it difficult to become a teacher?
It’s difficult to retire from teaching as a career. You must be committed, up for a challenge, and prepared to face a significant learning curve during your first few years in the field to be a good teacher. You’ll also need to be willing to start from scratch. This might not be a significant disadvantage if you enjoy learning.
