Intro
If you've ever been interested in bringing the magic of learning to a new generation, then a career in the field of education may be perfect for you. Teaching is a demanding career, but most teachers find their work extremely rewarding. For most teaching or education jobs, it's critical that you enjoy working with people and that you have good communication skills. You'll also have to have a detailed knowledge of the subjects that you'll be teaching. It also helps if you're able to motivate others through positive reinforcement and if you have good organizational skills.
Many school districts are desperate for good, qualified teachers. While starting salaries are relatively low, in most cases you can look forward to excellent benefits and regular salary increases. Education careers can range from teaching in elementary schools to jobs in higher education; there are also positions available in school administration and in other teaching positions such as drivers' education or designing distance education programs. Whether you're interested in becoming a primary school teacher or want to or get a Master's degree in nursing education online, you've come to the right place.
Career Overview
Teaching jobs require that you have the appropriate degrees and certifications for the position you want. Whether you're looking for a position as a high school science teacher, a university professor or a kindergarten teacher, it's important that you have the best possible education in your chosen specialty. This will give you the most opportunities for advancement and for increased salary over time.
The education positions which most need to be filled in schools, continuing education programs and other educational facilities across the country include:
- Bilingual education teachers (K-12)
- English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher for adults
- Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) instructors
- Administrators for educational facilities
- Science and math teachers
- English teachers
- Special education teachers
- Adult literacy teachers
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, an additional 1 million teachers will be needed to meet the needs of the U.S. population over the next decade as older teachers retire and as populations increase. If you choose to become a teacher, you'll be joining a dedicated workforce where skilled staff members are always in demand. As the United States continues to embrace cultural diversity, TESOL instructors are particularly needed; acquiring a TESOL certificate is a great way to advance your teaching career, especially in large urban areas and in states, such as Texas and Florida, which have very diverse populations.
Educational Requirements
The basic steps for becoming a teacher are quite similar no matter what age group or subject you wish to teach. Teachers must receive a minimum of a Bachelor's degree, along with a teaching certificate. Becoming a teacher takes diligent study and devotion to your career. A online Bachelor's degree in education or in a related discipline such as child psychology is only the first step; you'll also be required to have some experience in the classroom as a student or assistant teacher before you can receive your teaching certificate. It's not too difficult to find online colleges which offer Bachelor's degrees in education, and you also won't have trouble finding accredited programs.
Most states allow teachers' certificates to be carried from one state to another; others have easy recertification processes for teachers who hold licenses in different states. If you're a properly licensed teacher and should need to cross state lines to find the job you want, you'll probably be qualified to work as a teacher in your new home state - so moving from, say, Maine to Delaware or from Louisiana to Missouri, Iowa, or even as far as California shouldn't be a problem for anyone who's received a strong education as a teacher.
Requirements for elementary school teachers tend to be fairly general; you'll need to be able to teach reading, math, science, history and so on to students in the lower grades, and while you'll have to be fairly well-versed in these subjects it's equally important that you have a thorough understanding of child development. You'll be expected to complete your coursework and some hands-on teacher training to get an online elementary teaching degree. Teachers of middle school and high school students will often have to specialize in one or more subjects and will use completely different teaching tools and resources than those that are used for younger children, and are also expected to have some training in the classroom. Becoming a high school teacher often involves additional adolescent psychology classes and other courses that will help you work with students who are experiencing the highs and lows of their teenage years.
It's also a good idea to get an accredited TESOL or TEFL certificate online so you'll be able to instruct students who may not have English as their native language. To teach students with developmental or emotional difficulties, it's necessary to get a Master's degree in Special Education.
If you choose to teach at the university level or if you intend to become an administrator or to develop curriculum, it's often necessary to obtain at least a Master's degree. Doctoral degrees and several years' experience are usually required for positions at this level. Many online colleges offer graduate degrees in education, and it won't be difficult for you to find an accredited program that offers online TESOL Master's of Arts degrees, online courses that will apply toward getting your teaching certificate, a Master's in education, and other college tracks designed especially for educators who are seeking postgraduate education.
To specialize in areas such as nurse training or music education, you'll have to take at least a couple of years' worth of supplemental classes. Fortunately, you can also get started with nurse educator certification or even a PhD in nursing education online - and the same applies to music educator training.
It's time to learn more about starting on your new career path as an educator! The orange button connects you to information about numerous options for individual courses in education, teaching certification programs, online Bachelor's degrees in teaching and other degree programs - both in standard colleges and online - that can meet anyone's budget, schedule, or career goals.