If you want to make a significant difference in the lives of numerous kids, you should consider becoming a teacher. “What degree do you need to be a teacher?” you’ll probably wonder at the outset of your trip.

We’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about teaching. We’ll address questions like “How long does it take to become a teacher?” and walk you through the processes of getting your first teaching job.

A bachelor’s degree in elementary, secondary, or special education is often chosen by aspiring teachers. Many others, on the other hand, choose to major in something else and get their teaching certification later. This option may be more suited to people who wish to learn about a subject but are not interested in teaching it. Majoring in a related field will boost their chances of success once they enter the teaching profession, in addition to becoming an expert in the field.

What Makes a Good Teacher?

Before you start looking at degree possibilities, make sure that teaching is the proper career route for you. To be a great teacher, you must be a certain kind of person.

Patience is one of the most vital skills to possess if you want to become a teacher. You can’t be furious with students who are having trouble understanding particular subjects. Instead, you’ll need to be extremely patient, empathetic, and motivating.

Teachers must also be enthusiastic about what they do. It’s rare to find a teacher who went into teaching for the money or the summer vacations; rather, most teachers go into it because they are passionate about Education and want to make a difference in their students’ lives.

From a young age, many of the best teachers felt compelled to pursue a career as a teacher. They say that teaching picked them rather than the other way around. If you have a strong desire to become a teacher, you’re probably on the correct track!

However, deciding on a career might be tough. If you’re not sure if you want to be a teacher, you can start by volunteering at local or international schools, becoming a teacher’s assistant, or getting a substitute teaching job. These opportunities don’t require formal education, so they’re excellent ways to get your feet wet before committing to a degree program.

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Teacher?

Bachelor Degree

This is the first step in becoming a certified teacher if you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree. At the very least, all public schools require teachers to have a bachelor’s degree.

Many universities and colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in Education, including more specialized programs such as early childhood education if you wish to teach preschool or elementary school.

It’s a good idea to minor in the topic you’re interested in if you want to become a teacher in a specific field, such as science, history, or art. You’ll be well-prepared and qualified to teach your future students what they need to know in this manner. Depending on the type of teaching career you choose to pursue, there are numerous alternatives and programs available.

However, it’s possible that you have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than Education. That doesn’t rule out the possibility of you becoming a teacher. You can apply for a master’s program in Education with your bachelor’s degree. In this manner, you can continue to master the hard and soft skills required to become a teacher without feeling as if your past Education was squandered.

Is a Master’s Degree Necessary for a Teacher?

If you intend to teach high school or college students, you should consider pursuing a master’s degree. Although some colleges do not need it, it will give you an advantage in the job market and open up a whole new world of possibilities for you.

A master’s degree in Education also entitles you to a better income because you are more competent. How much extra you can earn is determined by where you reside. In comparison, a teacher with a master’s degree may expect to earn $7,358 more each year at the pinnacle of their career than a teacher with only a bachelor’s degree.

Now increase the number of years you’ll be teaching. You can see how having a master’s degree in Education becomes extremely advantageous if you want to optimize your earning potential. There are numerous alternatives available to you if you want to pursue a Master of Education. You could attend classes full-time in order to complete your degree as rapidly as feasible. However, many teachers study part-time while teaching throughout the day, which is a terrific way to supplement their income.

You can even do your master’s degree entirely online, which is a great choice if you have a hectic schedule. Studying online allows you to learn from the comfort of your own home and affords you the most flexibility, allowing you to work or care for your family while pursuing your master’s degree.

Depending on your state, there are different requirements for a master’s degree. While a master’s degree is not required to teach in many places, it can improve your teaching talents and earn you more money. Most institutions demand a certain number of hours of field training to be eligible for a master’s program. Volunteering with children, tutoring, seeing veteran instructors, and even working with children are all examples of this.

Although master’s degrees are not necessary for most states, they can help you get hired as a teacher. A master’s degree will not guarantee you a teaching license, but it will improve your chances of landing a position.
You can start as a high school student and work your way up to a master’s degree in a few years.

While master’s degrees are the most prevalent prerequisite for teaching, state requirements for initial licensure vary. To obtain a teaching license in most jurisdictions, you must pass the Praxis exam. A bachelor’s degree is essential for a teacher to become a teacher. This degree takes four years to finish on average. It entails both student teaching and specialized coursework. In the field of Education, there are numerous degrees available.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Teacher?

As you can see, the time it takes to become a teacher depends on a number of factors. To begin, will you be enrolled in a full-time or part-time degree program? Will you go for a bachelor’s degree and certification or a master’s degree?

Having said that, it typically takes 4-5 years to earn a bachelor’s degree and obtain a license as a teacher. If you add a Master’s in Education to the mix, you’re looking at a 5-7-year time frame. These figures will change depending on your enrollment preferences, the grade level you intend to teach, and the location where you wish to teach. Some states in the United States, for example, will demand ongoing licensure or a master’s degree to teach.

If returning to school sounds too frightening, there are other choices that can help you become a teacher, but you will not be as qualified for as many opportunities.

Teach for America provides training to those interested in teaching in high-need communities. A bachelor’s degree in any discipline is all that is required. If you are accepted into their program, you will participate in the summer intensive training program, after which TFA will assist you in finding a teaching job in one of their 51 areas across the United States, ranging from New York City to Hawaii.

Is Getting a Degree to Become a Teacher Worth it?

Prospective teachers must pass a teacher certification exam after finishing a bachelor’s degree. Most states require new instructors to hold a master’s degree, and these tests measure students’ academic and topic competence. Nonetheless, several jurisdictions require new teachers to obtain further certification before they may begin teaching.

Aspiring teachers can use this approach to improve their abilities and earn greater pay. Many schools demand field training in addition to a bachelor’s degree, which can include volunteering, tutoring, shadowing veteran educators, or even working with children.

Getting your teaching credential with an associate’s degree or higher may be the most cost-effective option. Educator preparation programs are available at hundreds of accredited schools and institutions. These programs normally include a state test and student teaching, and they are typically less expensive than private school instruction. In-state public college tuition, for example, is $3,313 for the 2018-2019 academic year. Private schools, on the other hand, might cost up to five times as much.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, you can specialize in one of several fields. Early childhood education, Special Education, or secondary Education are all options for specialization. Some systems may even give you the option of selecting a specific area.
A master’s degree is required in some states, although it is not required in all. You can seek certifications in bilingual or middle-level Education in addition to a teaching focus.

What Are the General Requirements to Become a Teacher?

While you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in Education to become a teacher, you have a lot of alternatives for what you’ll teach and where you’ll teach it. Special Education, Secondary Education, middle-level Education, and early childhood education are all options. Secondary education certification prepares you to teach in a high school context, so you’ll need to pick a subject, such as science, math, or history.

While there will always be a demand for competent, trained instructors, some subject areas have a stronger demand than others. According to US News, there is an increasing demand for special educators, mathematicians, scientists, and multilingual educators.

A bachelor’s degree is usually only the first step in becoming a teacher. Before beginning employment, most states and school systems require instructors to complete the Praxis teacher certification exam.

You may choose to continue your study and acquire an advanced degree after landing your desired career in the classroom. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 56 percent of public school teachers earned a master’s degree or higher in 2011-12. Furthermore, the NCES discovered that instructors with a master’s degree earned nearly $11,000 more per year than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Most bachelor’s degree programs in Education require you to spend at least one semester in a classroom setting. You’ll get the opportunity to practice managing a classroom while still having the support of a cooperating teacher and your college professors during your student teaching experience. This practical experience will boost your self-esteem and prepare you for a rewarding teaching profession after graduation.

When deciding where to get your bachelor’s degree in teaching, look for a school with a solid student-teacher placement program.

Conclusion

Although some states do not require a master’s degree to become a teacher, a master’s degree can be obtained. You can start working as a teacher after receiving a bachelor’s degree. You can apply for teaching employment at public schools, nonprofit organizations, and other institutes of higher learning if you have a graduate degree. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you can still get a teaching license by enrolling in a certificate program.

For a teaching position, a master’s degree is required. This qualification will provide you with the necessary credentials to teach in a classroom setting.
A graduate program in Education will also help you improve your skills and improve your job prospects. But before you can pursue a master’s degree, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree. If you already have a graduate degree, it will be a good idea to get a teaching license.