How To Become a High School Teacher
What Is a High School Teacher?
Adolescents have many challenges to navigate. During a time of significant personal growth, they must also work toward completing their secondary education and preparing for postsecondary education, vocational training or direct entry into the workforce. High school teachers are responsible for guiding teenagers and instructing them in a particular subject area. While teaching about their subject area, high school teachers also strive to teach students how to think critically, reason analytically and communicate with proficiency.
If you are passionate about education and interested in working with adolescents, you may be wondering how to become a high school teacher. Before deciding on any particular career path in education, it’s important to understand the education, experience and licensure requirements for your intended career. Below, you can explore the typical high school teacher requirements, but do note that specific requirements can vary from state to state and school to school.
Total expenditure on U.S. public elementary and secondary schools for the 2022-23 school year(See disclaimer 1)
What Does a High School Teacher Do?
A teacher’s primary responsibility is instructing students and giving them the tools necessary to think critically. In high school, teachers generally specialize in one or sometimes two subject areas, such as mathematics, biology, history or language arts. Some teachers may take on additional responsibilities, such as coaching a sports team or supervising an afterschool club, program or other activity.
High school teachers generally teach students in grades 9-12.(See disclaimer 2) It’s common for teachers in secondary education to teach classes of varying grades, although some classes may be sorted by ability level and may have students of different grade levels. Some teachers focus on a core subject area, such as English or math, while others teach enrichment or elective courses, such as physical education, art or music.(See disclaimer 2)
Although specific duties can vary from day to day, teachers generally handle the following:(See disclaimer 2)
Preparation
They develop lesson plans, plan learning activities and prepare the classroom as needed.
Instruction
Teachers deliver lesson plans, instructing students as a class and individually.
Assignments
Teachers develop, hand out and instruct students on the completion of class assignments.
Assessments
They grade student assignments and assess their academic progress.
Classroom Management
They enforce classroom rules and ensure students’ behavior is acceptable.
Meetings
Teachers communicate with parents about student progress and attend faculty meetings.
What Education Is Needed To Become a Teacher In High School?
All states require aspiring high school teachers to obtain a state-issued teaching license or certification in order to teach in public schools.(See disclaimer 3) While private schools are not legally required to hire only licensed teachers, they do typically prefer to hire teachers with at least a baccalaureate-level education in their subject area.(See disclaimer 3) In addition, some private schools may prefer to hire licensed teachers. Since the specific requirements can vary from state to state, it’s important to research the requirements for the state in which you plan to work.
Becoming a high school teacher can be a meaningful choice for you if you’re passionate about the importance of education. However, it’s important to fulfill the eligibility requirements for this career path. Do your due diligence and research your state’s high school teacher requirements before embarking on your career path.
In general, your career pathway might look like this:
High School Diploma
College Degree
Internships
Entry-Level Roles
Professional Certifications
Best Degrees for High School Teachers
While all high school teachers generally need a bachelor’s degree,(See disclaimer 3) there are a range of degrees that may allow for a career in teaching. For example, you could earn a teaching degree in physical education, mathematics, English, history or other subjects. Think carefully about your academic strengths and weaknesses, as well as your preferences, before choosing a subject area to specialize in.
Regardless of which specific degree program you choose, you can expect to take a deep dive into instructional methods, lesson planning, classroom management techniques and similar topics, as well as your subject-specific area. You’ll work through coursework and complete a student teaching component to gain hands-on experience.
Teaching degree programs may cover topics such as:
Classroom engagement and management
Pedagogy and instructional methods
Student assessment
Special education topics
Curriculum development
Adolescent development and psychology
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for High School Teachers
High school teachers need to instruct students in a particular subject area and encourage them to become engaged participants in their own education. Teachers generally strive to inspire a lifelong love of learning in their students and offer guidance to students who are just beginning to plan their future.
You may wish to consider the following bachelor’s and master’s degree programs:
High School Teacher Requirements: Hard and Soft Skills
High school teachers need a diverse skill set that can enable them to effectively teach in their subject area, manage the classroom and guide the cognitive and socioemotional development of adolescents.
Aspiring teachers can benefit from cultivating a number of hard and soft skills, including the following:(See disclaimer 2,3,4 )
Communication
Patience
Resourcefulness
Leadership
Organization
Curriculum development
Instructional planning
Classroom management
Student assessment
Where Do High School Teachers Work?
Qualified high school teachers generally work in public or private secondary schools.
However, they may alternatively pursue education-related work in a number of settings and industries, including:(See disclaimer 5,6)
Nonprofit Organizations
Some former teachers are education policy and research consultants who work for advocacy groups and other nonprofits.
Publishing Companies
Teachers who enjoy writing might become textbook authors for publishing companies.
Elementary and Secondary Schools (Local and Private)
Licensed teachers prepare academic lessons and teach various skills that students may need to attend college or to enter the job market.
Testing Companies
Some former teachers may work as standardized test developers.
Median annual salary for high school teachers as of May 2023(See disclaimer 7)
Estimated number of openings for high school teachers each year on average from 2023 to 2033(See disclaimer 8)
Advancement Opportunities Within High School Teaching
There is room for advancement within the teaching profession. An experienced high school teacher may serve as a mentor to new teachers and student teachers, and they may become a lead teacher. Other teachers may decide to obtain the additional credentials necessary to become school administrators (such as high school principals), instructional coordinators or school counselors.(See disclaimer 3)
Explore More on High School Teachers
Stay informed with the latest insights and updates on high school teachers and other education careers.
Explore the career pathway needed to become a teacher.
You may consider a variety of factors when deciding which grade level to teach.
The U.S. offers a wide variety of education options for children aside from public and private schools.
Blend your passion for education with a purpose for your future career. Explore the wide range of teaching degrees for secondary education available at GCU.
- Hanson, M. (2024, July 14). U.S. Public Education Spending Statistics. Retrieved Nov. 25, 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). What High School Teachers Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How To Become a High School Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
- Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, Dec. 5). How To Become a High School Teacher: Requirements and FAQs. Indeed. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
- Sealey-Morris, C., B.A. (2024, Oct. 25). 25 Highest-Paying Alternative Careers for Teachers. College Consensus. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 14, 2024.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), High School Teachers as of May 2023, retrieved Nov. 5, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as high school teachers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, High School Teachers, retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.