How To Become a High School Teacher
How To Become a High School Teacher
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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 year1
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 9-12.2 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.2
Although specific duties can vary from day to day, teachers generally handle the following: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.
All states require aspiring high school teachers to obtain a state-issued teaching license or certification in order to teach in public schools.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.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:
As a future educator, you’ll want to focus on getting good grades in your classes, especially in the subject area you’d like to teach. Additionally, take some time to talk to your teachers about your future plans. You may be able to ask them for guidance and ask any questions you may have about the career. Since teachers need strong communication skills,3 you may also wish to take classes and extracurricular activities that allow opportunities to practice your communication skills.
What education is needed to become a teacher after you graduate from high school? Plan on earning at least a bachelor’s degree in teaching with a focus on your chosen subject area. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.3 Some states also require teachers to earn a master’s degree after obtaining licensure and a teaching job.3
Education degree programs that lead to initial teacher licensure typically have student teaching components, similar to internships or practicum/field experience hours in that they earn practical, hands-on experience.3 As a student teacher, you’ll be placed in a classroom under the supervision of an experienced licensed teacher. You’ll observe how the teacher works with their students and you’ll gradually take on classroom responsibilities such as working with students individually and in small groups. Eventually, you’ll be able to plan your own lessons and deliver them to the class.
There are no specific entry-level roles that you must first fulfill before pursuing a teaching position. Indeed, you can apply to a teaching job as soon as you’re able to meet the requirements. However, some graduates start out by working as substitute teachers for one or more school districts before finding a permanent teaching position.
All teachers who wish to work in public schools must obtain a state-issued teaching license or certification. Private schools are not required to hire only licensed teachers;3 however, some of them may prefer to do so. Before enrolling in a teaching degree program, you should ensure that it will allow you to meet the requirements for licensure in the state in which you plan to teach.
While all high school teachers generally need a bachelor’s degree,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
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 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:2,3,4
Communication
Patience
Resourcefulness
Leadership
Organization
Curriculum development
Instructional planning
Classroom management
Student assessment
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: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 20237
Estimated number of openings for high school teachers each year on average from 2023 to 20338
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.3
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.
1 Hanson, M. (2024, July 14). U.S. Public Education Spending Statistics. Retrieved Nov. 25, 2024.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). What High School Teachers Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How To Become a High School Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
4 Indeed Editorial Team. (2023, Dec. 5). How To Become a High School Teacher: Requirements and FAQs. Indeed. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
5 Sealey-Morris, C., B.A. (2024, Oct. 25). 25 Highest-Paying Alternative Careers for Teachers. College Consensus. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2024.
6 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 14, 2024.
7 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.
8 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.