People who decide to earn a teaching degree may do so for many different reasons. They may have had excellent teachers throughout their educational journey and want to pay it forward. Others may have had the opposite experience and want to give students the chance to thrive with an excellent and caring teacher. Still others want to be of service to their community.
No matter what your reason is for teaching, you should be commended for your decision and your commitment to education. Teaching is no small feat, especially as the education landscape begins to change rapidly to incorporate new technology and online offerings. Students are ready to learn in new and innovative ways and teachers have to be ready for the challenge.
Teaching is a rewarding career, though it may be overwhelming to navigate at first. Teachers need to have a bachelor's degree or higher and be certified in the state that they plan to teach in if they work for public schools. Additionally, some teachers may qualify for higher pay if they teach in certain locations or in fields like STEM, English as Second Language (ESL)/English Language Learners (ELLs) or special education.
Because of these differences in teaching jobs, the process of becoming a teacher can sometimes seem difficult to figure out, but we are here to help with this guide that explains what it takes to become a teacher. Please know that every state has different prerequisites and paths to becoming an educator, so this guide presents a common path to teaching, but not the only one.