Teaching Jobs

Training

Just how does one become a teacher? The most straight-forward way to become a teacher is to complete a major or minor in education while in an undergraduate program, completing certification in that program. If you already have a bachelor's degree, and want to pursue a teaching career, then other options exist. You can take the coursework at a college or university as a non-degree student or as a graduate student. Doing this will probably take at least two years as a full-time student. Some states have alternative routes to certification, allowing you to teach without full completion of a program, but then requiring you to take the coursework while teaching. Go to your local college or university's website and check out their programs.

Certification

Teacher certification is also known as teacher licensure, and each state has its own requirements for becoming a teacher. Varied types of certification exist, from being a substitute teacher, which may only require a high school diploma and training from the school district, to what is know as full certification/ licensure. The grey area of teacher certification is called emergency or provisional certification. A provisionally certified teacher may be allowed to teach in an area with teacher shortages, for a limited amount of time, while still taking coursework. Of course, fully-certified teachers make the highest salaries. Student teachers, sometimes called interns, are not paid. Some states call provisionally certified teachers interns, as they teach full-time, but are paid much less than fully-certified teachers. See your local college or university, as each one has a certification office in its school or college of education to explain programs to you.

New Graduates

If you complete a teacher education program as an undergraduate, then teacher certification or licensure is granted upon completion of the program, student teaching, and passing the state licensure test. Again, while there is no easy route to becoming a teacher, this is the easiest route. When job searching, fully-certified teachers are hired first, which is to your advantage. While finishing your bachelor's degree, you should begin job searching during your senior year, as most school districts hire in the spring and early summer. During fall of your senior year, you will create your sample cover sheet, your resume, your portfolio, and begin job searching. At this time, creating a free account on teachers-teachers.com will allow you to be ready when the right job match for you happens in the spring semester.

If you want to be even more employable, take some additional coursework. Teachers with additional skills in special education, Spanish, or English as a second language are in demand, and having this coursework may help you to get your first job.

Career Changers

Many new teachers join the profession after having worked in another field, such as business. Called career changers, the first challenge for them is to earn teacher certification/licensure, which can take about two years as a full-time student and longer as a part-time student. Why do people change careers into teaching? Many are interested in the teacher's schedule, including two months off in the summer and time off for holidays. Most want a job where they can spend more time with their own children. The salaries and benefits of teaching have improved so much that many people change careers into teaching for those reasons. And, lastly, many people want to "give back" to society, and working in a teaching job certainly does that, as today's teachers are part social worker as well as teachers.

Out-of-State Jobsd

If you are already a teacher, and your family commitments require moving to another state, finding a teaching job can be a time-consuming job. To simplify your search, use a national search website, such as teachers-teachers.com to find the job available. Each state has its own requirements for teacher licensure, so you will need teacher certification for the new state. Most states allow fully-certified teachers to begin teaching, and then to complete the paperwork and/or other requirements for the new certification/licensure. The easiest way to become certified in another state is to first be fully-certified in your current home state.