How to Train to Become a Teacher
If you want to become a teacher you could hardly choose a more worthwhile profession. Or a more needed one. Over the next decade, the National Education Association (NEA) estimates 2 million new teachers will be needed in the United States. There is no single set of rules governing the qualifications for teaching, since each state sets its own standards. However, al states follow the same general guidelines and if you want to train to become a teacher, this article will tell you what you need to do in order to become a teacher in any state. One thing to keep in mind is that due to the great demand for teachers, finding funding to go to college to train to become a teacher is very easy to find for any good student!
Instructions
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Earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university in an education field. If you already have a college degree, you can also take an abbreviated program of coursework at most colleges that offer undergraduate education degrees.
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Choose which area of education you want to specialize in. Some examples are Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Secondary Social Science or Math/Science Education. Many students begin study with a clear idea of which branch of education they are interested in, but others take a year or two to decide. Don’t wait too long, though. Each area requires a lot of specialized coursework in the latter two years of college.
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Work as a student teacher. Student teaching as an assistant in a school under the supervision of the regular teaching staff is required by virtually all accredited programs. This gives you hands-on experience in the classroom to go along with your coursework.
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Take any required teacher certification tests. Teachers must pass an exam at the completion of their college work just as lawyers, doctors or certified public accountants must do.
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Apply for a teaching certificate in the state where you want to teach. This is the final step in training to become a teacher. You might ask, “what about finding a job teaching?” However, that is not a problem for any new teacher who has earned a teaching certificate. Basically, demand is so high and will be for years that finding a job is the easiest part of the whole process!
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Tips & Warnings
Funding college can be a problem for many people. But there are many scholarships, grants and student loan programs open to anyone majoring in a teaching program. The links in the Resources section will help you find out more about financing your education and provide more information about what you need to do to train to become a teacher.
