Things You'll Need:
- College education
- Classroom experience
- Resume
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Step 1
After deciding on a career as a secondary health teacher, your first step is to research programs. Some questions to consider include (1) whether the program is accredited by the NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) and state board of education, (2) what grades you will be certified to teach after successfully completing the program, (3) how much experiential (classroom) time is required, (4) what exams you will be required to complete to become a certified health teacher and (5) what type of assistance the school offers to help you find a job after graduation.
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Step 2
Apply to your programs of choice. Apply to several programs. It is much better to have several options than one or, even worse yet, none.
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Step 3
Attend the program you're accepted into. In addition to paying close attention to your studies and being involved in class discussions, become an active member of extracurricular activities. Although your program will most likely involve hours of student teaching or interning in a classroom, seek out opportunities to spend time in a secondary classroom on your own, either as a classroom volunteer, tutor or paid teacher-assistant. Also look for student groups that will help you in your future career, such as membership in Eta Sigma Gamma, the national health education honorary society. Involvement in experiences outside the classroom (and ensuing networking opportunities) will most likely prove to be helpful when looking for a job.
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Step 4
Get an internship, which is perhaps the most important part of your education as a future health teacher. Pay close attention as you observe classrooms early in your program, and be sure to take notes on what you find that engages students and what doesn't.
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Step 5
Take necessary state or national teacher certification exams as you near graduation. And write your resume, being sure to address relevant classroom and extracurricular experiences. Take advantage of job fairs or interview-preparation classes that your school's career-services center may offer. Practicing an interview before the real thing can help to calm butterflies.
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Step 6
Apply to a number of different positions. Try not to limit your job search to one geographic location. (But do be aware of additional certification exams you may have to take if your job search takes you away from the state where you first became certified.) If at first you don't find a job, take advantage of substitute teaching opportunities to add classroom experience to your resume.
