Things You'll Need:
- Resume paper
- Pencil/pen and notebook
- Portfolio
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Step 1
Apply to universities that award bachelor's degrees in education and science. Some universities ask for standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT. Other universities ask for recommendations and a personal statement.
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Step 2
Choose a university that has an education program that is both prestigious and within your price range. Some universities award grants to students who cannot afford to attend the university. Many organizations will award scholarships. Those interested in becoming chemistry teachers should consider science scholarships, offered by a variety of organizations including NASA. NASA provides scholarships of $20,000 a year.
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Step 3
Contact the education department and schedule an appointment with an adviser.
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Step 4
Tell your academic adviser that you would like to get a minor in chemistry. Listen to the academic adviser's advice on which classes to take each semester. Chemistry teachers must take classes in organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, science and engineering, science and technology history, calculus, biometry and evolution.
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Step 1
Take all prerequisites for both your education major and chemistry minor. Students usually take for to five classes per semester and one or two classes during the summer.
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Step 2
Take a mixture of required courses for both chemistry and education. Some universities require that these classes be taken in a particular order, so consult your adviser. Also, some universities require students to take a certain number of electives. Ask your adviser about which classes are counted as electives.
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Step 3
Observe teachers teaching in the classroom . Universities often require that students observe a certain number of classrooms before graduating. During observation, ask your teacher if you can get practice instructing the students in chemistry.
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Step 4
Take all standardized tests required by both the university and the state that you wish to acquire a teaching license in. For instance, in Indiana as of 2009, students are required to take three Praxis tests as part of the eligibility requirements for acquiring a teaching license in Indiana. For chemistry majors, the third Praxis test will focus specifically on chemistry, while the first and second Praxis tests will have English and math questions.
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Step 5
Do a semester your student teaching. You most likely will be set up with a science teacher. Typically, the student teacher will spend part of the semester observing the classroom before teaching in the classroom himself.
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Step 1
Fill out an application for an original teaching license within the state that you intend to teach in.
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Step 2
With the application, include the application fee, education background and a limited criminal history report.
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Step 3
Attend national and regional teaching conferences in November in order to network for a teaching job.
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Step 4
Teachers who are interviewed at teaching conferences may receive several callbacks. Take into consideration the pay and location of the school before committing to one school.
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Step 5
During the interview, try to convey the skills that you will be able to bring to the classroom. Teachers often build portfolios intended to demonstrate both their teaching abilities and their competence in the subject that they will be teaching. These portfolios will include lesson plans
