How Long Do You Have to Go to School to Become a Kindergarten Teacher?
Kindergarten teachers work in elementary schools providing instruction to kindergartners. While kindergartners will receive rudimentary lessons in some basic academic subjects, such as math and reading, much of their instruction will be focused on cultivating social skills and basic problem solving strategies. Kindergarten teachers are therefore required to be patient, attentive and excellent at communicating in a way that young children can understand. Requirements to become a kindergarten teacher vary by state and school district, but are relatively consistent.
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Undergraduate Education
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Universally all kindergarten teachers are required to have received a four-year degree from an accredited university. While some teachers will choose to attend a college in which they can major in teaching, others will choose to receive a regular bachelor's degree, often picking a major with relevance to their future career. Common majors pursued by kindergarten teachers include psychology and education. Bachelor's degrees are usually completed in four years, but some can be completed in three.
Teaching Degree
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Most school districts require that teacher receive a teaching certificate before providing instruction to public school students. If the student has chosen to complete a four-year teaching program at the undergraduate level, he will generally be allowed to take an exam to receive his teaching certificate. However, if he did not completed a sufficient number of classes at the undergraduate level, he will likely be required to take additional classes, generally for one to two years.
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Classes
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When studying to be a kindergarten teacher, a prospective teacher is generally required to take a number of classes that cover early childhood education. These classes cover specific strategies necessary for teaching children who have not yet developed the language and social skills of adolescents. Many school districts will require that a kindergarten teacher either specialize in early childhood education when receiving their teaching degree or have fulfilled other requirements meant to demonstrate their competency in the field.
Private Schools
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While public school districts generally have a specific set of requirements that all teachers must fulfill in order to be hired, private schools generally have more flexibility in who they choose to hire. So, while a public school may absolutely demand that a teacher have attended school for a certain number of years, a private school may be willing to modify these requirements slightly--for example, if the teacher has significant professional experience working with children.
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