States That Don't Require a Master's Degree to Teach
Each state has its own unique set of requirements for a teacher to become licensed in the state. Most states require a teacher to obtain a bachelor's degree only to begin their teaching career. However, with the increased scrutiny placed on today's educators these requirements may change. In fact, some states require a teacher to obtain a master's degree within a certain time frame after they begin their teaching career.
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States
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At the time of publication, no state requires a master's degree to become a licensed teacher. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require teachers to be licensed, which typically requires completion of a bachelor's degree program, a minor in an area of focus such as math or science and passing of an exam. Each state's requirements can change and may require master's degrees in the future to become licensed as a teacher.
Time Frame
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Three states -- Ohio, New York and Massachusetts -- require teachers to obtain a master's degree within five years of beginning of their careers to maintain their license with the state. States that enact these requirements typically will offer financial assistant to these individuals to meet their degree requirements.
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Exceptions
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While the state may not have a requirement on general education teachers, certain specialty teachers such as special education teachers may be required to have a master's degree. Even in states where it is not required, individual school districts may require a master's degree to be employed in that capacity. Teachers looking to become administrators, such as a principal, are required in most states to obtain a master's degree or above to be considered for those positions.
Benefits
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While in most states obtaining a master's degree is not a requirement, there are advantages to obtaining the degree. The rate of pay a teacher with a master's degree receives is higher than a teacher with a bachelor's degree. This is because it is thought that teachers who obtain graduate degrees are better educators and warrant an increase in pay.
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