Recommended Education

To be a teacher in a public school, you need to have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Education. After earning a four-year degree, teachers take a series of state licensing exams to obtain a teaching license that qualifies them to teach in a public school.  Private school teachers do not always have to have a state license, but you can still get one and maintain it in case you want to teach in a public school later. 

Once you get your teaching license, called certification, you have to continue to take classes or professional development courses to maintain and renew your teaching license.  The certification is to make sure you have a high level of proficiency in the subject you want to teach. Simple idea, right?

Most teaching licenses have to be renewed every four years.  Under the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, teachers are also required to have a Master's Degree in an area of teaching within a certain number of years after becoming a teacher.  But, you can use the course credits you're earning toward your Master's Degree to renew your teaching license too, so you won't have to do double the work.

Think there's a lot involved in becoming a teacher?  Not really!  Like many professional careers, you'll need to get that initial college degree and professional license.  Afraid you'll have to take classes for the rest of your life to keep your teaching license?  It's really not that hard.  Teachers normally take classes and attend professional development seminars just to stay current with new teaching methods and techniques.  So, each of the classes and seminars you take count toward your license renewal.

Worried about having to get a Master's Degree while working as a teacher just to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act?  Well, don't!  Teachers are paid on a scale that generally includes a combination of the number of years of teaching experience they have along with their level of education.  Once you reach certain points in your education, you get an automatic pay raise!  So, in addition to a pay hike every year you teach for adding another year of experience, you'll get raises when you get your Master's and even for a Ph.D. 

And, if you decide that elementary or secondary teaching is not for you, you can take your graduate degree and teach at the college level.  Teachers who earn higher degrees like a Ph.D. might also qualify for a position as a school principal or district superintendent. 

Teachers should have education directly related to the level of school they want to teach. If you want to be a middle school math teacher, you'll need to take a lot of math classes along with classes that teach you general teaching methods and principles. 

Ready to get started?  We have compiled a list of Online Degree programs for Teaching. Click on any of the degrees below to find out more information about getting your degree in teaching.