Teaching is a crucial and rewarding career; it shapes the future generation of the country while giving one a chance to inspire at the individual level as well. The most common route of becoming a teacher is to obtain a bachelor’s degree and then a teaching certification. However, there are many other routes that can be taken depending on the school and the subject one wants to teach.
Typically elementary school teachers take courses designed specifically for their role, like child psychology, education philosophy classes, as well as standard mathematics, science, literature, and other classes required for a liberal arts education. People who wish to teach at the high school level usually major in whatever subject they want to teach while taking education classes as well. These classes are composed of a combination of philosophy, psychology, and computer training.
Once obtaining this bachelor’s degree, prospective teachers must obtain their license as well. All 50 states, as well as the District of Colombia, require licensure. Teachers are typically licensed for a specific range of grade levels. Requirements are considerably different based on state laws, however most require a bachelor’s degree and completion of some sort of training program that meets the specific criteria laid out by each state. A few states require master’s degrees as well.
Prospective teachers applying for a license are tested for competency the basics; reading, writing, and proficiency in their chosen field. In addition, various states require teachers to continue their education through a number of training hours each year.
Some states do not require this process for certain cases, however. For fields that typically suffer shortages, like mathematics and science teachers, the programs allow for quick licensure without additional education courses. This arrangement varies by state, but in general it consists of teaching for one or two years while taking some education courses. In some states these courses lead to a master’s degree. In all cases it leads to a license after a year or two of teaching.
These requirements are for the public school system. In private schools, the state’s have less regulation of whether teachers are qualified or not. Some private schools do not require licenses from their teachers. For most a minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree, though each school has its own policy in regard to qualified teachers. Some may have lower standards related to public schools, and others may require master’s or even PhDs in order to teach at their schools. Some elite private schools are located near and collaborate with universities, meaning that some teachers may be professors at the college level.
Teachers must be competent in their field, but they must also be knowledgeable about how to communicate with students, establish a persona as a person in authority, and motivate students to perform well. They must also know how to address students’ emotional needs. Preparing and teaching lessons requires organization, patience, and a willingness to look for new and interesting ways to engage students. Teachers attend meetings, interact with administrators, parents, and the school board. They need to know how to present themselves and navigate the workplace.
Promotion as a teacher does not necessarily occur unless one moves into administration. This usually requires at least a master’s degree, though PhDs are becoming increasingly desired. Teachers do, over time, earn increasingly higher and higher salaries to their correspondingly greater experience.