Requirements for Becoming a Teacher

If you are contemplating a teaching career, the first step should be deciding if this job is for you. Visit a few schools. Volunteer to help out in local classrooms. Get a true picture of what teaching really looks like. It certainly requires-above all-patience and a sense of humor. You also need skin tough enough to ward off those occasional 'attacks' from parents, students, co-workers and administrators. Once you've made the decision that teaching feels right for you, you will need to fulfill certain requirements. I found it to be a rewarding career and hope that you do too.

Before you step foot in the door at college...

1. You need to get a high school diploma and have reasonably good grades.
2. Talk to a high school counselor early on. Be sure that you are taking the appropriate classes and are on an academic track suitable for a prospective teacher.
3. Take a college entrance exam, such as the SAT. Be sure to prepare for it ahead of time.
4. Through research and word-of-mouth, find a university with a great teaching program.
5. Apply to the colleges of your choice. Always send applications to more than one place. You will need to forward them your college test scores and high school grade transcripts.
6. Start to think about your major. Maybe it's elementary education. If it's secondary education, decide upon a focus, possibly math, social studies, or English. You will generally need a minor concentration area as well. I earned a major in elementary education and a minor in early childhood education.

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. That is the minimum requirement for teaching in the United States. Many school districts mandate that you earn a master's degree within the first five years. Start to think about your concentration choice for a master's. Consider up-and-coming fields.
2. Take the required coursework. This depends upon your major. Generally, education majors take methods of teaching classes, classroom management, technology, and courses designed specifically for the major. Student-teach for approximately 12 to 18 weeks under the supervision of an experienced teacher in your locale.
3. Pass a competency exam, such as the Praxis, so that you can be licensed. You can take a college class designed strictly for review of this exam.
4. Although this is not an official requirement...keep an extensive file of any ideas you run across, such as lesson plans and bulletin boards.

1. Contact your state's Department of Education to find out the specifics of being licensed in that particular state. If a teacher's license expires, she can be instantly pulled from the classroom. Research the requirements for certification in your state.
2. Apply to every school in your desired area.
3. Find out if you need a TB (tuberculosis) test or a chest x-ray. Most states mandate this. The test needs to be repeated periodically.
4. Get fingerprinted by the police department in your area. Your school district will provide you with details.