Education · 1 of 5
The path
A bachelor's degree, a preparation program with real classroom time, a test, and then a state license.
- 1
High school
Grades 9 to 12
Solid grades across subjects, because elementary teachers teach everything. Tutoring, camp work and coaching all count as experience.
- 2
Bachelor's degree
4 years
Education, or a subject plus an education minor. Some states require a major in an academic subject rather than in education itself.
- 3
Teacher preparation program
Built in, or 1 extra year
Methods courses plus supervised classroom placements. Some universities fold this into the degree, others run it as a fifth year.
- 4
Student teaching
One semester
A full semester running someone else's classroom under supervision. Usually unpaid, and the hardest part of the training.
- 5
Tests, background check and license
Weeks to months
Basic skills and subject tests, fingerprinting, then your state issues a preliminary license.