You have a passion for teaching. You love working with children or young adults. You want to get the experience necessary for a lifelong career in education.
Now is the perfect opportunity to start earning your education or teachers degree online. There are a variety of online programs that specialize in different areas of education. You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree in:
All of your coursework is available online. You have the flexibility to set your own schedule to fit your current lifestyle. Some programs can be completed in as little as 18 months.
Requirements. Many online education degrees have specific requirements you have to meet before being accepted to the program. You may have to maintain a certain grade point average or already be certified as a teacher. Some programs require you to have experience in the workforce, sometimes specifically in education roles.
Additionally, you may be required to take a proficiency exam before being accepted to a program.
Master's programs require you to have a four-year degree, but it isn't usually necessary that your undergraduate degree be in education.
If you think you want to become a teacher, ask yourself if you:
If you answered "yes" to the questions above, consider earning your teaching degree online. You can earn your degree in just a few years, and once you are done you'll be marketable in one of the most needy job markets in the country.
Try it Out. Before starting your online journey, ask the principal at a local school if you can sit in on a classroom lesson in the age group you would consider teaching. After watching a real teacher in action, are you even more excited about your career as a teacher? Then get online and start your research!
Which Program is for Me? There are dozens of online teaching Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Some are in general education studies, while others focus on special education, elementary or higher education.
If you're not sure what you want to specialize in, you can go with the general education degree. Through your coursework, you will soon know what subjects you enjoy teaching, as well as what age groups you work best with.
When You're Done. Once you finish your degree, you will be in demand. The entire country is hungry for high-quality teachers with degrees. You may even be offered a position in another city or state, including relocation costs covered by your new employer!
Even if you have wanted to be a teacher your entire life, you may not be sure what subject or age group you want to teach. How do you narrow it down?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Answering these questions should help you find your path as a teacher.
You just finished your online education degree and you're ready to teach. Or are you?
Most elementary and secondary schools require their teachers to have not only a Bachelor's degree, but also a teaching license. With technology zooming ahead, you can now earn your license or certification through online programs.
In earning your license, you will study three primary areas:
The average time you'll need to complete an online teaching license program is 18 months. Expect to pay between $5,000 and $8,000 for this program. Once you have completed the licensure program, you will be eligible to teach at virtually any elementary or secondary school in the country!
Education administration is a growing occupation field in the U.S. The industry consists of a variety of positions, all involved in instructional leadership and daily management of educational institutions.
Positions in education administration include:
Many teachers advance their careers by earning Master's or Doctorate degrees in education administration and climbing the academic ladder to high-level administrative positions.
As an education administrator, you should have strong leadership skills. You should be confident, innovative, and be able to motivate others to succeed.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the public school (K-12) level, administrators usually hold a Master's degree in education administration or leadership. Academic deans and other professionals at the university level hold Doctorate degrees and usually have many years of experience as professors.
In the next 10 years, this field is expected to offer increased opportunities, as many of the current education administration professionals will be retiring.
Once you've earned your online teaching degree, you may find yourself not quite ready to lead the settled life of a teacher. Why not have some adventure and gain valuable teaching experience as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor?
There are hundreds of ESL jobs available in other countries, primarily in Asia. Schools and employers pay to fly you to your new home abroad, pay for your lodging and some utility costs, and in return, you provide English lessons to students, young and old.
Is My Degree Enough? Unless you specifically studied teaching ESL in your degree program, you should get certified as an ESL instructor. Most hiring companies require certification, but having a degree in Education will make you even more marketable.
Who Will I Teach? You are just as likely to teach English to adults as you are to children. The reason: companies recognize that English is quickly becoming the universal language of business, and they are eager to ramp up their employees' knowledge of the language.
What's the Pay Like? If you compare the pay for ESL instructors to what you could make as American teacher in the US, it's an unfair comparison. Your salary will be entirely relative to where you are and who you teach, but, regardless, with the lowered cost of living in most countries that are hiring, along with housing, food and utility allowances, you will be able to live a profitable and fulfilled life as an ESL instructor.
ESL is not for everyone. But if you love adventure and teaching, it's a great experience to have for a few years, if not a lifetime!
