What Are the Qualifications to Become a Teacher?

History

• Teachers were not always required to have formal qualifications before being allowed in a classroom. Aside from an education in the classic subjects such as literature, mathematics and history (plus maybe a language like Latin), little else was required of men wishing to be teachers. Women teachers, often in the role of governess, had even less need of formal requirements, as they didn't provide much more than a basic education. When the modern public school system came about in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, that began to change.
  
  

Types

• College students interested in becoming teachers enroll in an education degree program. These programs not only teach subject matter, but also teaching theory, and include provisions for interning and student teaching. This classroom experience is a key part to the degree. Many people, however, come to teaching as a second career. These teachers have a degree in the field they wish to teach, and have often worked in their field before teaching. They might enroll in a post-degree program, and frequently work as substitute teachers to gain classroom experience.
  
  

Features

• Almost all states require that a formal examination be passed before receiving teaching certification. These examinations can vary state to state, but in general they test not only basic concepts but also specific skills. For example, there may be a general portion of the exam focusing on basic English and math skills, followed by a test focused on the area the person wishes to teach, such as history, science or literature. Next to a degree or job experience, classroom experience and a good test score are crucial.
  
  

Benefits

• By having set requirements, schools can be assured they are hiring qualified teachers. Certification provides a quantifiable standard against which potential teachers can be measured. It also ensures that teachers are well versed not only in the subject matter they wish to teach, but also in classroom dynamics. Certification also reassures parents that teachers have the needed qualifications to instruct their children.
  
  

Considerations

• Not all teaching jobs require formal qualification, or at least not formal teaching credentials. While almost all public schools hire only certified teachers, private schools and some charter schools operate with different standards. For private schools and charter schools, a person may be considered qualified so long as they have a degree in their field. In most cases, this means the prospective teacher should hold at least a master's degree in the subject they want to teach. Regardless of formal certification, prior teaching experience is almost always required.