How to Get into a Teaching Career

Teaching is a rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of young people. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, there are a few steps you need to take.

1. Get a bachelor’s degree in education. Most states require teachers to have a bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited college or university. Your bachelor’s degree program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills you need to teach effectively.

2. Complete a teacher preparation program. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, you will also need to complete a teacher preparation program. This program will give you the opportunity to learn more about teaching methods and classroom management. You will also be required to complete student teaching, which is a supervised teaching experience in a real classroom.

3. Pass the teacher certification exam. Once you have completed your bachelor’s degree and teacher preparation program, you will need to pass the teacher certification exam. This exam tests your knowledge of teaching and your ability to teach effectively.

4. Apply for teaching jobs. Once you are certified, you can start applying for teaching jobs. You can search for jobs online, through your state’s department of education, or through a teacher placement agency.

Master’s Degrees in Education

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, many teachers also choose to earn a master’s degree in education. A master’s degree can help you advance your career and earn a higher salary.

There are many different types of master’s degrees in education available. Some popular options offered by Northwest Missouri State University include:

  • MSEd. in Curriculum & Instruction: This degree program is designed to help teachers develop their curriculum development process skills. You will learn how to create and implement effective teaching units and lesson plans. You will also learn how to assess student learning and use assessment data to improve your teaching.
  • MSEd. in Early Childhood Education: This degree program is designed to help teachers prepare to teach children from birth to age eight. You will learn about the developmental stages of early childhood and how to create a learning environment that is conducive to learning. You will also learn about early childhood curriculum and teaching methods.
  • MSEd. in Educational Diagnostician: This degree program is designed to help teachers prepare to become educational diagnosticians. Educational diagnosticians assess students with learning disabilities and other special needs. They also develop and implement educational interventions to help these students succeed.

Teaching is a rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of young people. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, there are a few steps you need to take. First, you will need to get a bachelor’s degree in education and complete a teacher preparation program. Second, you will need to pass the teacher certification exam. Finally, you can start applying for teaching jobs.

Many teachers also choose to earn a master’s degree in education. A master’s degree can help you advance your career and earn a higher salary. Northwest Missouri State University offers all three of the master’s degrees in education listed above: MSEd. in Curriculum & Instruction, MSEd. in Early Childhood Education, and MSEd. in Educational Diagnostician.