Do I need to go to college to become some sort of teacher?

I was an elementary para and teacher and I would say for the most part a college education is flat out required before they look at your resume. I went to college for something other than teaching and decide to teach after I got out. This meant I had to do the alternative certification program (ACP) to get my certifications. This hurt my chances for teaching, most principal prefer people with certification and teaching degrees from college. Especially the elementary level, just looking at my local districts postings for teaching positions they all say a degree from an accredited university is required.

Try looking at the job postings for your local districts, all the information is public domain and posted on districts sites

Private school is different and it really depends on the organization that runs it, but I would say a vast majority of them requires a degree since you are not required a teaching certification.

Homeschooling is the only that I am aware that doesn't require a degree, but you won't get paid for it.

The simple answer is "No", however it isn't quite that simple. It depends on what you want to teach and how you want to do it. I have a problem speaking in a classroom but out in the field I am hands on and out going. If you want to teach children in a traditional school environment then usually yes you are required to have some college education. But remember there are many ways to be a teacher. Good luck.

Hi Jose, YES you need to go to college to become a highly effective teacher. You will learn so much in school that will help you to become a creative, flexible, knowledgeable teacher. What subjects interest you most? Do you want to focus on elementary, middle or high school? I was an elementary teacher and then taught adults. There was no certificate for teaching adults basic education , but I was told I was a great teacher because of my elementary school teaching background.

In the end, you have to love kids and have a passion for education to make this work. Please read this article for more guidance: https://teach.com/blog/reasons-for-becoming-a-teacher/

Stephanie

The phrase, "some sort of teacher," is a bit vague. We all can teach whatever we know, certainly. And many things don't require college, but still do require experience and training, or else how would you gain the knowledge you want to share? That being said, there are also types of teaching -- particularly in any accredited schools -- that require you to actually be trained to "teach". That is, the philosophy and science of instruction, of relating to your students, etc.. To be certified as a teacher for most schools, the hiring people will be looking at your background. And while some folks off-handedly decry the "piece of paper", be aware that that piece of paper is evidence that at least some people from your past are aware of and convinced of your ability to perform some function. That function you studied to get that "piece of paper".

Another phenomenon is that if you take anything in a college and successfully learn whatever that thing is, chances are, you could one day have a job teaching that same thing to others. In my own case, I studied many, many things in college due to a scholarship that conveniently had no time limit (a mistake they later corrected after folks like me took way too many courses :-) ) and I ended up teaching quite a few of these things.

So the answer is "no". But in general, folks who hire you to teach will expect to see some evidence of your ability. And college is a way to get that evidence. And also, since whatever you learn in college will be imparted to you by, yes, a "teacher", it's a great place to get that experience.

In a word...ABSOLUTELY. No matter which educational environment you choose, having a solid foundation in teaching is going to be the best route for the students you teach. I have been a certified teacher for almost 20 years now, and still can remember my theory, methodology, and conceptual classes. Beyond learning from an accredited institution, I have to tell you that the networking opportunities are fantastic; professors get to know you and who you are as an educator and can certainly help you on the road to employment. You also forge friendships with other future teacher-practitioners who are on the same path as you are.

Don't travel this journey alone...if you are hesitant to jump in completely, audit an education class at a community college and see how you feel. Try teaching at a summer camp or before/after-school program to get a feel for being a teacher. And remember, a degree is something that you will have forever and can be scalable into other areas. Many teachers go on to teach higher education, sit on boards of education, or work for non-profits in many capacities. Get your credentials, Jose...it will make you marketable in life!

Yes, going to college is the best thing to do if you want to teach within a school system--- elementary school, middle, and high school. You will need to get alot of training so that you can be the best teacher. If you want to do other teaching things that may not be in a school, you still may need some type of training to make you successful. The type of teacher you want to be is important for you to know all of the training you need. For example, if you want to teach math, you should know math very well.