What is the career path to be successful in teaching AP (Advanced Placement) secondary education?

Majoring in education is a good choice if you plan on teaching at the elementary or middle school level. However, In order to even teach at the high school level (not just AP, but any level course) you need to be certified in that content area. And the tests teachers have to pass in their content area are not easy. I would suggest majoring in whatever subject you think you would end up teaching (history, English, math, etc.). That would make it easier to get a teacher job in that content area in the future.

I agree with Leslie. You must find an AP subject that you are passionate about and become expert in that field. In secondary education the usual academic subjects are math, science, foreign languages, English, and history. Becoming expert indicates an advanced degree beyond your BA like an MA, MFA, or PhD plus extensive and continuing work in your field of interest. Along with acquiring a degree in education you will have to acquire experience teaching your subject to the general high school population before being able to teach on the AP or Honors level. I assume your interest in teaching AP and Honors courses stems from having taken such courses in high school. A good source of information about a career path in this field is the AP/Honors teacher(s) in your school. But step one is to discover the subject you are passionate about.

The best AP teachers are the ones who really know the content. Given that, I would suggest majoring or even getting a masters in the content you hope to teach. You can get your education degree simultaneously or afterward. That way, you will REALLY know the material and be able to teach at a high level.