Degree requirements for preschool teachers vary from state to state. Each state tends to have different licensing requirements. Some states require a college degree, but many schools will accept a high school diploma or less, provided the teacher has experience and good references. According to the Bureau of Labor, various states fund prekindergarten programs separately from preschool programs, and will therefore have specific requirements for teachers looking to work within those programs. Requirements are usually higher. Similarly, the federal government's Head Start program requires teachers to possess at least a two-year associate degree.
To teach at the elementary, middle and secondary school levels, you need a four-year bachelor's degree. You must also be trained in an accredited teacher education program. All states in the U.S. require that a teacher be licensed in order to work at a public school. Most aspiring teachers pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree apply for admission to a teacher's college or other teacher education programs during their sophomore year. Postgraduate teacher education programs tend to last one to two years and include an internship.
Requirements for college and university teachers and lecturers vary depending on the school and the subject being taught. Schools have the ability to use their own discretion when choosing staff members. However, most colleges require their adjunct and associate professors to have at least a four-year undergraduate degree as well as a master's degree. Most universities require a doctorate degree. Because competition is fierce for well-paying university and college teaching degrees, most professors at both levels tend to have doctorate degrees. Vocational teachers, such as those teaching skilled trades, are often permitted to teach without a graduate-level degree, provided they have sufficient experience.
Private schools set their own standards when it comes to the types of degrees teachers must possess before they can start work. Like the public school system, requirements will usually vary depending on the students' level of education. However, most private schools still require that teachers possess an undergraduate degree. Some sort of formal teacher education accreditation is preferred as well.