Depending on the area you would like to concentrate on when tutoring, you should enroll in courses that specify in instructional strategies for that area. For example, if you are interested in becoming a math tutor, take courses that will give you skills and best practices for engaging students in mathematical learning. Some sample titles of these courses would be "Methods and Materials for Mathematics Education." This is the course that teachers you how to be an effective instructor.
In addition to taking a course that teaches you the best instructional strategies and techniques, take courses that make you an expert in your field. For example, if you would like to become an English tutor, take coursework that focuses on the fundamentals of grammar and literature. With this content knowledge combined with your new found teaching skills, you will be an effective tutor.
It will be important to take coursework that gives you a foundation of knowledge regarding the basics of child development. These courses will give you insight regarding learning styles and the best instructional approaches to meet individual emotional and physical needs of students.
Take a course that will help give you tips and techniques of how to best manage student behavior, such as an "Applied Behavior Analysis" course. Some students who need outside tutoring may have trouble focusing or attending to instruction. Therefore, receiving formal instruction on how to best serve these types of students will make you a successful tutor.
Finally, it is important to gain knowledge and skills of how to effectively deliver instruction to students who have disabilities. Most often, students who need tutoring have had difficulty engaging in instruction delivered in the classroom. Therefore, tutors need to become experts in modifying the instruction and using other methods in attempt to reach each student. Take courses that provide information on specific disabilities found in school age children, such as learning disabilities. These can be valuable resources to any tutor. Look for courses with titles such as "Foundations in Special Education."