How to Teach Without a Degree in Education

When you decide you'd like to teach but don't have a traditional degree in education, relax -- all is not lost. You still have several ways to get your foot in the door without spending several semesters in school to obtain your certification in education. Public and private schools, as well as adult education programs, all offer opportunities to instruct students in a variety of settings. You just need to know where to look.

Instructions

    • 1

      Work as a substitute teacher. Contact the department of education in your state and inquire about its requirements. Many states do not require an education degree -- any four-year degree usually suffices. Additional requirements such as fingerprinting, a background check and competency testing may apply.

    • 2

      Teach GED (General Educational Development) courses. Check with your state's department of education to determine its requirements. Most states do not require an education degree for this position; they will accept a bachelor's degree in most subjects. Before you begin, take a course about teaching adults and familiarize yourself with the GED process and requirements.

    • 3

      Instruct students at a private school. Private schools, including religious institutions, do not always require a degree in education. Other requirements may apply. A parochial school may require you to be a practicing member of its religion. A private school may expect you to embrace certain values and ideas.

    • 4

      Become an instructor in a vocational or trade school. Instructors at these types of schools often have a bachelor's degree combined with several years of experience in the trades they teach. These schools do not usually emphasize holding a degree in education. Real life experience and the ability to teach skills to students are often more important.

    • 5

      Teach English as a second language. You can teach English to non-native speakers in the United States and almost any other country. As long as you have a bachelor's degree and are able to obtain certification as an ESL (English as a Second Language) or ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher -- which takes much less time than pursuing a degree in education -- your chances for employment are good.

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