Determine which type of tutoring you are best suited for. If you are a college student with a good academic record your school’s academic assistance tutoring program may be just the ticket. If you have a teaching certificate, you can become a tutor with a professional tutoring company. Another route to become a tutor in North Carolina--if you are out of school or don’t have a teaching certificate--is to start as a volunteer tutor in an adult literacy program. Which course is best for you depends on your individual qualifications and situation. Once you have tutoring experience and references, you can even start tutoring on your own as an independent or freelance tutor.
Apply to become a student tutor if you are now in college. For example, at North Carolina State University, the Undergraduate Tutorial Center hires advanced students as tutors for freshmen and sophomores who need extra help in courses ranging from English to mathematics and the natural and social sciences. To qualify, you must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and a through knowledge of the subject you will be teaching at the 100/200 course levels. The Tutorial center prefers tutors who have taken several courses in the field of courses they tutor. Each new tutor takes a (1 credit hour) class in tutoring during the first semester they are hired.
Consider tutoring as an alternative or supplement to regular teaching if you have a bachelor’s degree in education. Tutoring firms like Sylvan Learning Centers in Winston-Salem recruit certified teachers with at least 1 year’s teaching experience for their after-school and weekend tutoring programs. You’ll be helping children who have fallen behind in their classes and are making poor grades. This can be particularly rewarding when you watch discouraged youngster regain self-confidence and the motivation to study and learn.
Volunteer as a tutor for an adult literacy program like the Literacy Council of Union County, North Carolina. This is an excellent way to contribute to your community and to gain experience as a tutor. The Literacy Council has two main programs. One is geared for adults who lack basic literacy skills. The other teaches English as a second language to no-English speakers. The Literacy Council, like similar organizations in other North Carolina communities, provides free training.
Strike out on your own as a freelance tutor. There are no formal requirements you must meet in North Carolina. However, most of your customers will be parents seeking help for children who are experiencing difficulty in school and they will want to see a track record before they hire you. Most freelance tutors have one or more years experience tutoring. When you have established a track record of successful tutoring, you can start recruiting customers by advertising in newspapers, online, or through community groups such as churches and youth organizations. In the long run, most freelance tutors say the best advertising is by word of mouth from satisfied customers—and you have to be prepared to take the time to build your clientèle.