Can You Start a Teaching Career in Your 40s?

Many people wonder if they can become a teacher at 40 or older. Yes, you can become a teacher in your 40s. There is no time limit for beginning a career in education.

The key is determining what educational level you want to teach and then finding the right program to prepare you for this role.

If you're concerned that 40 is too late to become a teacher, keep reading to find out why there's no better time to begin this new chapter in your career.

Is 40 Too Old to Start Teaching?

Whether you're 40, 50, 60, or beyond, you can start a teaching career and make a difference in students' lives.

How Many Teachers Start at 40 and Older?

Research from TeacherPensions.org shows that, on average, about one out of 10 teachers enter the field after the age of 40.

However, when examining the teachers' starting ages by state, the report shows that teachers in states like New Mexico and Nevada start after their 40s more frequently.

For example, more than 17% of New Mexico teachers begin at 41 or older. In Nevada, more than 16% start at this age, and in Arizona, more than 15% start after 40.

While it is more common for teachers to begin their careers between 20 and 25, many people begin their careers and become teachers at 40.

Can You Be Too Old to Teach?

As long as you can meet the demands of a teaching job, you can become a teacher at 40.

What are some of the demands of a teaching job? Whether you're teaching in an elementary, middle, or high school, you'll likely do the following:

• plan and create lesson plans (elementary school teachers plan for multiple subjects)
• observe and assess students' abilities, weaknesses, and strengths
• instruct classes (middle and high school teachers instruct multiple groups of students)
• grade assignments and tests
• provide progress reports to parents
• prepare students for state standardized tests
• create and enforce classroom rules
• work with students individually to help them improve their weaknesses

If you can meet these requirements as an educator, you should be able to become a teacher at 40 or later.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Starting to Teach at 40?

Becoming a teacher at 40 comes with plenty of perks but can also have some downsides.

Pros of Becoming a Teacher at 40

Some pros of becoming a teacher at 40 include:

• having years of life experience that you didn't have in your 20s and 30s
• using interactions with children and teens to relate to your students
• developing new personal and professional skills
• gaining a recession-proof job that offers stability, summer breaks, and a pension
• making a difference in the lives of the youth

Cons of Becoming a Teacher at 40

Potential downsides of starting your teaching career at 40 include:

• going back to school to acquire the credentials needed to teach
• building the stamina needed to engage with the youth every day
• starting a new career from scratch
• withstanding the steep learning curve needed to become a successful teacher

What Are the Requirements to Become a Teacher at 40?

Becoming a teacher at 40 or any age involves choosing the subjects and/or grade level you want to teach, enrolling in a degree program, taking part in student teaching, and getting certified or licensed.

Choose a Subject/Grade Level to Teach

You'll first need to decide whether you want to teach elementary, middle, or high school — or become a post-secondary instructor at a vocational school, college, or university.

If you want to teach middle school or higher, you'll have to choose a specific subject to teach like algebra, chemistry, or English.

Enroll in a Degree Program

Once you've chosen the grade level and/or subjects to teach, you'll need to enroll in an accredited bachelor's degree program to fulfill most school districts' minimum requirement to teach.

You can find elementary education, early childhood education, and special education degree programs as well as programs for specific subjects.

Take Part in Student Teaching

Student teaching or field experiences enable prospective educators to apply the knowledge gained through courses to real classroom settings.

Education degrees or certificate programs often help students find opportunities for student teaching as a requirement of completion.

Get Certified/Licensed

To teach, you'll have to take a teacher certification or licensure exam that aligns with your grade level or subject area.

The exam needed for licensure or certification varies by state.

Best Education Programs to Become a Teacher at 40

To become a teacher at 40, you'll have to get the proper educational background, student teaching, and certification/licensure. Two program types are great for busy adults with less time on their hands.

Online Education Programs

A great way to secure the education needed to qualify for teaching roles while accommodating your busy schedule is to enroll in an online education bachelor's degree program.

Online teaching programs allow students to learn on a flexible schedule while acquiring necessary student teaching experience and preparing for a licensure exam in the state.

Alternative Teacher Certification Programs

If you already have a bachelor's degree, you might qualify for an alternative teacher certification program that could help you start teaching right away.

Alternative certification programs ensure students gain the teaching knowledge and certification/licensure needed to educate at their preferred academic level.

Enroll in a Program to Become a Teacher at 40

Are you ready to become a teacher at 40? It's never too late to begin a fulfilling career as an educator. Find the right academic program for educators and start the process of becoming a teacher.