7 Ways To Teach Elementary School Without an Education Degree
You don't need an education degree to teach in elementary schools. Alternative certification programs and teaching experiences can help start your career.
Working as an elementary school teacher can be very rewarding. Teachers help young learners prepare for middle school, high school, and beyond. They teach social skills while building students' knowledge of math, social studies, English, and other subjects.
Earning a bachelor's in elementary education is the most common route to starting this career. These degrees prepare teachers to create lesson plans and manage classrooms. They also offer licensure help.
But this isn't the only way to become an elementary school teacher. Alternative certification programs and teaching experiences can help you become an elementary school teacher without an education degree. Below, we'll review alternate ways to begin teaching in elementary schools.
Can You Become an Elementary Teacher Without a Bachelor's Degree?
Even though there are ways to teach without a degree, you can't become a certified teacher without a bachelor's degree. However, your degree doesn't have to be in education. A bachelor's or master's degree in any field works. All states require public school teachers to have a teaching license for the grade level they will teach. Here's the standard route to a teaching career:
- Earn a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA.
- Finish a teacher preparation program.
- Pass a background check.
- Earn a passing score on a general teaching credential exam.
- Pass a test covering the subject area you plan to teach (typically multiple subjects for elementary schools).
If you want to take the standard route to licensure, a bachelor's degree in elementary education is the way to go. You can find affordable online elementary education degrees nationwide. You can also use financial aid to lower school costs. Grants for future teachers like the Pell and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants can also help you save.
If you have a bachelor's degree in another subject and want to know how to become a teacher, the next section describes alternative teacher certification. This route lets you start your career without a teaching degree.
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Arizona State University
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Alternatives To Becoming an Elementary School Teacher
Teaching in public school districts requires meeting licensure and educational requirements. Do you have a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and have not completed a teacher certification program? Read on to learn how to become an elementary school teacher.
1. Look Into Alternative Certification Programs
Each state offers alternative teaching programs designed for students who have earned a degree but haven't finished an educator preparation program. They usually give students a temporary teaching certificate that lets them teach while taking the coursework they need for licensure.
California offers an intern program for students with a bachelor's degree who don't want to wait to start teaching. Students earn an intern teaching credential, which allows them to teach in classrooms while completing their post-graduate education program. The intern program usually lasts two or fewer years.
Texas offers alternative certification programs (ACPs). They let students work a paid teaching job as they complete an approved teaching program. Through ACPs, students can finish their studies and become licensed in just one year.
2. Become a Substitute Teacher
Substitute teaching is a great way to get classroom experience as you prepare to become a licensed teacher. States have different guidelines for this type of teaching.
The Arizona Department of Education requires students to have at least a bachelor's degree to receive a substitute certificate. In Missouri, the content substitute certification for K-12 schools allows students to get certified with 36 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited school.
Substitute teaching may not replace the student teaching experience gained in a teacher preparation program; however, it offers a chance to teach young students and manage classroom behavior. Substitute teachers can also create connections with schools for future jobs.
3. Consider a Paraprofessional or Teacher's Aide Role
Paraprofessionals help experienced teachers instruct and manage classrooms. Also known as teacher's aides or assistants, these instructors perform other duties like reinforcing lessons and taking attendance. They might also prepare equipment for lessons and supervise students outside the classroom.
Working as a teacher's aide is a great way to get comfortable with teaching duties before getting a license. In most public school systems, teacher's aides must have at least two years of college coursework or an associate degree.
4. Teach at a Private or Charter School
Private and charter schools are different from public schools. They're often exempt from state and local regulations. In most cases, these schools don't require teaching licensure. However, teachers might need a bachelor's degree.
Charter and private schools can help build your confidence as a teacher. Smaller classrooms give you the chance to work with students on a one-on-one basis. They also offer more freedom and control over the curriculum.
Teaching in these settings can sometimes create a direct route to teacher licensure. For instance, working as a private teacher in California could help you qualify for a teaching credential without completing a credentialing program.
5. Explore Teach for America (TFA) or Similar Programs
Teach for America (TFA) is a great option for gaining classroom experience. TFA teacher corp members teach full-time for two or more years in underserved schools. Eligibility is granted to people with a bachelor's degree. They must also have the right GPA and be U.S. citizens or legal residents.
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) Teaching Fellows offers an alternate path to a teacher license. Fellows receive summer training and coaching. This can help them get fully certified in as little as one year. Cities and states working with TNTP include Baltimore City, Minnesota, and New Orleans.
6. Gain Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certification
A Career and Technical Education (CTE) K-12 certificate can get you on the right track to public school teaching. They ensure teachers are ready to teach vocational and technical content.
CTE programs train learners in content areas like auto repair, culinary arts, and healthcare. Though CTE coursework differs from education coursework, teaching in these settings can prepare you to create lesson plans, instruct students, and grade work.
7. Explore Local State Regulations
Each state has unique teacher education regulations. Don't assume that you must take a standard pathway to licensure. Contact your state's education department to learn about alternative licensure for prospective teachers.
Now's a great time to enter the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that about 106,500 new openings are expected annually for kindergarten and elementary school teachers from 2023 to 2033. Wages for these teachers were higher than the median annual wage for all jobs in May 2023.
Explore an Elementary Teaching Career
Take steps toward a fulfilling career in elementary education by exploring the degree programs offered by colleges on Learn.org. Contact one of these schools today to learn all the paths available to begin your teaching career.
