How To Become an Online Teacher in 2025

In recent years, the path to becoming a teacher, and teaching in general, has started to look very different from the traditional view. More students and educators have opted for online learning formats, and training and career opportunities for teachers have expanded.

But that doesn't mean it's easy to figure out how to become a teacher online these days.

To help you along in your transition to your new position as an online teacher, check below to learn about the role of online teachers and how to become one yourself.

Your Guide To Becoming a Teacher Online

First, we'll go over what online teachers do and how teachers get trained in the U.S., then we'll give you the steps for how to become a teacher online and some important related questions.

What Does an Online Teacher Do?

Online teachers perform most or all of the same duties as traditional educators, just through digital mediums. Some of these duties look different due to the changed medium, and some additional duties can be required because of this.

Duties for online teachers include:

• Creating lesson plans and submitting them to administration for approval.
• Leading virtual live lessons or providing recorded lessons to students.
• Issuing work to be completed during class time or at home after class.
• Grading student work and discussing those grades with students and their parents in a group or one-on-one meeting.

Required Training for Teachers in the United States

Regardless of whether you teach in a physical classroom or through a computer from home, teachers in the United States require specific training and licensure to work in public schools.

Public school teachers need to have at least a bachelor's degree in teaching � or sometimes a degree in the subject they'd like to teach � and an active teaching license in the state they teach in. Most public schools employing online educators prefer that they have some experience in teaching and online education as well.

Private schools can often have different teacher license and education requirements � check these with the school you'd like to be employed by before applying for a position with them, but assume you at least need some higher education or experience in teaching.

How To Become a Teacher Online: The Steps

Here are the most important steps for how to become a teacher online for someone who's just starting out in their educator career:

• Get a bachelor's degree � either in the subject you want to teach or a specialized teaching degree for select grade levels like K-5th or 9th-12th grades.
• Get the license or teaching certification you need to work as a teacher in your state or to specialize in a specific kind of teaching, such as early childhood education or special needs education.
• Get some experience � many bachelor's teaching programs include student teaching opportunities, but any work experience related to children can help here.
• Learn how to teach online � some states, such as Arkansas, provide free programs to learn how to use technology for teaching and connecting with students; take advantage of these resources if you can and develop your technology skills as much as possible.
• Consider further education or certifications � you can get a leg up in or better qualify for some positions if you have a master's degree or advanced certifications related to the subject or age range you teach.
• Apply for and accept positions � whether you want to work in a public school or in private education, job boards and networking can help you achieve your desired online teaching position.

Online Teaching FAQs

Here are answers to some common questions you may have about how to become a teacher online or what the worth of an online teacher is.

Is Being an Online Teacher Worth It?

Being an online teacher is worth it � once you've learned how to become a teacher online, you'll be able to work from anywhere, connect with your students better, and make better use of your time than a traditional educator.

You get all the same joys and privileges of a teacher but with the added benefits that come with working remotely.

Is There Demand for Online Teachers?

Yes, there's demand for online teachers. Particularly in private or higher education organizations, it's becoming a requirement that educators know how to navigate technology and the internet in order to better engage with and teach students.

What Skills Do You Need To Become a Teacher Online?

Some of the skills that you need to become a teacher online include:

• verbal and written communication
• time management
• organization
• technological literacy
• empathy
• patience

Some of these skills can be taught, but some of them are related to the temperament you need to have to be an educator in order to work with students directly.

What Can You Teach Online?

You can teach nearly any subject or age group online, though you'll more often find opportunities to do so for older students or in hands-off subjects like mathematics, literature, and the like.

Other subjects, like chemistry, art, or nursing, can be taught at least partially online but are more difficult to teach in a fully online environment because they require hands-on, observable practice.

Find a Degree Program That Works for You Today

Now that you know how to become a teacher online, what education and experience are required for online teachers, and what the demand and worth of online teaching is, it's time to find the degree program you need to get started on your teaching education journey today so you can begin shaping the minds of the future tomorrow.