Become a Certified Reading Specialist in 5 Steps

<p>A certified reading specialist is an educator who helps students improve their reading and writing skills. </p> <p>In most cases, they work with children and teenagers in school settings; more rarely, they may work in private settings or with adults who need extra help in improving their literacy. </p> <p>Reading specialists excel at tailoring their teaching techniques to the individual needs of their students. They are patient, creative, enthusiastic, encouraging, and compassionate. </p> <p>Reading specialists are often called upon to work with students who are struggling to read. They may need to use a variety of diagnostic tools to discover what underlying issues are affecting their students' reading ability. </p> <p>In addition to working with students, reading specialists often provide coaching and instruction to parents and fellow educators to help them more effectively teach their students to read. </p> <p>Reading specialists often work long hours, including some evenings and weekends, depending on the needs of their students and employers. </p> <p>Reading specialists are highly-educated professionals who must receive several levels of training and certification before they can begin working in this capacity. </p> <p>Educators at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, including reading specialists, earn a median income of between $61,000 and $62,000 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. </p> <p>Now that you know more about this job, let's discuss what it takes to become a certified reading specialist. </p> <h2 id="section---Step1ObtainABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Obtain a Bachelor's Degree</h2> <p>All reading specialists start out as teachers, and teachers are required to hold a <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Bachelor_Degree_FAQs.html">bachelor's degree</a> to become certified in their state. </p> <p>Therefore, the first step toward becoming a certified reading specialist is to obtain a bachelor's degree. </p> <p>Most aspiring teachers pursue a Bachelor of Education degree, though many also major in the field they hope to teach, such as history or science. </p> <p>Good degrees for anyone hoping to become a reading specialist include English, literacy, and any reading or literature related degree. </p> <h2 id="section---Step2ObtainAMasterSDegree">Step 2: Obtain a Master's Degree</h2> <p>After completing your bachelor's degree, you may choose to spend some time working and gaining experience as a teacher before going back to school for your <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Masters_Degree_FAQs.html">master's degree</a>. </p> <p>However, if you are certain in your career path of becoming a certified reading specialist and want to do so quickly, you might want to move straight into graduate school. </p> <p>A master's degree in literacy is an excellent choice for aspiring reading specialists. You could also pursue closely related fields such as English or special education. </p> <h2 id="section---Step3BecomeACertifiedTeacher">Step 3: Become a Certified Teacher</h2> <p>Before you can begin teaching, you will need to become certified as a teacher. </p> <p>This often involves completing an extensive state-specific training program. You may have received this training as part of your degree program, or you may have to participate in it after you have graduated. </p> <p>You will also need to pass a background check and a certification exam. Once you have received your certification, you are ready to find your first <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Becoming_a_Teaching_Professional.html">job as a teacher</a>. </p> <h2 id="section---Step4BuildOnTheJobExperience">Step 4: Build On-the-Job Experience</h2> <p>Gain as much experience in the classroom as you can&mdash;whether as a student teacher while working on your degree, a substitute working on a part-time basis, or a regular full-time educator in an elementary, middle, or high school. </p> <p>This is a necessary part of the process of becoming a certified reading specialist. You must gain on-the-job experience before you can qualify for certification as a reading specialist. </p> <p>Working as a teacher will also help you gain experience working with children and give you ample opportunities to apply what you have learned to real-life scenarios. </p> <h2 id="section---Step5BecomeACertifiedReadingSpecialist">Step 5: Become a Certified Reading Specialist</h2> <p>Every state has slightly different certification protocols for reading specialists; for example, some states may require more or fewer hours of teaching experience before you can become certified. </p> <p>Find out what is required in your state, and make sure you meet those requirements. Once you've done that, you will need to pass a certification exam. </p> <p>Again, each state's examination process is a little different. In New York, for example, the test consists of completing an essay and answering multiple choice questions. Other states may have slightly different testing methods. </p> <p>At any rate, if you meet all the requirements for reading specialists in your state, then pass the associated certification exam, you will now be considered a certified reading specialist and will be able to apply for jobs in that capacity in your state. </p> <h2 id="section---BecomeACertifiedReadingSpecialistToday">Become a Certified Reading Specialist Today</h2> <p>Working as a reading specialist allows you to make a difference in childrens' lives by helping them improve their reading skills. If this sounds like the career path for you, follow the process outlined above to become a certified reading specialist.</p>