Elementary School Teacher

Are you considering following your passion for helping kids by becoming an elementary school teacher? Becoming and being an elementary school teacher is certainly not the easiest career choice to make, but dedicated elementary school teachers will tell you that it is perhaps one of the most rewarding decisions that they ever made. Although becoming an elementary school teacher will vary slightly from state to state, here are the basic steps to fulfilling your dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.

Taking the First Steps Toward Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

In order to teach in most elementary schools, you will need to get a four-year Bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university. The most direct route to becoming an elementary school teacher is to study for a four-year degree in elementary school education. The elementary school education teaching degree will vary considerably from according to college or university, but most institutions require a specific block of sequential coursework that incorporates a period of student teaching.

Other Routes to Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

Perhaps you already earned a four-year bachelor's degree in a field outside of elementary school teaching, and you didn't realize the passion you had for teaching until afterwards. Or perhaps you already have a bachelor's degree but are looking for a career change. This is a common scenario. In this case, you can work towards a post-baccalaureate degree in order to teach.

The Final Stop – Your Teacher's Certification

The final step towards becoming an elementary school teacher is to get your teacher's certification. Each state has different measures for certifying its teachers. In most cases, you will need to pass an exam or else prove you have taken a set of coursework. You will have to apply to your state's department of education in order to take the teacher certification exam. In most states, there is a fee for taking the certification exam.