If you are wondering why you specialized in sociology, computer science or biology, and it is true that none of these fields are really important in a long-term career, you are in good company. Is this nagging feeling that you are not suitable for what you spent four or more years studying? You shouldn’t ignore this. Or maybe you are thinking about changing your career? Just because you’re on your career path doesn’t mean you have to stay on it forever, right? Can you become a teacher without a teaching degree?
Can I become a teacher without a diploma?
You need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in most state schools. You must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification to obtain QTS. You must also complete a teacher training program or be formally assessed by an approved supplier as meeting the required standards – this is the so-called only evaluation route. The assessment-only route is suitable for graduates who have sufficient teaching experience but have not taken part in a teacher course; however, this is not an option for school graduates.
What grade do you need to be a teacher?
Some private, charter and non-profit schools do not require candidates to have a teacher’s diploma or a state license.
However, if you want to teach in a public school system (as a subject teacher in elementary or high school), you need a teaching license or teaching certification. Substitute didactic performances can also be a great way for graduates with no learning experience to get real classroom experience.
Note: Most states establish a four-year bachelor’s degree as a minimum educational requirement for K-12 teachers. So, although you probably can’t find a job as a teacher, if you have an academic degree, you can still qualify for work in education, or as an assistant to a teacher, kindergarten or foster teacher.
How to use your current degree to become a teacher
First stop: check to see if your condition offers emergency education certificates.
In this case, people with a bachelor’s degree can apply for teaching subjects that are currently short of qualified candidates. Several selected states, including Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Mississippi, California and Arizona, grant temporary licenses to teachers in special care areas such as special education as well as foreign subjects and STEM.
Pros and cons of teaching without education
Ultimately, the more education you have, the more prepared you will be as a teacher. It is worth investing extra time in yourself and your future students if you are sure that teaching is a path for you. However, sometimes you are not sure what kind of teaching you would like to do or whether the teaching is right for you. Other times, life stands in the way – perhaps the degree of education is out of reach because of time or money.
