Secondary School Teacher Certification
High school teachers work with students between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. They may teach from the ninth grade to the twelfth grade and much of what they teach helps students prepare for life following graduation from high school. High school teachers may provide instruction related to both specific skills and academic subjects. They usually work in high schools, which may be public or private. Their working hours may vary, but in general they work when students are in school, from approximately 8:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. They may complete work outside of school hours, such as grading homework or exams and preparing lessons. Teachers usually have summers off as adolescents are not in school over the summer.
Education & Credentials
Prospective high school teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree in education and a minor concentration or specialization in the subject they would like to teach, for instance math, science, or English. This combination provides them with sufficient background in teaching methods, learning, and development, while also providing aspiring teachers with the knowledge required to teach a particular subject at the high school level. Although it varies from state-to-state, high school teachers are also usually required to complete an internship in a school in order to gain experience lesson planning, teaching concepts, and interacting with students. In order to teach at a public school, teachers must obtain a license from the state they wish to teach in. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in education, the teaching internship, and a passing grade on state exams in the subject they wish to teach, reading, and writing.
Career Outlook
In 2012, there were a total of 955,800 high school teacher jobs in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this occupation will grow by 6%, adding 52,900 new jobs between 2012 and 2022. This rate of growth is slower than average for all other occupations. However, some regions in the United States, such as the West and the South, are expected to experience more growth than others.
Salary
High school teachers make a median salary of $55,050 USD per year, meaning that half of all high school teachers earned less than that amount and the remaining half earned more than that amount. Teachers who earned salaries in the top ten percent earned over $85,6590 USD per year. High school teacher salaries vary extensively from state-to-state and district-to-district. Experience, level of education obtained, location of the school, and type of school are all factors that contribute to teacher’s salaries.
How to Become a Secondary School Teacher
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education is the first step towards becoming a teacher. This will most likely involve choosing a subject matter specialization according to your own interests and completing a semester-long internship in order to gain practical experience in the classroom. Once you have completed your B.Ed., you can obtain your teaching certificate in the state you are teaching. Be sure to check the requirements in the state that you would like to teach in, not necessarily the one you are from, since they vary from state-to-state. You may have to prove that you have experience working with children and pass a written test or interview.
