How to Become a Secondary School Teacher
Teaching in a secondary school can be a rewarding career. Secondary school teachers help young adults prepare for advanced studies later in life. There are certain requirements that you will need to meet if you are interested in teaching in a secondary school.
- Decide what specific subject area you want to teach. There are several subjects you can choose from such as art, English, mathematics, biology or history. Sometimes schools prefer teachers who can teach several subjects. You can make yourself more marketable by obtaining a minor in music, physical education or a foreign language.
- Find out educational requirements and complete them. Requirements may differ from state to state, but generally a college degree is required before you can apply for certification. So make sure you complete your degree program at an accredited college or university.
- Become familiar with the certification requirements in your state. Contact your State Board of Education or Department of Education for details. You may be required to complete a certain number of hours of coursework for certification.
- Take required teacher certification exams. As you get near graduation, start preparing for state or national certification examinations. Upon passing this exam, you can apply for your teacher's certification. You can contact your college counselor or your State Board of Education for information and exam preparation materials.
- Look for available positions and submit your applications. Contact secondary schools in your area to find out if they have openings. There are many resources that can help you locate secondary schools that have teaching positions available. You can use online resources to get the contact information of the various schools you wish to apply to. You should also create your resume, and be sure to include relevant classroom and extracurricular experiences.