5 Steps to Change Your Career and Become a Teacher

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5 STEPS TO CHANGE YOUR CAREER AND BECOME A
TEACHER
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1.

• Make a list of what you want from your next
  career and decide which of those things are of
  the highest priority. Do you care more about your
  schedule, the fulfilment you receive from your
  job, or a high-paying salary? After you decide
  what you need, see if those priorities line up
  with a career in education.

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2.

• Consider what age group and subject area you
  would like to teach. Your past professional and
  education experiences are good guides to what
  your strengths are. For instance, if you majored
  in business during college, those skills could
  help you become a math teacher. If math interests
  you, start researching what level of math each
  grade level is expected to achieve to help you
  decide what level of difficulty you would be most
  comfortable with or most enjoy teaching. Also
  consider how you relate to others and what age
  group would be best to work with based on your
  personality.

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3.

• Research what steps you need to take to become a
  certified teacher in your state. Each state has
  different requirements, so your states
  Department of Education is one of the best
  resources. American Board recommends reading
  through the departments website regarding
  teacher certification and the different routes
  available in your state before calling so you
  will know what questions you will want to ask or
  what route might be the best fit for your needs.
  For instance, if you do not have the financial
  capability to take time off work or away from
  your family, an online, self-paced certification
  program may be best for you. There may also be
  private schools and charter schools in your
  community that will hire you on so you can gain
  professional experience and earn a salary while
  working toward teacher certification.

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4.

• Contact your local school districts or schools
  to find out where they need teachers. Maybe you
  are trying to decide between teaching Elementary
  Education or English Language Arts. Finding out
  from your local school which position they
  typically have to fill more often may help you
  make a decision while also getting your foot in
  the door for a future job opportunity.

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5.

• Spend time shadowing a current teacher or
  serving as a substitute teacher.  Making this
  career change is a big decision, so getting
  in-person experience with what teaching is really
  like will help you decide whether it is the right
  fit for you. It may be difficult to work this
  into your schedule if you are still juggling a
  full-time job, but try to fit in at least one day
  of substituting or shadowing.

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• If you have taken these five steps and are ready
  to become a certified teacher, American Boards
  online program may be the right fit for you.
  Learn how to enrol and you could be leading a
  classroom of your own within a year!

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American Board for Certification of Teacher
Excellence 1123 Zonolite Road, Suite 29, Atlanta,
GA 30306 877-669-2228 info_at_americanboard.org www.a
mericanboard.org