History teachers help students understand the past to better navigate the present and future. For those aspiring to this career, the path involves higher education, specialized training, and state approval. The journey to becoming a history teacher is not a single, uniform process, and the time it takes can vary based on educational choices and the specific requirements of the state where one intends to teach.
The Bachelor’s Degree Requirement
The foundational step for any aspiring history teacher is earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This phase of the journey requires four years of full-time study to complete. During this time, students build the subject-matter expertise necessary to teach the past.
Prospective educators will pursue a degree directly related to the subject they wish to teach. The most common major is History, which provides a deep dive into historical events, periods, and research methods. Another frequent choice is Social Studies Education, a broader degree that encompasses history, geography, political science, and economics, which can improve a graduate’s marketability. Some students may also major in secondary education with a specific concentration in history.
Teacher Education and Student Teaching
While earning a bachelor’s degree provides content knowledge, a teacher education program supplies the pedagogical skills needed to manage a classroom and deliver effective instruction. These programs are often integrated into the bachelor’s degree, during the junior and senior years. Coursework covers topics like educational psychology, curriculum development, and teaching strategies tailored for adolescent learners.
The capstone of any teacher education program is the student teaching experience. This is a full-time, immersive practicum that lasts for an entire semester. Student teachers are placed in a middle or high school classroom under the mentorship of an experienced history teacher. They gradually take on more responsibility, from observing and assisting to planning and leading their own lessons.
State Licensure and Certification Exams
After completing a degree and a teacher preparation program, the next step is to obtain a state-issued teaching license or certificate. This process happens near the end of or just after graduation and involves a formal application, background checks, and passing a series of standardized exams.
Most states use the Praxis series of exams, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), though some have their own state-specific tests. The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests measure basic competency in reading, writing, and mathematics. The Praxis Subject Assessment for Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) evaluates a candidate’s understanding of U.S. history, world history, government, geography, and economics. The time needed for studying and taking the exams adds to the overall timeline.
The Impact of a Master’s Degree
Pursuing a master’s degree can extend the timeline for becoming a history teacher, but it offers distinct advantages. A traditional master’s program in education or history adds one to two years of full-time study to the overall journey.
The motivation for earning a master’s degree often depends on state requirements and career goals. Some states mandate that teachers earn a master’s degree within a certain number of years to maintain their professional license. In other states, a master’s is optional but can lead to a salary increase and open doors to leadership roles like department head or curriculum developer.
Alternative Pathways for Career Changers
For individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in history or a related field but did not complete a teacher education program, alternative certification programs offer a more direct route into the classroom. These pathways were created to help professionals transition into teaching careers without returning for a second bachelor’s degree.
Alternative programs involve intensive coursework in pedagogy and classroom management, often completed in a condensed timeframe. A common model allows candidates to teach on a provisional license and earn a salary while completing their certification requirements, which takes one to two years. This makes it a faster and more financially viable option for those who already possess the necessary subject matter knowledge from their undergraduate studies.
So What Is the Total Time Commitment?
For those starting from the beginning, the traditional path combining a bachelor’s degree with a teacher education program takes approximately four to four-and-a-half years. If a graduate decides to pursue a master’s degree immediately after, the total time commitment extends to five to six years. For individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree, the alternative certification pathway offers the quickest route, taking one to two years to complete.