A bachelor’s degree is the fundamental educational requirement for becoming a teacher across the United States, providing the necessary foundation for professional certification. Many pathways exist for individuals whose undergraduate major was not in education, making the career accessible to professionals and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds. State licensing boards have created multiple routes to help non-education majors transition into the classroom. These options allow individuals to leverage their existing knowledge while acquiring the necessary pedagogical skills to succeed as a licensed public school teacher.
Leveraging Your Existing Degree
A bachelor’s degree establishes subject matter competency, which is the foundational knowledge required to teach specific grade levels or content areas. For single-subject certification, such as teaching high school history or chemistry, a degree in the corresponding field demonstrates content mastery. For example, an individual with a B.A. in Math is qualified to pursue certification for teaching secondary mathematics.
Most state certification programs require applicants to have earned a minimum undergraduate grade point average, frequently between 2.75 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If a degree does not align directly with a teaching subject, content competency can often be met by completing a specific number of college credits or by passing a state-mandated subject matter examination. This process ensures that all prospective teachers possess the deep content knowledge necessary to instruct students effectively.
Understanding the Standard Certification Process
Teaching is regulated at the state level, and a license or certificate is mandatory for employment in public K-12 schools. The traditional pathway involves completing a four-year undergraduate degree in education, which integrates content knowledge and teacher preparation coursework. This route is streamlined for students who enter college intending to become a teacher, as their degree plan includes pedagogy and student teaching requirements.
A post-baccalaureate program is a traditional option for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree but decide to pursue teaching later. These university-based programs provide the necessary educational theory and classroom management coursework, culminating in a full teaching credential. While this route is often more time-intensive, taking two or more years, it grants the full professional license after graduation and successful completion of all requirements.
Pursuing Alternative Certification Programs
Alternative certification programs (ACPs) are the most common option for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field to transition into teaching. These routes were developed to address teacher shortages by accelerating the process and allowing career changers to enter the classroom quickly. ACPs typically condense the required pedagogical coursework and training into a flexible format, often taking 12 to 18 months to complete.
The structure of these programs allows candidates to begin teaching in a paid role while simultaneously completing their certification requirements. Candidates are often hired by a school district and teach under a provisional, temporary, or intern license. This model integrates on-the-job training with evening or weekend coursework, providing immediate, supervised practical experience. Specific requirements, including the type of provisional license and coursework hours, are determined by the state and sometimes by the local school district.
Alternative routes include:
University-based graduate certificates, which can lead to a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.).
State-run post-baccalaureate programs.
Non-profit programs, such as Teach for America, which place members into high-need schools for a two-year commitment while they complete certification through a regional university partner.
Required Examinations and Practical Experience
All prospective teachers must successfully complete standardized examinations and a period of practical experience to achieve full licensure. The most widely used standardized assessments are the Praxis series, administered by the Educational Testing Service. In states that do not use the Praxis exams, an equivalent state-specific test, such as the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET), is mandatory to demonstrate subject matter competency.
The Praxis series includes:
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, which measures basic proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics, often required before entering a preparation program.
Praxis Subject Assessments, which test content-specific knowledge, such as high school biology or middle school English.
Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam, which evaluates knowledge of pedagogical theory, classroom instruction, and professional practices.
Practical experience is required for moving from a temporary certificate to a professional license. Traditional candidates complete a supervised student teaching placement, typically lasting one full semester. Alternative certification candidates fulfill this requirement through a supervised residency or paid internship, serving as the teacher of record while receiving mentoring and clinical support. Completion of a background check, including fingerprinting, is mandatory for all applicants before classroom placement.
Exploring Teaching Roles Outside Public K-12
A bachelor’s degree opens doors to teaching positions in settings where state-mandated public school certification is optional or subject to different regulations.
Private and Charter Schools
Private schools generally require a degree and experience but are not bound by state public school certification laws. These institutions often prioritize content expertise over formal education coursework, allowing professionals to teach without navigating the public school licensure process. Charter schools operate with greater flexibility and may allow candidates to teach with a bachelor’s degree while working toward licensure.
Other Opportunities
Substitute teaching is a common entry point requiring minimal formal training beyond a bachelor’s degree and a background check, providing valuable classroom experience. Roles in adult education or vocational/technical education frequently value professional work experience in a specific trade or field over a traditional teaching certificate.