How to become a teacher

1. 1Decide on a grade level and subject

   Time: Before or early in collegeSources 1, 2

   Teaching licenses are tied to grade bands and subjects, so this choice shapes your degree. Early childhood licenses usually cover preschool through grade 3; elementary licenses cover the lower grades; secondary licenses cover one subject, such as biology or English, for middle and high school. Special education has its own license. Volunteering in classrooms, tutoring or working as a teacher's aide helps you see which age group fits you before you commit.

2. 2Earn a bachelor's degree with a teacher preparation program

   Time: 4 yearsCost: $9,678/yr median public in-state tuitionSources 1, 7

   Most teachers major in education or in their subject with an education minor or certification sequence. Choose a state-approved teacher preparation program, because licensing boards generally require one. Coursework covers child development, teaching methods, classroom management, reading instruction and teaching students with disabilities. Programs usually set a minimum grade point average to enter and to stay in, and include classroom observation hours before student teaching.

3. 3Complete student teaching

   Time: Usually the final semesterCost: Unpaid in most programsSources 1

   Student teaching places you in a real classroom under an experienced mentor teacher. You start by observing and co-teaching, then take over planning and teaching full days for a stretch of the placement. A university supervisor observes and evaluates you. Treat it like a job: many districts hire from their student teachers, and your mentor's reference matters when you apply for jobs.

4. 4Pass your state's licensing tests

   Time: During or right after your degreeCost: $150 (Praxis Core combined); subject tests $130-$180Sources 3, 4, 10

   Many states use Praxis tests from ETS. Praxis Core covers reading, writing and math; the combined test costs $150. Subject Assessments test the content and teaching knowledge for your area, for example Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects at $180 or Special Education: Foundational Knowledge at $130. Other states give their own exams. Your preparation program will tell you exactly which tests and passing scores your state requires.

5. 5Apply for your state teaching license

   Time: A few weeks to a few monthsCost: State license and background check feesSources 1, 8

   Submit transcripts, test scores, proof of an approved program and a fingerprint background check to your state education department. New teachers usually receive an initial or provisional license that converts to a professional license after a few years of teaching, mentoring and sometimes more coursework. Use the CareerOneStop License Finder to locate your state's agency and rules.

6. 6Alternative route: certify after a non-education degree

   Time: 1-2 yearsCost: Program fees varySources 1

   Every state offers an alternative route for people who already have a bachelor's degree without education coursework. Some programs let you start teaching on a provisional license under a mentor while you take classes in the evenings; others require coursework first. These routes are common for career changers and for high-need subjects like math, science and special education. You still must pass the state's tests to earn a full license.

7. 7Preschool route: earn a CDA credential or associate degree

   Time: About 1-2 yearsCost: $525 CDA assessment fee (online)Sources 5, 6, 2

   Many childcare centers hire preschool teachers with a Child Development Associate credential. For the Preschool CDA, you need a high school diploma or GED, 120 hours of early childhood training and 480 hours of work with children ages 3 to 5, then you pass an exam and a Verification Visit. Head Start center-based teachers need at least an associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or equivalent coursework.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Classroom management

A lesson only works if 20 or 30 students are paying attention, so setting routines and handling disruptions quickly takes up much of a new teacher's energy.

Clear explanation

Teachers have to break a skill like long division or essay structure into steps that students at different levels can follow.

Patience

Students learn at different speeds, and a teacher may explain the same idea several ways before it lands.

Organization

Planning a week of lessons, grading stacks of work and tracking each student's progress all compete for the same limited hours.

Communication with families

Conferences, emails and phone calls about grades or behavior go more smoothly when parents trust that the teacher knows their child.

Physical stamina

Teachers stand and move around the room most of the day, and preschool teachers lift, bend and chase small children.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: speaking, active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, critical thinking.

Training cost

$38.9K–$41.1K

Before financial aid

Time

4 years

Typical path

Median pay

$38,140

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

No premium

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 4 years x College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for teacher education bachelor's programs, $9,678 = $38,712, plus the Praxis Core combined test fee of $150. High: 4 years x the subject-area education median, $10,201 = $40,804, plus $150 for Praxis Core and $180 for a subject test such as Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001). Not included: fees, books, license application fees, background checks or living costs. The preschool CDA route costs far less: the online CDA assessment fee is $525, plus the cost of 120 training hours.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

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