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Can I Be a Teacher Without Getting a Teaching Degree?

Did you realize your love for teaching after majoring in something else? Our experts have the answer to how you can still fulfill your passion for teaching.

Jessica Tomer

Jessica Tomer
Director of Communications
The Commonwealth School
There are some teaching positions that do not specifically require a degree in Education. They hinge on experience; for example, if you have a degree and several years of experience as an engineer, you may find you are qualified to teach an introduction to engineering class to high school students. This is also common at the college level among adjunct professors, which is how the person who teaches magazine writing part-time can also be a full-time magazine editor. These teaching roles often call for a state certification of some kind as well.

However! If you wish to be a full-time teacher as a career, you may find you are best suited by an actual degree in education. These college programs are two-fold: they not only strengthen your knowledge of the subject you want to teach, but you also learn how to teach, studying the social, psychological, and developmental facets of teaching young people. 

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