Career Advice

If you are looking to pursue a career that helps young children than becoming a pre-school teacher may be exactly what you are looking for. As a pre-school teacher your job is to introduce three to six year olds to the brand new world of school. Pre-school is an important time for them to learn the basics (language, vocabulary, basic science, and basic math) and to start to build up their social skills.

Preschool teachers usually start out as assistant teachers. From there they can advance to being teachers and then to being lead teachers. Because children are so eager and open to learning and able to make such huge leaps in their skills and abilities you’ll want to create an atmosphere where they can take risks and make discoveries while remaining safe.

Here is a list of things that you could do in high school to give yourself a head start:

- Baby-sit, or work or volunteer at a preschool, a camp, an after-school program, or a day care center.

- Observe and interact with children wherever you encounter them — at the grocery store, in the park, and in the homes of friends and family.

- Study psychology as well as family and consumer science to develop your communication skills and learn about issues affecting families and children.

- Enjoy activities such as dance, art, music, or cooking so you can introduce them to children.

- You may be able to earn more if you have special skills, such as fluency in Spanish or American Sign Language. It also helps to be overqualified, with more than the minimum certification. Jobs in nonprofit preschools, including government-funded programs and programs run by religious groups, tend to pay the most.

The traditional route to becoming a public school teacher involves completing a bachelor’s degree from a teacher education program and then obtaining a license. However, most States now offer alternative routes to licensure for those who have a college degree in other fields. Private school teachers do not have to be licensed but still need a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree may not be needed by preschool teachers and vocational education teachers, who need experience in their field rather than a specific degree.

All 50 States and the District of Columbia require public school teachers to be licensed. Licensure is not required for teachers in most private schools. Usually licensure is granted by the State Board of Education or a licensure advisory committee. Teachers may be licensed to teach the early childhood grades (usually preschool through grade 3).