Teaching and Education

What Education is Needed to Become a High School Teacher

Ricky Kambray
Ricky Kambray

All that one can accomplish in life is built on knowledge and education. Teachers give today’s youth the power of education, allowing them a better future by helping students understand abstract concepts by simplifying complex concepts.

Teachers expand their vision and imagination by introducing children to ideas and topics they might not have encountered otherwise.

So, it is clear that to be able to contribute to raising generations is not an easy task, and you have to have the proper qualification to become a high school teacher

As a high school teacher, you would help students to succeed in college or other higher studies. From teaching lessons in your specialised sector while assisting students to become better persons to creating syllabi and conducting tests, there are a lot of responsibilities for a high school teacher.

But don’t worry because this blog will tell you ‘what education is needed to become a high school teacher?’ and everything that comes with being a high school teacher. 

Education Needed to Become a High School Teacher

You must have a bachelor’s degree, be certified and licenced to teach, and work as a high school teacher. Every country has different requirements for becoming a high school teacher. To become a high school teacher, you must complete the necessary education, student teaching hours, tests, licensing and certification. 

What Should I do After 12th to Become a Teacher?


Students who have not earned a college degree must pursue a bachelor’s degree after completing 12th to work as a teacher. In addition, you will be expected to teach specific subject areas as a high school teacher. For example, if you want to teach maths, then you have to earn a bachelor’s degree in maths.

Depending on the college you attend, each programme may differ. Most colleges and universities advise students to apply to teaching programmes during their sophomore or junior year.

Then, in secondary education programmes, you can learn about topics like effective teaching, educational development, curriculum, and methodology. 

After completing their education requirements, a prospective high school teacher must pass state examinations before applying for certification.

Certification requirements vary by state, but all typically require the candidate to pass a Basic Skills exam and a Subject Matter Competency exam in the subject they intend to teach.

These results and completing the bachelor’s degree and teacher education programme will be submitted to the state board of education with their application. 

A teacher is teaching geography in his class using a large map and a compass

 

Expand Your Knowledge From Anywhere, at Any Time!!

Get Study Plex Subscription with 1000+ Accredited CPD Courses at only £99/Year. Access Unlimited CPD Accredited Courses at £199 Lifetime

To summarise the whole section, there are a few steps that you can follow to become a high school teacher- 

  1. You must get a bachelor’s degree in the subject you want to teach while completing your school’s teacher preparation programme.
  2. Then you need to complete a student teaching internship in the subject(s) you wish to teach.
  3. Take the teaching and subject-area tests required for teacher licensure in your state.
  4. Apply for your teaching licence.
  5. Begin applying for open positions in your field of study.

If you want to become a high school teacher in the UK, you will need to finish your undergraduate degrees and become a qualified teacher (QTS). If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can choose to continue your education training to earn your postgraduate certificate (PGCE).

You can follow these steps to start your career as a high school teacher- 

  1. Most universities have specific enrollment requirements for secondary school teachers. For example, universities may require you to complete your A-levels and GCSEs. However, certain universities also offer specialisation for prospective high school teachers.
  2. In England and Wales, most university programmes for prospective secondary educators require completion of ITT (Initial Teachers Training). During your training, you might concentrate on developing your ability to plan and present curriculum-based lessons and assessments and learning instructional techniques. In addition, you can apply for your QTS credential once you’ve finished your training. 
  3. You must apply for your QTS credential to the Teaching Regulation Agency in England or the Education Workforce Council in Wales if you want to teach in England. You might not need a QTS credential for some independent schools, but many public districts only hire teachers with this status.
  4. You could start your teaching career as a teaching assistant or learning mentor while you’re still a part-time student to gain more experience. In addition, you must complete a postgraduate teaching course to become a teacher. Getting experience working with kids, whether through paid employment or volunteer work, can also be helpful.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Teaching Certificate?

You need to obtain QTS to teach in England and Wales. You can get this through an ITT programme. And this can be completed in about a year and is based in a school or university. If you complete the course, you will receive QTS and become a newly qualified teacher (NQT), prepared to start your induction year.

A teacher is providing lectures to the students in the class

 

Skills and Qualities of a High School Teacher

As a teacher, you would have the primary duty of teaching the students. But, you will also be considered a role model for some students. Therefore, showing good qualities and skills as a teacher is essential. So let’s look at some of the qualities and skills that a teacher needs to have. 

  1. Teachers must be patient, fair, and calm. They should possess the ability to deal with conflict while remaining patient and calm in stressful situations.
  2. The ability to create the best possible conditions for learning or teaching new skills. 
  3. The ability to communicate your knowledge to students in a fun and understandable manner. Inspirational teachers develop excellent communication skills and can teach the curriculum in various ways to students with varying learning styles through their work with children. 
  4. Confidence in your ability to teach and be a good role model even when tired and under pressure.
  5. Dedication, commitment, and courage. Excellent teachers reflect on their experiences and modify their approach as they continue to learn and improve. 
  6. As you may use computer programmes and school databases to enter student data like their academic progress, technical skills and computer proficiency are also hard practical skills to develop for your career.

Responsibilities of a High School teacher 

A high school teacher’s responsibilities include planning lessons, giving out and grading homework and tests, establishing classroom rules, and meeting with parents to go over their children’s development and behaviour problems. High school teachers may work in various locations, such as the outdoors, gyms, the school library, or a computer lab, in addition to the classroom.

Teachers at the secondary level may participate in various extracurricular activities in addition to maintaining order in the classroom, during breaks, and during lunch. Teachers in high schools need to be able to teach teenagers effectively.

As a high school teacher in the UK, you will be expected to work 37-45 hours a week, and the average salary will be £25,714 as a starter and £41,604 as an experienced high school teacher (National Career Service). 

In the USA, a typical teacher works 54 hours a week (Education Week), and the average high school teacher’s salary is $63,526 annually (Talent.com).

Conclusion

In the end, a bachelor’s degree is what you need to start your career as a high school teacher. Also, being a teacher is not just about teaching; it involves other responsibilities as well.

So, for example, if you are eager to become a teacher, you better start learning how to do it from a student’s perspective. It will make the lesson easier for the students to understand.

Hopefully, this blog has answered your questions about what education is needed to become a high school teacher. Now, it is your time to go out there and become the best example of a teacher.

Like This Article?

Share it on social.

Ricky Kambray

Hey this is Ricky Kambray an award-winning first-aid trainer with over 20 years of healthcare and teaching expertise. Highly certified general nurse regularly appears in the press discussing accident prevention and first aid advice.