Professional educators are in high demand worldwide. Learn more about the steps necessary to enter the teaching profession in the United States and build a career in education. The first thing you should do if you’re thinking about becoming a teacher is to figure out what you want to major in and what kinds of classes you want to teach. Depending on your chosen field, you may need to earn certifications or pass exams to practice. The following tip will help you kick-start your teaching career in the USA.
How to Become a Teacher in the USA
Are you ready to start your career as a teacher? Here are some expert tips for pursuing teaching as a profession in the USA.
1. Evaluate Your Credentials
If you are a foreign-trained teacher, your degree is likely to work in the US for a teaching position, provided it was earned from a US-recognized, accredited university and was reviewed by a US-approved evaluation body. Therefore, the first step is to opt for foreign educational credential evaluation services in the USA.
Each state is responsible for determining what forms of documentation are necessary for teachers to practice their profession. You can start by submitting your information to a state-sanctioned testing facility. Issuing a CES report is possible if you follow the agency’s application guidelines and submit all required paperwork. You will be required to submit all of your official diplomas, transcripts, and certifications.
2. Acquire a Bachelor’s Degree
If you are a high school graduate, many colleges and universities in the United States are happy to accept international students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education. When studying education, you’ll develop the skills to connect with and instruct a wide range of pupils, each with unique strengths and challenges.
If you are a high school graduate, think about pursuing a bachelor’s degree, either in the field, you’re interested in or in the field of education, with a concentration in the area of study that most interests you.
You may need to hire foreign educational credential evaluation services if you have completed high school outside the US. The bachelor’s degree programs are diverse, ranging from language and literature to economics and science to primary education. You can get the training you need to become an educator with a bachelor’s degree.
3. Determine If Any Other Certifications Are Needed
Even with a bachelor’s degree, you may still need to show proof of proficiency in math, English, and other subjects before you can apply for teaching jobs. Take a look at assessments like Pearson’s Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA), ETS’s Core Academic Skills, or the Praxis series of tests.
4. Upgrade Your Experience
It helps to get some classroom experience. Practicum or student teaching is a required component of nearly all bachelor’s degree programs in education. Teaching a class while being a student will allow you to get classroom management experience with the guidance of seasoned educators and your college professors. It can be a big plus when you start a teaching career in the USA.
5. Take a Teaching Credentialing Examination
One must first receive a license to teach in a public school, while private schools may have various requirements for their educators. Although certification is only sometimes required, it can open doors to better-paying teaching positions. Therefore, some of the best advice for pursuing teaching in the USA is to take and pass a state or nationally-recognized teaching credentialing examination, such as the NBPTS exam.
A teaching credential from the United States will equip you to instruct students from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and with different educational priorities anywhere in the world. Professors and advisers are there to aid you with career preparation by providing you with information and guidance.
6. Consider a Teacher Visa in the USA
For teachers interested in participating in cultural or educational exchange programs, there is the J-1 visa teacher program. A teacher visa allows foreign nationals to enter the United States and work in an approved school for up to three years.
Obtaining a teaching position in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa is an excellent way to gain useful professional experience. You may improve your teaching abilities, pick up new techniques, and get used to working with a wide range of students by applying for a teaching visa.
Teachers who have worked in other countries are highly sought after by educational institutions, and their students reap many benefits from the experience. A teacher visa can be extended for an additional two years if the holder has been outside the United States for the previous three.
Start Your Teaching Career in the USA with ERES
Working as a teacher in the United States as a foreigner is a rewarding experience on many levels, including professional development and personal growth. You’ll be exposed to new experiences, locations, and people, all while expanding your horizons.
Whether you are an experienced teacher looking for a teaching license in the USA or a student aspiring to enter the education field, experts at ERES can evaluate your credentials to help you take the next step.
