How to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (2024)

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Have you been working in the business world, only to discover you want to use the knowledge you’ve gained to inspire and educate the next generation of businesspeople?

Working in an industry can open up a wealth of opportunities, particularly if you earned a degree in business or a related field in college. But sometimes, you want to do more than just continue your current career path. If this is you, there’s a chance you have an undiscovered passion for teaching.

If you’re considering a career change from industry to business education, you might not even be sure such a move is possible or if the change will be affordable and rewarding.

Rest assured that becoming a teacher with a business degree is not only possible; it might even be easier than you think. As a business education curriculum provider, we know many teachers who’ve made this transition and been successful in the classroom.

In this article, we’ll look at five decisive steps to becoming a teacher in a CTE business education program:

  1. Decide What and Where You Want to Teach
  2. Determine Your Educational Requirements
  3. Enroll in a Teaching Program
  4. Earn Your Teaching Credentials
  5. Find a Position

At the end of this post, you should be more familiar with the steps necessary for becoming a business education teacher so you can be confident in pursuing your career goals.

Step 1 - Decide What and Where You Want to TeachHow to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (1)

There are a ton of opportunities out there for teaching with a business degree, from middle school to the collegiate level and public, private, and alternative school settings. In order to be best prepared, it’s essential to focus on the student population you would feel most comfortable teaching.

Would you better enjoy working with younger students, teaching career readiness or computer applications in the early stages of a business education program?

Or maybe you have expertise in a topic like accounting or entrepreneurship that you could employ in a high school classroom?

Are you instead a technology or computer programming specialist who could teach a course like business and technology?

To help you decide where you could be the best teacher, do some personal reflection. Some questions you might want to answer are:

  • What age range of students would I be most interested in teaching?
  • What subjects would I be best suited to teach?
  • What type of school environment would I be most successful in?

When you’ve determined the type of business education program you want to be a part of, you’ll be able to see the steps you need to take to get there.

Step 2 - Determine Your Educational RequirementsHow to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (2)

Once you know the type of school you want to teach in, you’ll better understand the educational requirements you need to meet to earn your ideal job.

Almost invariably, a baccalaureate degree is the minimum requirement for teaching in any school, public or private. If you’ve been working in business, chances are you already have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. If you haven’t earned this degree, you may want to consider a degree specifically geared towards business education.

For some aspiring educators, a bachelor’s degree in business could be enough to teach in a private or specialty program. You might also be able to get a provisional license or emergency certification to teach in your state.

Do You Need a Provisional or Emergency Certification?

Depending on your state, you may be able to acquire a temporary license to teach, often called a provisional or emergency certification. The requirements for these certifications vary from state to state but typically grant the holder the ability to teach in a public school for 1-3 years.

You’ll typically need to be sponsored by a school district to get an emergency certification. If you have stellar credentials—or if the school needs additional teachers—it’s possible to find a district willing to sponsor your emergency certification.

It’s also extremely common for schools to sponsor emergency certification for qualified substitute teachers. If you’re unsure about committing to becoming a full-time educator, trying out the profession as a substitute teacher in a middle school computer applications or high school business class could be just what you need to make your decision.

To become permanently certified and remain a public school teacher, you’ll need to earn your teaching license before your temporary credential expires.

Step 3 - Enroll in a Teaching ProgramHow to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (3)

If your current educational background doesn’t qualify you to teach in your ideal business education program, you’ll need to think about the type of program that will help you meet your goals.

Here, we’ll look at two of the most common educational options for business degree holders looking to teach.

Option 1 - Enroll in a Teaching Certification Program

Enrolling in a teacher certification program is probably the most popular option for future educators seeking a teaching license.

Teacher certification programs are typically less expensive and require fewer credit hours than pursuing an additional degree. Class scheduling can be surprisingly flexible, and overall, these programs usually take a shorter amount of time to complete.

By relying on the education you’ve already received in your undergraduate business program, teacher certification programs get you up to speed on things like pedagogy and classroom management.

Plus, with the cost of many programs at a rate set by your state’s education department, the price may be less than you think.

Option 2 - Pursue a Degree in Education

Going all-in and pursuing a degree in education is generally a more expensive and time-consuming route to becoming a teacher. Nevertheless, many current educators have found the extra time and expense worth the investment.

To earn your education degree, you’ll have to earn more credit hours, which inevitably involves additional time and added expense. However, since you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue a master’s degree in education rather than just a certificate.

A master’s degree could benefit you personally in the long run by earning you more income and qualifying you to teach more advanced courses. Plus, the expanded credit requirements allow for additional classes and study in pedagogy to help you hone in on skills you’re not already familiar with.

How Do I Decide Which Option is Best for Me?

If you have trouble deciding, consider what is more important to you: becoming licensed to teach quickly or gaining additional experience and a more advanced education degree.

Another major factor in helping you determine which program is best is if a school or institution is willing to pay for your classes.

If a school hired you on an emergency certification, that school might be willing to pay for all or part of your teaching certificate or education degree.

Be aware that you may be limited to where you can attend or how many credits you can take if you go this route. But if you can negotiate an arrangement like this at or after hiring, it can be the least expensive way to transition from industry to business education.

Step 4 - Earn Your Teaching CredentialsHow to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (4)

Over the course of your teaching certification or education degree program, you’ll complete a number of procedural steps to become officially certified as a teacher. Some of these steps will incur additional costs that can add up over time, so it’s key to complete them in a manner that’s both timely and thorough.

The steps you need to take will vary from state to state but usually include, at the minimum:

  • Successfully completing your program of study while meeting minimum GPA requirements
  • Sitting for exams on your subject and on general pedagogy, like the Praxis exams.
  • Completing student teaching under a supervisory teacher.

How quickly you can make arrangements for student teaching and how much you need to study for exams will affect when you finish. Once you’ve checked all the boxes, you’ll be able to apply for your permanent teaching license in business education.

Step 5 - Find a PositionHow to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (5)

The last and most crucial step in the process is actually finding a job once you’re certified as a business education teacher.

If you did your research in step one of the process, there’s a good chance you already know the type of school you want to teach in. You may already have job leads or even teach in a program as a long-term substitute.

For other teachers, you’ll have to turn to education websites, teacher-oriented job boards, and word-of-mouth avenues to find opportunities.

If you don’t get the first job you apply to, don’t worry. Business education positions can be quite competitive. However, many schools are consistently looking for new, talented teachers dedicated to improving students' lives.

With enough persistence and the proper credentials, you’ll be able to find teaching opportunities where you can excel and fit in well with your particular skills and abilities.

Take the Next Step Toward Inspiring Students

If you’re looking for a change from your current career as a business professional, the promise of becoming a business educator can be an exciting opportunity for you to pursue.

However, it’s important to realize that to teach in most schools, you’ll need to earn the right degree and a teaching certificate. Still, teaching business education in middle or high school can be a deeply rewarding experience.

But once you become a business teacher, how will you inspire your students in the ways you’re meant to?

If you’re new to the world of education and want to learn more about how to teach business, read this article. You’ll discover seven things every new business education teacher should know so you can be confident in your future classroom.

How to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (6)

How to Become a Teacher with a Business Degree: 5 Steps to Follow (2024)

FAQs

What are the steps of a professional teacher? ›

Licensing in Your State
  • Have a bachelor's degree.
  • Complete an accredited teacher preparation program.
  • Pass a criminal background check.
  • Earn sufficient scores on basic skills and/or subject matter exams, such as the Praxis Core, Praxis Subject Assessments or the Praxis Knowledge for Teaching Test.
Apr 27, 2023

What are 3 steps in becoming a teacher? ›

Here are the general steps (in most states) to get a teaching certification or license: Obtain a relevant bachelor's degree. Complete a district- or state-approved teacher preparation program. Pass required exams in the school district and/or state (like the Praxis).

What are 5 things you need to become a teacher? ›

To earn a preliminary teaching credential a teacher must have:
  • A bachelor's degree.
  • Completed an accredited teacher preparation program.
  • Completed 600 hours of student teaching.
  • Been fingerprinted and passed a background check.
  • Taken required tests or completed university-approved coursework.
Sep 14, 2022

What are the 6 stages of teaching? ›

PTLC comprises six steps—study, select, plan, implement, analyze, and adjust. Following is a description of and the goals for each step.

What is the order of teaching? ›

A teaching order is a Catholic religious institute whose particular charism is education. Many orders and societies sponsor educational programs and institutions, and teaching orders participate in other charitable and spiritual activities; a teaching order is distinguished in that education is a primary mission.

What are the seven steps in teaching? ›

The seven steps are: (1) Reading and/or listening to a story; (2) Defining and visualizing words; (3) Identifying parts of speech; (4) Categorizing words; (5) Completing cloze activities; (6) Producing a skit or creating a visual; and (7) Playing a word game with new words.

How many levels of teaching are there? ›

There are three levels of teaching teach by Teachers. To achieve the desired educational objectives, the teachers have to keep in mind about the developmental stage of the learners.

How long is a bachelors degree? ›

A bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete, but that time can vary — especially if you're earning an online bachelor's degree.

What teacher is most needed? ›

While specific needs vary by institution, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are subjects that are always in high demand. Qualified math teachers should be able to teach in multiple areas, including algebra, calculus, and trigonometry.

How do I know if I want to be a teacher? ›

Do you love sharing knowledge with people and helping them to explore their own curiosities? Are you good at explaining things in a way that makes people feel encouraged to learn more? Does the idea of helping to shape minds excite you? If you answered yes to these questions, you may be a teacher in the making!

What is the quickest program to become a teacher? ›

4 Ways to Become a Teacher in No Time
  • Enroll in a One-year Master's Program. ...
  • Pursue a Single-subject Teaching Degree. ...
  • Obtain a School District Internship. ...
  • Teach at a Private School. ...
  • Complete the Core Curriculum of the Fast-track Certification Program. ...
  • Apply for State Licensure for Teachers. ...
  • Apply for Teaching Jobs.
Mar 25, 2023

What are the 6 phases of a first year teacher? ›

These teachers move through several phases from anticipation, to survival, to disillusionment, to rejuvenation, to reflection; then back to anticipation.

What is 5 step lesson plan? ›

The five stepped system of lesson planning was started by J. Friedrich Herbert, a German psychologist. His five-stage system of lesson planning involves five discrete steps including preparation, presentation, association, generalization, and application.

What are the 5 types of lesson plan? ›

5 Common Types of Lesson Plans
  • Daily Lesson Plan. Teachers prepare this type of lesson plan to cover the learning objective for a specific day. ...
  • Weekly Lesson Plan. ...
  • A Whole Unit Lesson Plan. ...
  • Subject Specific Lesson Plan. ...
  • Grade-Specific Lesson Plan.
May 17, 2022

What are the 5 parts of detailed lesson plan? ›

A DLP includes five parts of thorough explanation on, lesson topic, class objectives, procedure, time management and student practice.

What are 3 important phases of teaching each skill? ›

These stages are a planning process for teaching something new to the learner. The Activating stage involves preparing for new learning (an introductory stage). The Acquiring stage develops new learning (the critical stage). The Applying stage involves deepening the learning (the "keeping learning alive" stage).

What are the basics of teaching? ›

Basic Requirements of Teaching
  • The Teacher. To teach, a teacher is the main source of knowledge to impart it to the students. ...
  • The Learner. After a teacher, learner is the most basic requirement of teaching. ...
  • The Subject. What a teacher teaches and what a student learn is the topic or the subject. ...
  • The Environment. ...
  • Read Also:

What is the first rule of teaching? ›

The First Rule Of Teaching: Do No Harm.

What is the first method of teaching? ›

The most basic teaching method is explanation. Explanation is characterized by its function as "a tool that is used by a speaker for understanding or 'giving a sense' to the object of communication, of a debate, or a discussion ...

What are the 6 key teaching strategies? ›

According to the authors, those six tools are: (1) Reading for Meaning, (2) Compare and Contrast, (3) Inductive Learning, (4) Circle of Knowledge, (5) Write to Learn, and (6) Vocabulary's CODE.

What is the hardest level to teach? ›

Standardized Testing May Cause Grades 3 and Up to Be the Hardest Elementary Grades to Teach. Many educators argue that the hardest elementary grade to teach is one with standardized testing pressures.

What is the lowest level of teacher? ›

Teaching at memory level is considered to be the lowest level of teaching. At this level, the thinking ability does not play any role. students only cram the facts, information, formulas, and laws that are taught to them.

What is the highest level of teaching degree? ›

Doctoral Degrees in Education

Teachers who wish to increase their skills for advanced certification requirements or other professional objectives can complete a Doctorate in Education or Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction to help them achieve leadership roles and earn higher pay.

What degree is 8 years of college? ›

An “eight-year degree” typically refers to a doctorate degree or PhD. Although some doctorates can be completed in as little as three years, these degrees typically require more time studying highly specialized subjects.

What is a 2 year degree called? ›

Different types of associate degrees, such as an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA), are 60 credits and can be completed in 2 years or less, and are a great first step toward earning an entry-level job or promotion.

What degree is 6 years of college? ›

A Bachelor's degree is taking up to 6 years.

What is the easiest teacher to become? ›

10 Easiest Subjects to Teach
  1. Math. Math is a subject that is mainly conceptual. ...
  2. Physical Education. If you're like most people, you probably dreaded having to go to gym class when you were in school. ...
  3. Art. ...
  4. Music. ...
  5. Language Arts. ...
  6. Science. ...
  7. Health. ...
  8. Spelling.

What is the highest paid teacher? ›

The three states that pay teachers the most all offer more than $70,000 a year on average. New York leads the nation in teacher pay with an average salary of $80,286, according to WalletHub.

What grade teacher makes the most money? ›

What grade / level do teachers get paid the most? The highest earners are typically high school level teachers, and the lowest paid are preschool teachers.

What is the best age to be a teacher? ›

According to Teacherpensions.org, about half of new teachers take on a full-time job at 22 or 23 after receiving a bachelor's degree and completing a student teaching program. Twenty percent start teaching in their late 20s, 16 percent begin in their 30s, and nine percent enter the field after 40.

How do you know if you'd make a good teacher? ›

8 common traits of a great teacher
  • Confident. Standing up in front of a classroom full of students to teach concepts that they may or may not have much interest in definitely requires a healthy amount of confidence. ...
  • Innovative. ...
  • Resilient. ...
  • Perceptive. ...
  • Reflective. ...
  • Humble. ...
  • Curious. ...
  • Inclusive.
Jan 2, 2017

Is it harder to be a teacher now? ›

Teaching is a valuable and rewarding profession, but it can also be tiring and exhausting. Teaching is arguably more difficult now than it has ever been for a variety of reasons, including learner behavior, fast-changing technology, and poor compensation.

How long does it take to become a teacher in the States? ›

Prospective teachers must earn, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in order to be eligible for certification. Traditional bachelor's degrees take four years to complete, meaning that at the very least, it takes four years of schooling to become a teacher.

Can I become a teacher at 30? ›

Wherever you are in your journey to becoming a teacher, don't let your age be a factor. Students and schools need all kinds of teachers. Your experience will most likely be an asset: part of what makes your teaching and your classroom uniquely valuable to your school community. In short, it's never too late to teach!

How long does it take for a teacher to become an expert? ›

One theory suggests a five-step process for the development of expertise in any area (Trotter, 1986). These stages are: 1) Novice, 2) Advanced Beginner, 3) Competence, 4) Proficient, and 5) Expert. It generally takes 10 to 15 years to move from novice to expert.

How hard is the first year of teaching? ›

The first year of teaching is the hardest. While being an educator is never without its struggles, the first year is by far the most challenging — pieced together with idealism, confusion, good intentions, excitement, fear, and expectations.

What is career stage 1 beginning teachers? ›

Career Stage 1 or Beginning Teachers have gained the qualifications recognized for entry into the teaching profession. They have a strong understanding of the subjects/areas in which they are trained in terms of content knowledge and pedagogy.

What all first year teachers need to know? ›

10 Things Every New Teacher Should Know
  • Classroom Management Is Key. ...
  • Build a Classroom Community. ...
  • More to Math than Measurements. ...
  • Flexibility is Critical. ...
  • There's No Manual. ...
  • The Common Core Isn't Everything. ...
  • Mentors (and Summers) Are Integral. ...
  • Literacy Affects Everything.

What is the final step of teaching? ›

Re-teaching

It is basically a second chance (and last step) opportunity for both teachers and students, as teachers can refine and target their instruction and students can try again to learn the content, concept, skill or procedure.

What are the 7 domains of professional teachers? ›

These are the seven Domains of PPST: (1) Content Knowledge and Pedagogy; (2) Learning Environment; (3) Diversity of Learners; (4) Curriculum and Planning; (5) Assessment and Reporting; (6) Community Linkages and Professional Engagement; and (7) Personal Growth and Professional Development. 3.

What are the 7 R's of the professional teachers? ›

This article outlines the 7Rs of field education: routine, relationships, ritual, reflection, risk, replenish and rehearse. These 7Rs provide a framework for organisations and for individual field educators when thinking about field education.

What are the 4 areas of teacher professionalism? ›

ABSTRACT Teacher professionalism is an important determinant in the pursuit of educational excellence. This study examines how the four factors: academic qualifications, professional training, teaching experience and professional development, affect teacher professionalism.

What is the 4 domain of teaching? ›

Danielson's Framework for Teaching

Danielson divides the complex activity of teaching into twenty-two components clustered into four domains of teaching responsibility: (1) planning and preparation, (2) the classroom environment, (3) instruction, and (4) professional responsibilities.

What are the three professional frames of the teacher? ›

When making a determination about the follow-up rating, it is necessary to consider the particular professional frame of the teacher's opportunity for growth. As a reminder, evidence falls into one of three different categories: commitment, practice and impact.

What are the three types of teaching domain? ›

The three domains of learning are cognitive, affective, and psychom*otor. There are a variety of methods in professional development events to engage the different learning domains. Effective professional development events, such as webinars, should follow adult learning principles to engage learners.

What are the six 6 outstanding personal qualities of a professional teacher? ›

Some qualities of a good teacher include skills in communication, listening, collaboration, adaptability, empathy and patience. Other characteristics of effective teaching include an engaging classroom presence, value in real-world learning, exchange of best practices and a lifelong love of learning.

What is the 7 E model of teaching? ›

The 7E learning cycle model is a model that can guide students to actively acquire new knowledge with 7E (elicit, engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate, and extend). Teaching materials using 7E learning cycle can help students understand the problems and phenomena they encounter in the environment.

What are the six principles teachers must practice? ›

Six Principles for Teacher Education
  • Knowledge. Effective teachers possess a well-grounded knowledge of the content areas that are central to their teaching. ...
  • Learning Environment. ...
  • Personalized Learning. ...
  • Community. ...
  • Critical Reflection. ...
  • Growth.

What does a new teacher need to know? ›

10 Things Every New Teacher Should Know
  • Classroom Management Is Key. ...
  • Build a Classroom Community. ...
  • More to Math than Measurements. ...
  • Flexibility is Critical. ...
  • There's No Manual. ...
  • The Common Core Isn't Everything. ...
  • Mentors (and Summers) Are Integral. ...
  • Literacy Affects Everything.

What are the 5 characteristics of an effective teacher as a professional? ›

top 5 qualities and characteristics of a good teacher.
  • Patient and approachable. They say that 'patience is a virtue', and this couldn't be more true for teachers. ...
  • Enthusiastic. ...
  • Strong communication skills. ...
  • Strong knowledge and a solid education. ...
  • Disciplined and professional.
Mar 1, 2022

What are 5 characteristics of a professional teacher and describe each? ›

5 Qualities Teachers Should Have
  • Patience and Compassion. It's fair to say that most teachers will have their patience tested more than once during their careers! ...
  • Energy and Enthusiasm. ...
  • Excellent communication skills. ...
  • Excellent subject knowledge and willingness to learn. ...
  • Organisation and discipline.
Jul 1, 2022

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