Being a teacher is a rewarding job. Helping young minds grow and reach their full potential can be intensely satisfying. The key is to find a teaching position that offers a high salary, fair benefits, ample vacation time and opportunities to teach a subject that you’re passionate about. In order to get to that point, however, you’ll want to get certified with a degree from a good university. Fortunately, getting a respected teaching degree online has never been so easy—or cost-effective—and it can offer many incredible career opportunities.
Getting A Teaching Degree Online
There are hundreds of different reputed and well-reviewed colleges offering teaching degrees online. Getting your Bachelor’s degree in Education is made easier by the fact that you have more than enough choices to find exactly what you are looking for.¹ Teaching offers high job security and can also provide a decent salary, so it can turn out to be the ideal decision for an individual who is intelligent, hardworking and looking to help the next generation reach their full potential. From Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina to Regis University in Denver, Colorado, the internet is chock-full of choices when it comes to deciding what online degree to choose in order to become a teacher.
America Needs More Teachers
There is a growing demand for teachers in the US. The median pay for a high school teacher in the United States is $60,320 and the need for high school teachers is projected to rise by 4 percent between 2018 and 2028 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.² This means you should have no issues finding a great job after getting your degree.
There are several factors that are driving this increased demand for teachers. First of all, the number of school age students is expected to grow 2% between fall 2016 and fall 2026. Naturally, this drives up the need for teachers. In addition, the huge Baby Boomer population is now reaching retirement age. This means a large number of teachers are now retiring too, leaving space and shortages in Special Education, Math, English-as-a-Second-Language and the Sciences.³
Education Degree Options
If the length of a four-year bachelor’s degree in Education irks you there are many more options to consider. For example, you could enroll in a lower cost, shortened associate degree program from an online university. These programs let you fast-track a degree in just two years.
Note that getting a teaching certificate is a requirement in many states, but many bachelor’s degree programs will include it as part of the degree. If you decide to get just an associate degree, you can simply take a test once you’ve got the degree to get the certificate.⁴
Going one step further and deciding to complete a master’s degree in education will open even more doors. It will allow you to pursue specialized educational research, curriculum development or educational consultancy work that pays hefty salaries.⁵
Advantages Of An Online Teaching Degree
There are a significant number of advantages to getting your teaching degree online. These include lower costs, the ability to set your own schedule, and the opportunity to complete the degree at your own pace.
If you are currently working at a full or part-time job, an online program can be particularly beneficial. You may find that you are able to both work a job and complete your teaching degree at the same time. This will allow you to transition into a teaching career with much greater ease.
Not having to worry about spending time commuting to campus or finding nearby housing options can save an incredible amount of time too. And don’t worry – most online programs have the same accreditation as on-campus ones, which means you should have no issues achieving the proper qualifications to get a solid teaching job afterwards.
Additionally, studying online won’t lock you in to limited subject and course restrictions. If you don’t like what one college or university offers in terms of their coursework simply choose a different one.⁶ Always make sure that online colleges are real, certified and have good reviews then dive right in. Good luck, and may a bright future of teaching and helping make the world a better place lie ahead of you.
[1] https://thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-bachelors-education/
[2] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm
[3] https://www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors-programs/bs-in-elementary-education/resource/top-five-causes-of-the-growing-demand-for-teachers
[4] https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/degrees/associates-degree/
[5] https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/master-of-education-salary
[6] http://online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2017/06/05/5-benefits-of-studying-online-(vs.-face-to-face-classroom)