Public School Teachers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of public school teachers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for public school teachers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of public school teachers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for public school teachers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Public School Teachers?
Do public school teachers need a degree? What kind of experience do public school teachers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for public school teachers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Public School Teachers
Jobs Postings for Public School Teachers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 1,580 (44%)
- No Education Listed: 1,302 (36%)
- Master's degree: 540 (15%)
- High School or GED: 116 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 33 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of public school teachers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 36% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Public School Teachers
Jobs Postings for Public School Teachers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 339 (51%)
- 2-3 Years: 258 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 32 (5%)
- 7-9 Years: 4 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 38 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for public school teachers. In 51% of job postings for Public School Teachers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 38% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 6% of job postings for public school teachers.
What Kind of Degree Do Public School Teachers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for public school teachers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective public school teachers, and in 2023 a total of 75,335 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective public school teachers.
Top Degree Programs for Public School Teachers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Public School Teachers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,547 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,547 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs. | 1,748 |
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation. | 1,399 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,354 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,237 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,118 |
| American Sign Language (ASL). | 928 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 535 |
| Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented. | 481 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. | 348 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments. | 244 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness. | 193 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances. | 139 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. | 114 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. | 80 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries. | 57 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments. | 4 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Public School Teachers
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Public School Teachers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by public school teachers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for public school teachers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Public School Teachers
Based on 3,095 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Public School Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 2,893 | 93% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 1,459 | 47% |
| Lesson Planning | 551 | 18% |
| Disabilities | 528 | 17% |
| Classroom Management | 474 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Public School Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 1,607 | 52% |
| Communication | 1,342 | 43% |
| Planning | 484 | 16% |
| Writing | 459 | 15% |
| Progress Reporting | 440 | 14% |
Based on 3,095 job postings related to public school teachers, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 93% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, disabilities, classroom management and curriculum development were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for public school teachers, followed by communication, planning, writing, progress reporting and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 2,893 | 93% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 1,459 | 47% |
| Lesson Planning | 551 | 18% |
| Disabilities | 528 | 17% |
| Classroom Management | 474 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 468 | 15% |
| Learning Styles | 432 | 14% |
| Instructional Strategies | 361 | 12% |
| Effective Communication | 332 | 11% |
| Educational Assessment | 320 | 10% |
| Behavior Management | 286 | 9% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 284 | 9% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 245 | 8% |
| Learning Strategies | 238 | 8% |
| Student Services | 212 | 7% |
| Data Collection | 199 | 6% |
| Personal Care | 191 | 6% |
| Philosophy Of Education | 180 | 6% |
| Student Engagement | 180 | 6% |
| Pedagogy | 176 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 1,607 | 52% |
| Communication | 1,342 | 43% |
| Planning | 484 | 16% |
| Writing | 459 | 15% |
| Progress Reporting | 440 | 14% |
| Management | 427 | 14% |
| English Language | 325 | 11% |
| Training And Development | 300 | 10% |
| Mathematics | 296 | 10% |
| Research | 284 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 280 | 9% |
| Lifting Ability | 261 | 8% |
| Multilingualism | 258 | 8% |
| Leadership | 230 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 218 | 7% |
| Parent Communication | 200 | 6% |
| Goal Setting | 194 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 178 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 165 | 5% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 162 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about public school teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for public school teachers.
What do public school teachers do?
How much do public school teachers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.