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
- No Education Listed: 4,901 (34%)
- Bachelor's degree: 4,372 (30%)
- High School or GED: 2,655 (19%)
- Master's degree: 2,071 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 338 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of public school teachers. According to job data, no education was required for 34% of positions. In 30% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Public School Teachers
Jobs Postings for Public School Teachers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,194 (53%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,349 (33%)
- 4-6 Years: 446 (11%)
- 7-9 Years: 48 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 79 (2%)
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 53% of job postings for Public School Teachers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 33% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 11% 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 2021 a total of 79,547 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 (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 24,327 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,110 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 24,327 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,110 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,789 |
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation. | 1,762 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs. | 1,625 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,210 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,123 |
| American Sign Language (ASL). | 935 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 526 |
| Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented. | 504 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments. | 409 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. | 362 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances. | 226 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. | 222 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness. | 134 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. | 122 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments. | 3 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries. | 1 |
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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 13,105 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Public School Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 8,080 | 62% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,085 | 24% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,636 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,357 | 10% |
| Classroom Management | 1,253 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Public School Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 5,062 | 39% |
| Teaching | 4,951 | 38% |
| Planning | 2,063 | 16% |
| Writing | 1,977 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 1,863 | 14% |
Based on 13,105 job postings related to public school teachers, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, disabilities, classroom management and reading instruction were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for public school teachers, followed by teaching, planning, writing, mathematics and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 8,080 | 62% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,085 | 24% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,636 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,357 | 10% |
| Classroom Management | 1,253 | 10% |
| Reading Instruction | 1,026 | 8% |
| Curriculum Development | 928 | 7% |
| Behavior Management | 910 | 7% |
| Instructional Strategies | 876 | 7% |
| Toileting | 869 | 7% |
| Working With Children | 864 | 7% |
| Data Collection | 829 | 6% |
| Learning Styles | 674 | 5% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 641 | 5% |
| Child Development | 625 | 5% |
| Office Equipment | 617 | 5% |
| Student Services | 605 | 5% |
| Educational Assessment | 586 | 4% |
| Progress Monitoring | 526 | 4% |
| Intervention Plans | 520 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 5,062 | 39% |
| Teaching | 4,951 | 38% |
| Planning | 2,063 | 16% |
| Writing | 1,977 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 1,863 | 14% |
| Management | 1,469 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,399 | 11% |
| English Language | 1,318 | 10% |
| Research | 1,299 | 10% |
| Leadership | 1,201 | 9% |
| Multilingualism | 1,111 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 976 | 7% |
| Progress Reporting | 970 | 7% |
| Training And Development | 883 | 7% |
| Coaching | 833 | 6% |
| Clerical Works | 800 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 752 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 748 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 742 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 689 | 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?
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