To become a teacher in a US public school, you need at least a bachelor's degree, a completed student-teaching program, a background check, and passes on your state's general teaching test and a subject test. Then your state issues a teaching license or certification for the grade level you'll teach. Every state also offers an alternative route for people who already hold a degree.
That alternative route is the bit career changers often don't hear about, and it can get you into a classroom much sooner. Private schools are different again: they don't have to follow state licensing rules.
This guide uses the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for high school teachers, read on 26 October 2026. If you're in England, see our separate guide to the QTS route instead.
US teaching at a glance
| Measure | BLS figure (high school teachers) |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $72,040 a year |
| Lowest 10 in every 100 earned less than | $48,780 |
| Highest 10 in every 100 earned more than | $107,600 |
| Jobs in 2025 | About 1.1 million |
| Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Little or no change |
| Openings each year | About 63,500 on average |
Pay figures are as of October 2026. Flat growth sounds discouraging, but 63,500 openings a year means schools are still hiring constantly, mostly to replace teachers who retire or move on.
The traditional route into the classroom
- Earn a bachelor's degree. All states require one for public high school teachers, and many want you to major in the subject you'll teach, such as mathematics or science.
- Complete a teacher education program with student teaching, where you work alongside a mentor teacher in a real classroom.
- Pass a background check.
- Pass your state's tests: a general teaching certification test and a test in your subject.
- Apply for your license or certification. High school teachers typically get a secondary certification covering grades 7 to 12.
- Keep it current with professional development, and check whether your state wants a master's degree after you start teaching.
The alternative route for career changers
Here's the insight most people miss. BLS says all states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already have a bachelor's degree but lack the education courses. Some of these programs let you begin teaching straight away, under the supervision of an experienced teacher, and award full certification once you finish. Others ask you to take education classes before you start.
So if you've got a degree in chemistry, accounting or English and you're thinking about teaching, you probably don't need a second degree. Look up your state's alternative certification program first.
Public vs private schools
| Public schools | Private schools | |
|---|---|---|
| License required | Yes, for the specific grade level | Typically not |
| Degree | At least a bachelor's | Usually a bachelor's with a subject major |
| Median pay, high school teachers (May 2025) | $74,190 (local public schools) | $61,810 |
Those medians are as of October 2026. Local public schools employ 81% of high school teachers, so that's where most jobs are, and where the pay was higher at the median.
Some states want a master's later
This catches new teachers out. BLS says some states require high school teachers to earn a master's degree after they've got their certification and a job. It's not an entry requirement, but it's a commitment you'll need to plan for in your first years. Check your state's rules before you sign a contract, so the extra study doesn't come as a shock.
What the job is really like
Teachers work school hours with students, but BLS notes they often spend evenings and weekends grading papers and planning lessons, and they meet parents and colleagues before and after school. Many work a 10-month year with a 2-month summer break. Districts on a year-round schedule typically run 9 weeks on, then 3 weeks off.
Teaching can be stressful, with large classes and limited resources in some schools. On the plus side, most states have tenure laws, which give job security after a set number of years of satisfactory teaching.
How long it takes
On the traditional route, the bachelor's degree with student teaching is the long part, usually around four years, followed by the state tests and the license application. On an alternative route, the timeline depends on your state's program: some let you start teaching under supervision almost immediately, while others want education classes first. Either way, build in time for the background check and test dates, which can add weeks.
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Getting hired
Your application and interview matter as much as your license. Our guide to answering teacher interview questions walks through the common ones, and this piece on teacher resumes hiring panels shortlist shows how to stand out on paper. Once you're in post, these AI tools for teachers can take some of the evening grading off your plate.
Moving up later
Experienced teachers can become mentors or lead teachers. With more education, some become school counselors, librarians or instructional coordinators, and others move into assistant principal or principal roles, which usually need extra training in education leadership.
My verdict
If you're starting from scratch, the classic route is a bachelor's degree with student teaching and your state's tests. If you already have a degree, go straight to your state's alternative certification program, because it can put you in a classroom far sooner. Either way, check whether your state will expect a master's later, and remember that private schools play by different rules, with lower pay at the median.
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to become a teacher in the US?
For public schools: at least a bachelor's degree, a student-teaching program, a background check, and passes on your state's general teaching test and subject test, then a state license or certification.
Can I become a teacher if I already have a degree?
Yes. BLS says all states offer an alternative route to certification for people with a bachelor's degree who lack the education courses.
Do private school teachers need a license?
Typically not. BLS says teachers in private schools typically aren't required to be licensed, though schools usually want a bachelor's degree.
How much do high school teachers make?
BLS reports a median of $72,040 a year in May 2025, as of October 2026.
What grades does a secondary certification cover?
High school teachers typically receive a secondary certification that lets them teach grades 7 through 12.
Do teachers need a master's degree?
Not to start. But some states require high school teachers to earn a master's after they're certified and working.
