Advice for how to best switch careers to teaching

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Advice for how to best switch careers to teaching

by lifechanger

Apr 26, 2011

Hi everyone. I relocated to Northern VA last year and would like to change careers and become a teacher with high school or middle school kids. I have been looking at the various options to get training to do this and remain more confused than ever about what the best path would be and am hoping I can get good advice. I would like to teach either history or English, which seem to be the toughest areas in which to find jobs. Ideally I would get certified in both (but would consider ESL teaching if I could not get a job in these other areas). I want to find an educational path through which I am very likely to find a job in the DC area after completing the program. By far, the easiest route to certification looks like the career switcher programs at NOVA or Shenendoah. Neither program requires a previous major or equivalent in the subject (I have a major in Humanities, with a lot of history, not a lot of English, minimal to little geography/economics/gov -but a great ability with standar...See MoreHi everyone. I relocated to Northern VA last year and would like to change careers and become a teacher with high school or middle school kids. I have been looking at the various options to get training to do this and remain more confused than ever about what the best path would be and am hoping I can get good advice. I would like to teach either history or English, which seem to be the toughest areas in which to find jobs. Ideally I would get certified in both (but would consider ESL teaching if I could not get a job in these other areas). I want to find an educational path through which I am very likely to find a job in the DC area after completing the program. By far, the easiest route to certification looks like the career switcher programs at NOVA or Shenendoah. Neither program requires a previous major or equivalent in the subject (I have a major in Humanities, with a lot of history, not a lot of English, minimal to little geography/economics/gov -but a great ability with standardized tests.I am confident about my ability to pass the Praxis II exams). However, I am concerned that these programs would not lead me to actual employment. The other possible training options would all require significantly more time and money, plus the completion of a large amount of prerequisite coursework, which varies to some degree depending on whether I plan to stay in Virginia or go to DC or Maryland. I would be willing to do all of this additional training if I would be much more likely to get a good job and/or if the training would be much better at preparing me. I am a little nervous about the idea of going into a classroom without adequate mentoring, despite having taught a bit at the university level. I should also note that I already have a masters (almost a PhD) in psych, so believe that earning another masters degree would not necessarily help me in terms of raising my salary. With all this in mind, what is your opinion about what I should do? I would really appreciate your input.

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Other Options What kinds of work have you been doing most recently with your previous education? Have you considered registering with school divisions as a substitute teacher to see if even the setting of middle or high school would be what you really want? You seem a little all over the board (psychology to history to English or ESL) and perhaps would benefit f...See MoreWhat kinds of work have you been doing most recently with your previous education? Have you considered registering with school divisions as a substitute teacher to see if even the setting of middle or high school would be what you really want? You seem a little all over the board (psychology to history to English or ESL) and perhaps would benefit from some career counseling which might be available in NOVA for folks just like you. As you say, why get further education in a field where there are likely few jobs to be had. Also if you do not need to be working even part-time right away, have you considered seeing if you could find a job or a career pathway to build upon your advanced education in psychology?

On 4/26/11, lifechanger wrote: > Hi everyone. I relocated to Northern VA last year and would > like to change careers and become a teacher with high school > or middle school kids. I have been looking at the various > options to get training to do this and remain more confused > than ever about what the best path would be and am hoping I > can get good advice. I would like to teach either history or > English, which seem to be the toughest areas in which to > find jobs. Ideally I would get certified in both (but would > consider ESL teaching if I could not get a job in these > other areas). I want to find an educational path through > which I am very likely to find a job in the DC area after > completing the program. By far, the easiest route to > certification looks like the career switcher programs at > NOVA or Shenendoah. Neither program requires a previous > major or equivalent in the subject (I have a major in > Humanities, with a lot of history, not a lot of English, > minimal to little geography/economics/gov -but a great > ability with standardized tests.I am confident about my > ability to pass the Praxis II exams). However, I am > concerned that these programs would not lead me to actual > employment. The other possible training options would all > require significantly more time and money, plus the > completion of a large amount of prerequisite coursework, > which varies to some degree depending on whether I plan to > stay in Virginia or go to DC or Maryland. I would be willing > to do all of this additional training if I would be much > more likely to get a good job and/or if the training would > be much better at preparing me. I am a little nervous about > the idea of going into a classroom without adequate > mentoring, despite having taught a bit at the university > level. I should also note that I already have a masters > (almost a PhD) in psych, so believe that earning another > masters degree would not necessarily help me in terms of > raising my salary. With all this in mind, what is your > opinion about what I should do? I would really appreciate > your input.

Apr 27, 2011

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