High School

As an adult education teacher, you will likely focus on a particular study area, so take the high school courses that best suit your interests. You must also follow a college preparatory plan, taking English, math, foreign language, history, and government courses. Speech and communications courses will help you prepare for speaking in front of groups of people. No matter what subject you teach, writing skills are very important because youll be preparing reports, lesson plans, and grading essays.

Postsecondary Training

Before becoming an adult education teacher, youll need to gain some professional experience in your teaching area. A bachelors degree is also usually required. Requirements vary according to the subject and level taught, the organization or institution offering the course, and the state where the instruction takes place. Specific skills, however, are often enough to secure a continuing education teaching position. For example, a person who is well-trained in painting and has some professional success in the area may be able to teach a course on painting even without a college degree or teaching certificate.

Other Education or Training

The Association for Career and Technical Education offers a variety of online and in-person continuing education opportunities.

Certification or Licensing

There is no national certifying board for adult education teachers, but some states require their own teaching certification. However, most community and junior colleges require only a bachelors degree from their teachers. Teachers in vocational education programs may have to be certified in their profession. If teaching English as a second language (ESL), youll probably have to take some required workshops and seminars. Public school career and technical education teachers must have the following general requirements to be licensed or certified:

• bachelors degree
• complete student-teaching program
• pass a general teaching certification test and a test to demonstrate their understanding of the subject they will teach

For certification information, contact local adult education programs and the education department in the state in which you are interested in teaching.

Aspiring teachers should obtain as much teaching experience as possible as volunteers, student-teachers, or in other educational settings.

As a teacher, you should be able to deal with students at different skill levels and from different cultures, including some who might need to learn proper study habits or who do not speak English as their first language. This requires patience, as well as the ability to track the progress of each student. Good communication skills are essential; you must explain things clearly and answer questions completely.