Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge with others? If helping other people is something that you enjoy doing and you want to make an impact on the future of society, you might want to seriously consider pursuing a teaching career. Although the exact process for becoming a teacher may vary slightly from one state to the next and the coursework you need to complete will vary according to who and what you want to teach, following these five basic steps will help you with getting started in a teaching career.

Step #1: Decide Upon the Grade Level You Want to Teach

The first thing you need to decide upon is the grade level you will want to teach, as the college program you need to apply to will be based upon the grade level you wish to teach. Remember, teachers work with students in grades ranging from preschool all the way to adult learners and senior citizens. So, decide where your passion lies so you can work with the age group that you feel the most comfortable with.

Step #2: Determine a Subject

The next step is to determine the subject that you would like to teach. If you are planning to become an elementary teacher, you will likely be called upon to teach all of the core subjects, including math, language arts, social studies and science. You may also be called upon to teach specials, such as physical education, music and art, though these subjects are usually taught by teachers who chose to specialize in one of these areas. If you want to teach at a level beyond elementary, however, you will likely need to select a more specific area of study that you would like to pursue.

Step #3: Enroll in College

Whether you want to be a preschool teacher or a college professor, you will need to earn a degree before you can get started. If you already have a degree, you may be able to participate in a program that will allow you to get into the teaching field without having to go back to school for many years. If you do not have a degree, on the other hand, you will likely need to earn at least an associate’s degree before you can become a preschool teacher. In order to teach at the elementary or secondary levels, however, you will need to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree. To teach at the college level, you generally need to first have a master’s degree and many colleges require their faculty to have doctoral degrees.

Step #4: Complete Your Student Teaching Program

As part of your degree program, you will also need to complete some form of student teaching. Depending upon the state where you live and the degree program you are enrolled in, the student teaching program may last just a few months or it may last an entire school year. Working as a student teacher can be financially difficult, as you have to take over the classroom teaching on a full-time basis and holding down another job at the same time can be challenging and may even be forbidden according to the program’s guidelines.

Step #5: Pass State Licensing Requirements

After you have graduated with your degree, you will then have to successfully pass state licensing tests before you can get your teaching license. Each state has its own testing procedures, so you will need to check with the state where you plan to teach in order to learn more about the testing and other licensing requirements that the state might have. In addition, you should learn more about what you need to do in order to maintain your license, as most states require teachers to continue with their education in some way or another in order to maintain their teaching licenses.