February 03, 2025
How to Become a Teacher When You Want to Change Careers
A career in teaching empowers you to inspire and impact future generations. Educators also enjoy meaningful and stable work—and with growing demand in areas like STEM and special education, now is a great time to transition into teaching. If you are a professional in another field interested in teaching, you may think, “I want to become a teacher—where do I start?”
The first step is to complete a teacher preparation program. Then, you must pass any required certification exams in the state you wish to work—such as the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE)—and apply for certification.
What Degree Do You Need to be a Teacher?
To work as a teacher, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in education. However, if you are making a career change to teaching and have an undergraduate degree in another field, you have options for fulfilling educational requirements. At Molloy, we offer graduate education programs where you can earn a master’s and qualify for initial New York State certification.
Because many of our students are working professionals, we make meeting your teaching degree requirements easy with online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses offered at convenient times.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Teacher?
If you do not already have an undergraduate degree, you must earn a bachelor’s in education, which typically takes four to five years. However, if you already hold a bachelor’s in another field, you may want to consider earning a master’s in education to complete your educational requirements. The graduate programs offered at Molloy generally take two years to complete.
How to Become a Teacher in New York
New York has some of the most comprehensive teaching degree requirements in the U.S. These include coursework in child development, subject-specific knowledge, and student teaching. You will also need to complete 100 hours of supervised field experiences, 30 of which must be in a school considered high-needs.
Once you have completed the teaching degree requirements, you must pass NYSTCE exams that include general knowledge, teaching skills, and subject-specific assessments. After completing the necessary exams and coursework, you will apply for certification through the New York State Education Department.
The initial teaching certificate is valid for five years, during which you must meet additional professional development requirements.
Are There a Lot of Jobs for Teachers?
New York State consistently needs qualified educators, particularly in high-demand areas like STEM, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and special education. A recent report projects that the state needs 180,000 new teachers over the next decade, and New York’s competitive salaries and benefits make teaching careers appealing.
At Molloy, we have an excellent track record for teaching career placement and will help you find a teaching job. Our faculty are active members of local school districts and serve as valuable mentors. We also work with schools that meet the high-needs designation for New York State certification, and these partners are eager to hire our graduates for classroom positions.
Molloy’s Education Programs
We offer several undergraduate and graduate programs that meet New York teaching degree requirements. We offer traditional bachelor’s degree programs in:
- Adolescent Education (Grades 7-12) with content specialties in biology, earth science, English, mathematics, social studies, or Spanish
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) with content specialties in biology, communications, English, history, mathematics, Spanish, or psychology
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)/Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) with content specialties in biology, communications, English, history, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, Spanish, psychology, or sociology
- Special Education (All Grades) in conjunction with an adolescent or childhood program
- Music Education (PreK-12)
- Visual Arts Education (PreK-12)
Our graduate programs, which are perfect for career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, include specializations in:
- Adolescent Education (Grades 7-12) with specializations in biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies, and Spanish
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)/Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2)
- Educational Technology
- Special Education
- TESOL
Is It Hard to Become a Teacher?
A transition to teaching involves dedication, but with the right resources, it’s achievable. Molloy University’s education programs are designed to support career changers with flexible schedules, online coursework, and mentorship. Learn how we can help you make a career change to teaching.