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What is a certified teacher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Diana Jones
introduction image

A certified teacher is a person who has met the requirements to obtain a teaching license or certificate in their state. They have completed a bachelor's degree program in education and fulfilled student teaching requirements. Certified teachers plan lessons, manage the classroom, assess student learning, and communicate with parents or guardians. A certified teacher is committed to promoting academic success for all students while adhering to ethical standards of conduct.

What general advice would you give to a Certified Teacher?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn Profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

General advice: I would encourage graduates to find a mentor who can guide them in their careers, stay on top of the latest technology, not be too hard on themselves, be flexible, be team players, be present, and care about their students.
ScoreCertified TeacherUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $50,708

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.6

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%

Asian 3.68%

Black or African American 9.97%

Hispanic or Latino 12.80%

Unknown 3.92%

White 69.11%

Gender

female 74.41%

male 25.59%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress Level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Certified Teacher?

Pros

  • Variety of job opportunities and locations

  • Summers off and other holidays

  • Paid planning and preparation time

  • Access to resources and support from colleagues

  • Opportunity to work with diverse student populations

Cons

  • High levels of stress and pressure to meet academic standards and student needs

  • Limited control over curriculum and teaching methods due to state standards and testing requirements

  • Difficulties with classroom management and behavior issues

  • Limited resources and budget constraints for classroom materials and supplies

  • Lack of work-life balance

Certified Teacher career paths

Key steps to become a certified teacher

  1. Explore certified teacher education requirements

    Most common certified teacher degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.5 %

    Master's

    19.7 %

    Associate

    9.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific certified teacher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Math15.37%
    Mathematics15.04%
    Kids13.04%
    Classroom Management9.16%
    CPR5.48%
  3. Research certified teacher duties and responsibilities

    • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
    • Prepare and implement daily lessons for reading, math, writing, science, social studies, and global events/locations.
    • Used PBIS behavior and academic model.
    • Serve on PBIS committee to drive school-wide behavior system.
  4. Prepare your certified teacher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified teacher resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Certified Teacher Resume templates

    Build a professional Certified Teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Certified Teacher resume.
    Certified Teacher Resume
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    Certified Teacher Resume
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    Certified Teacher Resume
    Certified Teacher Resume
    Certified Teacher Resume
    Certified Teacher Resume
  5. Apply for certified teacher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a certified teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Certified Teacher Job

Zippi

Are you a Certified Teacher?

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Average certified teacher salary

The average Certified Teacher salary in the United States is $50,708 per year or $24 per hour. Certified teacher salaries range between $37,000 and $68,000 per year.

Average Certified Teacher Salary
$50,708 Yearly
$24.38 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do certified teachers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Certified Teacher reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance

Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

I would like to work. I do not like not working. I love being around people and still have a lot to offer.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2021
Pros

Making a difference in the lives of students and their families.

Cons

I do not enjoy the copious amounts of ever increasing paperwork.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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