How to Become an Elementary Teacher: 3 Requirements

From education and certification requirements to career prospects, learn what you need to know about how to become an elementary teacher.

What Populations Does an Elementary Teacher Work With?

In the United States, elementary education begins in kindergarten and ends around grade five or six, depending on the school district. An elementary teacher often teaches multiple subjects to one grade level, from reading and writing to math and science.

Some elementary teachers specialize in specific subjects, such as art or music. These specialty endorsement areas sometimes have additional certification requirements beyond the generalized elementary certificate requirements and may vary by school district, state, and institution type (public or private school).

What Does an Elementary Teacher Do?

From creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for diverse students to grading papers, most elementary teachers wear many hats. Here are some of their responsibilities:

• Creating a positive learning environment: Research shows that students thrive in classrooms and schools where they feel connected, engaged, safe, and supported. Building authentic relationships with students and their families, greeting students at the door, and fostering open communication help create spaces conducive to learning.
• Developing curriculum and lessons: When developing lesson plans, public school teachers need to follow local, state, and federal curriculum guidelines, such as Common Core. Private schools may adopt these standards, blend them with their own, or follow their own guidelines.
• Being versatile: Elementary teachers are trained to be adaptable and flexible in their teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of students in their classrooms.
• Administering assessments and feedback: Elementary teachers are responsible for monitoring their students’ progress on state, local, and federal learning standards. This work includes administering a variety of formal and informal assessments, collecting and analyzing student assessment data, and providing meaningful feedback to support student learning throughout the year.
• Culture: Elementary teachers partner with their students to co-create learning environments that foster learning, safety, and belonging. Efforts may include establishing daily routines, creating shared classroom agreements, celebrating student successes, and centering joy and connection with and between students.
• Family communications: When families are more engaged in their children’s schoolwork, students tend to perform better in school and in social settings. Elementary teachers should facilitate regular communications with families and caregivers that are accessible and consistent and work toward building authentic relationships to support students.

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Skills Needed To Become an Elementary Education Teacher

To fulfill their responsibilities, elementary teachers need a variety of skills, including:

• Patience and empathy: In order for students to feel seen, valued, and like they belong, teachers must be patient and empathetic to student perspectives, thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
• Communication skills: Educators need to collaborate with students, their families, support professionals, and other team members (special education teachers, school psychologists, community partners, etc.) to provide well-rounded, holistic programming for each child in their classrooms.
• Flexibility: Elementary teachers need to be flexible and adaptable. The field of education changes rapidly, with changing curriculums and standards. And even students bring new needs and perspectives on different days. Educators need to be able to pivot to meet those varied needs in creative ways.
• Facilitation skills: Elementary teachers are facilitators of learning but also are facilitating skill building for their students in other areas such as time management, organization, and conflict resolution.

Elementary Teacher Requirements

Prospective teachers need to fulfill three primary requirements to teach at the elementary level.

1. Degree and Teaching Certificate

To become an elementary teacher, you’ll need to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree program, typically in education. Certification may be a separate process or may be tied to the completion of the degree program. Some students pursue a graduate degree to broaden their skills and career prospects. Degree and certification requirements vary. Requirements typically include various coursework in child development, creating positive learning environments, and evidence-based teaching strategies.

2. Student Teaching and Field Experience

As part of your credential requirements, you’ll need to complete student teaching in a classroom setting. Student teaching may involve observing and assisting a certified mentor teacher and completing a set number of student-teaching hours.

3. State Licensure

Before starting a teacher certification program in Washington, you must pass the Washington Educator Skills Test — Basic (WEST-B) or an equivalent exam. You must also pass endorsement exams before you begin student teaching. Once you’ve fulfilled your education and credential requirements, you can apply for a teaching license.

4 Steps To Become an Elementary Teacher

Are you ready to pursue teaching? Follow a few key steps to make your teaching dreams a reality:

1. Earn an education degree and teaching certificate: Explore undergraduate and graduate degree programs in education that also provide a pathway to certification.
2. Gain practical experience: Follow your state’s student-teaching or internship requirements to gain practical classroom experience under a mentor’s supervision.
3. Obtain a teaching license: Contact your state’s education board to inquire about application steps, testing requirements, licensing fees, and additional measures such as a background check and fingerprinting. Be prepared to supply official transcripts showing proof of your education from an accredited institution.
4. Apply for elementary teacher jobs: Scan online job boards and school district websites for openings. Apply to jobs with an updated resume and cover letter highlighting your education, experience, and standout qualities.

FAQs About Becoming an Elementary Teacher

What degree do most elementary teachers need?

At least a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field that includes credentialing coursework is required to become an elementary teacher. To make yourself more appealing in a competitive job market, a graduate degree can also be helpful!

Is becoming an elementary school teacher hard?

Earning an elementary teaching credential requires hard work and dedication. But the rewards of teaching make the effort worthwhile for many educators.

What is the fastest way to become an elementary school teacher?

While a traditional bachelor’s degree in education is a popular route for aspiring teachers, certain degree programs offer alternatives. For example, City University of Seattle (CityU) offers a certification program that most students with associate degrees can complete in two years. For students who already have a bachelor’s degree, CityU offers a Masters in Teaching program, which provides robust training in elementary education along with a pathway to certification.

What is the career path for an elementary school teacher?

A certified, licensed elementary teacher can pursue a wide range of roles. Pursue teaching in a traditional classroom to specializing in single subjects, special education (which has additional certification requirements), curriculum design, instructional coaching, and more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an average of over 106,000 job openings per year for these educators through 2033. With its teachers having an average annual salary of $86,804, Washington ranks fourth in the United States for teacher pay.

How long does it take to become an elementary teacher?

Traditional elementary education programs that include a bachelor’s degree and credential program generally take at least four years. At CityU, we offer a flexible program for those with associate degrees that may include online coursework, Saturday classes, and classroom experience. Many students complete their requirements in two years.

What major do you need to be an elementary teacher?

Aspiring teachers typically major in elementary education with a program that includes a credentialing component. However, CityU’s Masters in Teaching program does not require an undergraduate degree in education specifically. Any bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is accepted!

Get Your Degree in Elementary Education at CityU

Your journey to become an elementary teacher might be shorter and simpler than you think. At CityU, our accredited Bachelor’s and/or Master’s in Teaching programs offer more hands-on teaching experience. Get comprehensive foundational training than traditional certification programs, preparing you for any classroom scenario. To learn more and get started, explore our program offerings or join us for a virtual information session.