How to Become an Elementary School Teacher 2026

Q: What degree do you need to become an elementary school teacher?

The traditional public-school pathway generally requires at least a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved educator preparation program, and a state-issued elementary teaching credential. Alternative and specialized pathways vary by state. CAEP accreditation is common among preparation programs but is not itself a universal state licensure requirement. Candidates should check with their state's educator-licensing agency for approved programs, pathways, and assessments.

Q: What does an elementary school teacher do day to day?

Most elementary teachers lead a self-contained classroom and teach several core subjects to the same group of students. Typical responsibilities include planning and delivering lessons, assessing and grading student work, monitoring academic and developmental progress, managing the classroom, and communicating regularly with parents, colleagues, and school administrators.

Q: Can you become an elementary teacher without an education degree?

In many states, yes. Alternative certification pathways can allow candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree outside education to pursue elementary teacher licensure without earning another undergraduate degree. Eligibility, preparation requirements, whether candidates can teach while completing the program, and the resulting credential vary by state, so candidates should review their state's specific requirements.

Q: Is elementary school teacher a growing career?

Not nationally. Employment projections indicate that the number of elementary school teaching positions is expected to decline slightly, by about 2%, between 2024 and 2034. However, roughly 91,000 openings are expected each year nationally as existing teachers retire, change careers, or otherwise leave their positions, so schools will continue to have substantial replacement hiring needs.

Written by Amanda Castillo, Last Updated: August 18, 2026

Becoming an elementary school teacher through the traditional public-school route typically means a bachelor's degree, an approved teacher preparation program, and meeting your state's licensure assessment requirements, though these vary by state and pathway. Background-check requirements and timing vary too. Confirm current requirements with your state's educator-licensing agency.

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Qualities of an Elementary School Teacher

Elementary teachers plan lessons that work for a full range of learning styles in one classroom, then adjust on the fly when something isn't landing. Patience matters here: material that's obvious to an adult can take several tries to click for a 7-year-old. The job also runs on communication, since a self-contained classroom means you're the main point of contact for a student's whole day, working closely with paraprofessionals, parents, and administrators.

Elementary School Teacher Job Growth

Employment of elementary school teachers is projected to decline slightly, about 2% between 2024 and 2034, according to Projections Central. That doesn't mean the field is short on opportunity, though: with roughly 1.39 million elementary teachers currently employed nationwide, Projections Central still estimates about 91,000 openings each year as teachers retire or leave the classroom. The demand is steady: it comes from turnover, not expansion.

What are the Requirements for Teaching Elementary School?

Education Degree Requirements

The traditional public-school route runs through a bachelor's degree, an approved teacher preparation program, and a state-issued license or certificate specific to elementary education, granted by your state's educator-licensing or credentialing agency. Alternative and specialized pathways exist too, and their structure, eligibility, and required assessments vary by state. Some approved teacher preparation programs carry CAEP accreditation (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation), but CAEP accreditation isn't a universal licensing requirement in any state. Check with your state's educator-licensing agency to see which programs and pathways it recognizes.

Many elementary school teachers earn degrees in Elementary Education, Education, or Child Development.

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What Classes are Required for Elementary School Teachers?

Teacher preparation programs center on pedagogy, classroom management, and a supervised student-teaching placement. Coursework typically covers child development, teaching methodology, and how to adapt curriculum for students at different reading and skill levels.

You can complete a program as part of your undergraduate degree or afterward. Alternative certification pathways are available in many states, but eligibility, structure, and whether candidates can teach while completing preparation all vary by state.

Blended Teacher Certification Programs

Many colleges also offer blended programs that let you earn your bachelor's degree and teaching certification at the same time, rather than completing them one after the other.

Tests to Pass to Become an Elementary School Teacher

Assessment requirements vary by state, credential, and pathway. Some states require an elementary content exam or another licensure assessment before certification is granted, while others accept a qualifying ACT or SAT score, a GPA threshold, or a completed education program instead. Praxis exams are used in some states, but Praxis Core isn't a universal elementary-teacher requirement, and even in states that use Praxis, the specific exam required depends on the state and pathway. Confirm the exact requirement with your state's educator-licensing agency before assuming any one test applies.

Find Information About Becoming a Teacher In Your State

Each state has different requirements for becoming a certified teacher. To find out specific requirements, click on your state.

Elementary School Teacher 2026 by Degree Level

The tables and charts below break down the education level obtained as averaged across the U.S.

Elementary and Middle School Teachers

Degree Level	Percent (%)
Less Than High School Diploma	0.2%
High School Diploma	0.3%
Some College	2.9%
Associate Degree	1.9%
Bachelors Degree	44.3%
Masters Degree	46.5%
Doctorate Degree	3.9%

Data taken from BLS Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation, 2010-11 (http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_111.htm)

Who Will My Students Be?

Elementary students range from kindergartners around age 5 to preteens finishing at 11 or 12, depending on how a district defines the grade band. Some schools run kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade. Others extend through eighth.

What Does an Elementary School Teacher Do?

Most elementary teachers run a self-contained classroom, teaching every subject to the same group of students throughout the day rather than specializing in one. That means constant adaptation: modifying the same lesson plan for a room full of different reading levels and learning styles.

Elementary School Curriculum

Curriculum centers on language arts, math, science, social studies, and often music and art. Individual school districts choose the specific textbooks and guides, built around the state's learning standards for each grade, so what's taught can look different from one district to the next even within the same state.

Elementary School Teacher Jobs & Job Description

Beyond lesson planning, day-to-day responsibilities include:

Teaching foundational reading skills, including phonics, fluency, and comprehension strategies like retelling a story or asking questions about it
Grading assignments and tracking each student's progress against grade-level benchmarks
Communicating with parents about behavior, grades, and any concerns
Managing classroom behavior and building routines that keep a room full of five-to-eleven-year-olds on task
Attending staff meetings and completing the professional development required for license renewal
Collaborating with special education staff, paraprofessionals, and reading specialists on students who need extra support

Where Can Certified Elementary School Teachers Teach?

Elementary school teachers often teach in public elementary schools, private schools or charter schools.

Public Elementary Schools

Public schools are funded by federal and state dollars and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the state board of education, and the local school district, which controls curriculum, funding, and hiring. Public schools must admit any student who lives in their district, so public elementary teachers generally work with students from a wide range of backgrounds. Most districts require you to apply directly to them, rather than to an individual school.

Private Elementary Schools

Private schools charge tuition, receive no federal funding, and are usually governed by a private board or religious organization. Teacher-licensure requirements for private schools vary by state and school type, and many private schools set their own hiring standards regardless of state law. Standards vary by school, so check directly with the one you're interested in.

Charter Elementary Schools

Charter schools don't charge tuition but operate with more independence than public schools, in exchange for stricter accountability. Each runs under its own charter, a contract laying out its mission, curriculum, and performance goals. Charter schools are often smaller and more selective, sometimes with additional requirements for teachers.

Elementary School Teacher Organizations & Associations

NAEYC - National Association for the Education of Young Children: a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for children up to age 8 by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.

AAE - Association of American Educators: the largest national, non-union professional educators' organization, working to advance the profession through modern teacher representation and educational advocacy.

What is the Salary of an Elementary School Teacher?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $63,970 as of May 2025, with national employment of 1,388,390. Teachers in the top 10% of earners made $104,340 or more, according to the same BLS data.

Employment of elementary school teachers is projected to decline slightly, about 2% between 2024 and 2034, according to Projections Central, but the agency still estimates around 91,000 openings each year as teachers retire or leave the classroom.

For a state-by-state breakdown, see our state-by-state salary guide for teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do you need to become an elementary school teacher?

The traditional public-school route requires at least a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved teacher preparation program, and a state-issued elementary teaching license, though alternative and specialized pathways vary by state. CAEP accreditation is common among preparation programs, but it isn't a required credential in any state. Check with your state's educator-licensing agency for which programs, pathways, and exams it accepts.

Do you have to pass a test to become an elementary school teacher?

It depends on the state, credential, and pathway. Some states require passing scores on an elementary content exam or other licensure assessment, while others accept a qualifying ACT or SAT score, a GPA threshold, or a completed education program instead. Confirm the current requirement with your state's educator-licensing agency.

What does an elementary school teacher do day to day?

Most elementary teachers run a self-contained classroom, teaching every core subject to the same group of students. The job includes lesson planning, grading, tracking student progress, and regular communication with parents and administrators, on top of classroom instruction itself.

Can you become an elementary teacher without an education degree?

Alternative pathways are available in many states, but eligibility and whether candidates can begin teaching while completing preparation vary by state. Requirements, program structure, and resulting credentials differ, so check with your state's educator-licensing agency for the specifics.

Is elementary school teacher a growing career?

Not quite: Projections Central expects the number of elementary teaching positions to decline slightly, about 2%, between 2024 and 2034. Openings are still steady, though, with roughly 91,000 positions opening each year nationally as teachers retire or leave the profession.

Traditional route: bachelor's degree plus state license - The traditional public-school pathway runs through a bachelor's degree and a state-issued elementary teaching license, though alternative pathways and specific requirements vary by state.
Your state's licensing agency decides - Not CAEP or any single accrediting body: each state's educator-licensing or credentialing agency (a department of education, commission, or professional standards board, depending on the state) sets which programs and exams count toward licensure.
Alternative routes vary by state - Many states offer an alternative certification pathway, but eligibility and whether you can teach while completing preparation depend on the state.
Median pay is $63,970 - Elementary teachers earned a median annual salary of $63,970 as of May 2025, according to the BLS, with about 91,000 openings projected each year through 2034.

Amanda Castillo

Amanda R. Castillo, M.Ed., is an education writer and former K–12 teacher with more than 12 years of classroom and curriculum experience. She has taught elementary and middle school, supported special education inclusion, and guided aspiring educators through degree programs and state certification pathways. Amanda focuses on practical, accurate information about teaching careers, licensure requirements, and professional development.

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2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.

You've got the requirements now, but the other half of the decision is finding a program that actually works with your schedule and budget. The sponsored programs listed on this page include online and evening options, and several accept applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field.