How to Become an English Teacher

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

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Featured Program: B.Ed. In English Education (6-12), B.Ed. in Middle Education – English, Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction: English

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Requirements vary by state and pathway, but the traditional route generally includes a bachelor's degree, approved educator preparation, and any assessments required for the credential. Where states differ most is speed and flexibility: some let candidates begin teaching under a mentor while finishing coursework through an alternative pathway, while others expect the degree and preparation program fully complete first. Background-check and fingerprinting requirements and timing also vary by state and employer.

Qualities of an English Teacher

Prospective English teachers need a solid handle on grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and pronunciation, since they're teaching the mechanics of the language as much as the literature. They also need to assess and evaluate student progress accurately and adjust their teaching approach for students who learn differently.

Strong communication skills matter as much as subject knowledge here. English teachers spend as much time talking with parents, colleagues, and administrators as they do with students, and a lot of the job is explaining why a piece of writing works or doesn't.

English Teacher by Degree Level

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

Arts, Communications, and Humanities Teachers (College Professor)

Degree Level	Percent (%)
Less Than High School Diploma	0.2%
High School Diploma	0.1%
Some College	2.6%
Associate Degree	2.3%
Bachelors Degree	16.0%
Masters Degree	35.6%
Doctorate Degree	43.3%

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)

How Do You Become an English Teacher?

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Start with an undergraduate degree, ideally in English, though a degree in Education with an English emphasis works too. Many certified English teachers earn a degree in Secondary Education or Education with an endorsement in English.

Step 2: Complete a Teacher Preparation Program

You'll also need a teacher-training program built for English language arts. This includes coursework in classroom management, instructional strategies, and assessment, plus real student teaching experience in an actual classroom. If your bachelor's degree didn't include a training component, standalone teacher-prep programs are available separately. Teaching postsecondary English generally requires a master's degree, while requirements for specific high school course levels are set by the individual state or district.

Step 3: Meet Your State's Assessment Requirements

Most states require some form of assessment as part of the credentialing process, though the specific tests, structure, and passing scores differ by state and by pathway. Topics that may appear on an English/ELA content assessment include:

• Literature
• Media literacy
• Oral communication
• Reading process skills

Check with your state's educator-licensing agency for the specific assessments your pathway requires, along with proof of your completed degree and preparation program.

Step 4: Consider Alternative Pathways

Many states offer provisional or alternative pathways for candidates who don't yet meet every traditional requirement. Some of these pathways allow candidates to teach while completing coursework or assessments, but eligibility, teacher-of-record status, mentoring, and what's required to finish vary significantly by state and by specific pathway. Contact your state's educator-licensing agency for the specifics where you plan to teach.

Who Will My Students Be?

English teachers work with students from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Your students' age range depends on whether you teach at the middle school, high school, or postsecondary level, though most English teachers land in middle or high school classrooms.

What Does an English Teacher Do?

The day-to-day responsibilities shift quite a bit depending on the grade level you teach.

Depending on the specific class, English teachers might teach creative writing focused on narrative, prose, and poetry, or work with students on essays, argumentative writing, and reporting. Oral and written communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking all fall under an English teacher's job, alongside plenty of remedial grammar and writing instruction. Many English teachers also work with students learning English as a second language, which brings its own kind of variety to the role.

English teachers plan lessons that meet their school's curriculum standards and the needs of the specific students in the room, then deliver those lessons, adjust assignments for individual students, and grade the work that comes back.

English Teacher Jobs & Job Description

Teaching language arts, at any grade level, calls for critical analysis skills, a working knowledge of literary themes as they connect to history and current events, and the ability to teach the mechanics of spoken, written, and heard communication. The scope of the job shifts noticeably between elementary and secondary levels.

Elementary English Teacher

Elementary English teachers focus on foundational learning, introducing students to speaking, reading, listening, and writing before moving into basic literary analysis as students progress. Typical responsibilities include:

• Identifying reasons for listening, such as gaining information, interacting socially, or following directions
• Demonstrating effective listening and evaluating students' listening strategies as their skills progress
• Teaching students to check for understanding by retelling a story or text, and to ask meaningful questions about it
• Helping students discern explicit and implicit information, including non-verbal cues like tone and expression
• Teaching students to distinguish fact from fiction and to communicate information clearly
• Teaching students to identify text and literary features and to read with both fluency and comprehension
• Helping students interpret media texts and explain why different audiences respond differently to the same text
• Helping students produce a variety of texts and demonstrate understanding of complex oral material
• Teaching students to develop and support their interpretation of a text's function and ideas with evidence
• Teaching students how to analyze oral and written texts for how effectively they communicate ideas
• Helping students identify presentation strategies and tailor their speaking to purpose and audience
• Teaching appropriate word choice and terminology, and how to use visual aids effectively
• Teaching drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading, along with correcting language convention errors
• Helping students identify a text's topic, purpose, and audience, and generate and select ideas for their own writing
• Helping students organize main ideas and supporting details cohesively, choose vivid language, vary sentence structure, and spell unfamiliar words

High School / Secondary English Teacher

Secondary English teachers refine students' developing literary analysis and expression, directing them toward a deeper study of literature, writing, and media. Typical responsibilities include:

• Helping students identify the purpose of different oral texts and develop active listening strategies for in and out of the classroom
• Teaching comprehension strategies for use before, during, and after hearing an oral text
• Helping students identify key information and supporting points, and connect texts to the broader world
• Helping students identify perspectives and biases in texts, and evaluate texts using evidence and their own reasoning
• Refining students' oral speaking skills and non-verbal delivery for a given purpose and audience
• Teaching students to decode unfamiliar words and expand their vocabulary in context
• Leading students to describe the contributions of poets and authors, and explore creative and technical careers centered on English
• Setting academic goals for students and communicating proactively with students and parents about grading and progress
• Supporting the school's culture through extracurricular and co-curricular activities where applicable
• Undergoing planned and ad hoc professional development
• Collaborating with students and their parents to achieve the best outcomes

Where Can Certified English Teachers Teach?

English teachers typically work in public, private, or charter middle and high schools.

Public Schools

Public schools are free and, by law, must admit any student living in the district as long as enrollment allows, which usually means a diverse student population. Public school teachers follow the curriculum set by their local district and administer state standardized tests, and those results can affect the school's government funding. Apply directly to the district where you want to teach.

Private Schools

Private schools don't receive federal funding and charge tuition, and they generally set their own curriculum and hiring standards through their own boards or organizations. Teacher credential requirements for private schools vary by state and by school - some states impose licensing requirements on private schools while others leave it to the school. Some private schools also have religious affiliations that shape curriculum and hiring. Check with the specific school and your state's educator-licensing agency for the requirements that apply.

Charter Schools

Charter schools charge no tuition and run more independently than public schools, with more operational flexibility in exchange for higher accountability for performance. Each charter school operates under its own charter, a contract that spells out the school's mission, curriculum, and assessment methods. Charter schools tend to run smaller and more selective, and may set additional requirements for their English teachers.

English Teacher Organizations & Associations

NCTE - National Council of Teachers of English: supports teachers and students in classrooms, on college campuses, and in online learning environments to improve the teaching of English and language arts at every level.

TESOL International Association: a membership organization dedicated to advancing excellence in English language teaching.

English Teacher Salary and Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $63,970 as of May 2025, middle school teachers earned $64,370, and secondary (high school) teachers earned $72,040.

Employment for classroom teachers at every level covered here is projected to decline slightly between 2024 and 2034, according to Projections Central, not grow. That's not as discouraging as it sounds: turnover and retirements still open a lot of positions. Elementary schools are projected to have about 91,000 openings a year, middle schools about 40,500, and high schools about 66,200, even as total employment edges down.

Want the full picture on how teacher pay works? Read our guide on what to expect from a teacher's salary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do you need to become an English teacher?

A bachelor's degree is the minimum for most K-12 pathways, ideally in English or in Education with an English emphasis, plus a state-approved teacher preparation program. A master's degree is generally required to teach at the postsecondary level, while requirements for specific K-12 course levels vary by state and district.

How long does it take to become an English teacher?

Most people finish in four to five years: roughly four years for the bachelor's degree, plus the teacher preparation program, which can run concurrently with your degree or be completed separately afterward. Alternative certification routes, where available, can shorten the time to your first classroom.

Can you become an English teacher with a different degree?

It depends on the state and pathway. Many states offer alternative or provisional pathways for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree in another field, and some of these let candidates begin teaching while completing coursework or assessments. Eligibility and requirements vary by state, so check with your state's educator-licensing agency for what's available where you plan to teach.

What tests do you need to pass to become an English teacher?

Most states require some form of assessment as part of the credentialing process, though the specific tests, structure, and passing scores vary by state and pathway. English/ELA content assessments may cover topics like literature, media literacy, oral communication, and reading process skills. Check with your state's educator-licensing agency for the exact requirements.

What is the job outlook for English teachers?

Employment for classroom teachers is projected to decline slightly through 2034, but turnover still creates tens of thousands of openings a year across elementary, middle, and high schools, according to Projections Central.

• Requirements vary by state and pathway - the traditional route generally includes a bachelor's degree, approved educator preparation, and any assessments required for the credential.
• Master's degree for postsecondary - teaching English at the postsecondary level generally requires a master's degree, while K-12 course-level requirements are set by the state or district.
• Alternative pathways vary widely - many states offer alternative or provisional pathways, but eligibility and what's required to finish differ by state, so check with your state's educator-licensing agency.
• Background checks vary by state and employer - fingerprinting and background-check requirements and timing may be part of state credentialing, district employment, or both.

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.

Featured Programs:

Sponsored School(s)

Liberty University

Featured Program: B.Ed. In English Education (6-12), B.Ed. in Middle Education – English, Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction: English

Request Info