Teaching, with it's flexible hours and the potential to take summers off, has long been a favorite option for midlife career changers and lifestyle enthusiasts.
Fortunately, the occupational outlook for teachers is looking strong for the foreseeable future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "employment of school teachers is expected to grow by 12 percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. However, because of the size of the occupations in this group, this growth will create 479,000 additional teaching positions, more than all but a few occupations."
The demand for teachers will be particularly robust for teachers in the maths and sciences, as well as those with expertise in bilingual and special education.
Attaining a teaching degree is more feasible than ever, with nearly all 50 states offering some form of alternative teaching certification. These programs are intended to attract people into teaching who have a bachelor's degree in the subject they will teach, or significant work experience, but who lack the needed education courses needed for licensing.
If you've been thinking about trading in your corporate paycheck for the opportunity to influence our next generation of leaders, these resources can help you launch your teaching career:
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Overview of Teaching Careers
National Center for Alternative Certification
Chronicle of Higher Education Career Network (college and university positions
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