Key Takeaways
- Your fastest path to certification depends on your starting point, whether you’re a fresh undergrad, career changer, paraprofessional or long-term substitute.
- Common delays, like waiting on transcripts, missing testing windows or misunderstanding student teaching hours, can add months to any timeline if not planned for early.
- A month-by-month roadmap, including backup plans for delayed field placements, helps keep a two-year certification timeline on track.
- Teachers with two or more years of classroom experience are strong candidates for an MEd, and confirming salary lane requirements with HR before enrolling can help them earn more.
Day-to-day life is busy, especially for teachers looking to further their own education. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible — or even unlikely — to earn a degree. There are several courses of action and common questions, which will be reviewed below, including how to get a teaching degree fast.
In addition to industry-specific skills, researchers say that lifelong learning is tied to psychological and social benefits. For teachers, that means more than a strong professional foundation and career advancement opportunities.
In fact, a study from the Pew Research Center found that 87% of survey respondents (people who advanced their education in the most recent calendar year) said they felt more capable and overall more well-rounded as a result of completing courses. Others cited new perspectives, strong personal connections and a drive to get more involved in volunteer work.
Keep reading to learn more about specific processes and options to advance your career with a teaching degree.
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Standard Timeline to Pursue a Teaching Degree
Landing a teaching job requires a degree and certification, collectively earned over a matter of years. Specifications vary by state, but these are the basic requirements:
Bachelor’s degree
Employers typically prefer to hire teachers who have earned a bachelor’s degree in education. But a teaching career is not out of the question if your degree is in another subject area. This degree traditionally takes four years to complete.
State-specific teacher education program
Specific requirements to become a teacher vary by state, district and grade level. However, all U.S. public schools require teachers to pass a licensure exam to become certified to teach. Though candidates with bachelor’s degrees may be eligible to earn their teaching license, some schools still prefer candidates to be working toward their master’s degree or a teaching certificate.
Background check
Every U.S. state has enacted its own laws surrounding whether K-12 educators need to undergo criminal background checks. Schools are able to screen applicants with the assistance of state and federal sources of criminal data, including law enforcement records and the FBI Interstate Identification Index. The latter is an automated system that allows the shared use of arrest and conviction information. More information about background checks can be found here.
General teacher certification or licensure exam
A teaching certificate, alternately called a license or credential depending on location, is needed to become a teacher. Here you can find a state-by-state guide compiled by federal education officials.
Subject test for desired classroom topic
If you plan to teach a specific subject, such as mathematics, history or English, state-specific subject tests may be necessary. Check with your state’s board of education for requirements.
Alternative certifications
Alternative preparation programs are intended for nonteachers to begin a career in the classroom. In 2015-16, approximately 18% of public school teachers entered the field through an alternative route to certification program, according to a national study. These types of programs are offered as state, district or university programs.
Research shows that perception of this option has changed in recent years. In the 1990s, certification programs were strictly considered a way to meet demand for qualified teachers. Now, such programs are designed to recruit mid-career professionals looking to transition to the educational setting, for example, from STEM work.
Programs are all uniquely structured, but here are some options:
- Transition to Teaching, a government-backed program intended to recruit and retain high-quality mid-career professionals, such as paraprofessionals, as teachers in high-need schools.
- Emergency and provisional teaching, granted when classroom roles need to be filled but a candidate has yet to complete their degree or teacher certification. The National Council on Teacher Quality maintains a geographic breakdown of requirements by state.
- In-district training, in which first-hand work experience is gained while formal education is underway.
- Equivalency or portfolio review, allowing people in some states to substitute licensure testing with a portfolio showing teacher preparation efforts.
How to Get a Teaching Degree on an Accelerated Timeline
Not all teachers follow the traditional path to earning a degree. Those already working, or who simply want to begin working sooner, have options such as the following:
- USD’s 100% online master of education degree is designed for K-12 teachers actively working in the field of education and can be completed in just 20 months. Applicants can have varying classroom backgrounds, from public districts to charter schools and independent or non-traditional schools, but should apply with at least two years of experience.
- Certificate programs can prepare teachers to specialize in a certain subject area. USD offers a multitude of programs, covering subjects as specific as international school counseling, effective classroom management solutions, bullying prevention and mental health first response. Review the latest topics being covered here.
- Internships or first-hand experience in a school district is another way to start your teaching career. Use your professional network to find opportunities to volunteer or help out in order to learn more about the needs of a specific school district.
Are You An Educator Considering the M.Ed Path?
Read the top 11 reasons to earn your master of education degree.
Your Fastest Route to Certification: By Background
The truth is, there’s no single fastest path to becoming a teacher. The quickest route depends heavily on where you’re starting from. Here’s a breakdown of four common starting points and what to consider for each.
Recent College Graduate
- Fastest typical route: Complete a bachelor’s degree in education with an embedded teacher preparation program, allowing you to graduate already eligible to sit for licensure exams.
- Biggest risk: Choosing a program that isn’t state-approved for licensure, which can add semesters of coursework after graduation.
- What to verify: Confirm the program is accredited and approved by your state’s board of education before enrolling, not after.
Career Changer With a Bachelor’s
- Fastest typical route: An alternative certification program, which allows candidates with a non-education bachelor’s degree to begin teaching while completing licensure requirements.
- Biggest risk: Underestimating the coursework or classroom hours still required alongside a full teaching workload.
- What to verify: Ask whether the program leads to full licensure or a provisional credential that requires additional steps later.
Paraprofessional
- Fastest typical route: An in-district training or portfolio review pathway, which can credit existing classroom experience toward certification requirements.
- Biggest risk: Assuming classroom experience alone satisfies licensure, when most states still require some coursework or testing.
- What to verify: Check with your district’s HR office and state board of education about which specific requirements your experience can offset.
Long-Term Substitute
- Fastest typical route: Emergency or provisional teaching certification, which allows continued classroom work while completing formal licensure requirements.
- Biggest risk: Provisional certification can come with a time limit, so falling behind on required coursework may affect job security.
- What to verify: Confirm the exact deadline tied to your provisional certification and what coursework or testing must be completed before it expires.
Common Delays and How to Dodge Them
Even with your ideal path mapped out, a few common missteps can add months to your timeline if you’re not careful.
- Waiting on transcripts and recommendations: Many programs require official transcripts and letters of recommendation before they’ll process an application, and these can take weeks to arrive depending on your former school’s turnaround time. Request them as early as possible, ideally before you’ve finalized your program choice.
- Missing testing windows: Licensure exams and subject area tests are often offered on limited schedules, sometimes just a few times per year in a given region. Missing a testing window can delay your certification by months, so check exam dates early and register well in advance.
- Not confirming program acceptance for licensure in your state: A program that isn’t approved by your state’s board of education won’t lead to certification, no matter how quickly you complete it. Confirm state approval before enrolling, not after you’ve already invested time and money.
- Misunderstanding what counts as “student teaching” hours: Requirements for student teaching vary by state and program, and not all classroom experience automatically qualifies. Some states require hours to be completed under a certified mentor teacher within an approved placement, so verify exactly what counts before assuming prior experience will satisfy the requirement.
Your Two-Year Roadmap to Certification
Mapping out a rough month-by-month plan can help you stay ahead of the delays covered above. Here’s a general checklist to adapt based on your specific program and state requirements.
Months 1–3
- Research state licensure requirements and confirm your target program is approved
- Request transcripts showing any prior coursework
- Reach out to former professors or supervisors for letters of recommendation
- Register for any required entrance exams
Months 4–6
- Submit program applications
- Confirm application deadlines for the following term, since many programs only admit at set points in the year
- Begin coursework if accepted, or apply to a backup program if application windows have closed
Months 7–12
- Complete first-year coursework
- Research field placement requirements and deadlines, since many programs require placements to be arranged a semester in advance
- Identify a backup placement site or supervising teacher in case your first option falls through
- Register for subject area licensure exams tied to your teaching focus
Months 13–18
- Begin field placement or student teaching
- Track required hours and documentation as you go, rather than waiting until the end of placement
- If your placement is delayed or falls through, contact your program coordinator immediately to discuss alternative sites or an adjusted timeline
- Complete remaining coursework
Months 19–24
- Finish field placement hours and required documentation
- Take any remaining licensure or subject area exams
- Submit your licensure application to your state’s board of education
- Confirm submission of all required documents, including transcripts, exam scores and placement verification
Already Teaching? Here’s Your Fastest Path to an MEd
If you’re already in the classroom, much of this article may not apply to you; the fastest path forward likely isn’t another certification, but a Master of Education.
- When to start: Most MEd programs, including USD’s, prefer applicants with at least two years of classroom experience, so once you’ve hit that mark, you’re a strong candidate to begin. Waiting longer isn’t necessary unless you’re still building comfort in your current role.
- How to balance workload: Look for programs specifically designed for working teachers, with formats like accelerated 7-week terms or fully online coursework that fit around a full-time teaching schedule. Talk to your school administrator early about your plans, since some schools offer scheduling flexibility or support for staff pursuing an advanced degree.
- How to ask HR for a lane change: Once you’re enrolled or close to completion, ask your district’s HR office directly whether your MEd will qualify you for salary lane advancement, what credit thresholds apply and what documentation, such as transcripts or a completion letter, you’ll need to submit.
Now that you’re familiar with some different ways to get a teaching degree, consider which option works best with your personal circumstances. For more guidance, get the free USD eBook, “Top 11 Reasons To Earn Your Master of Education Degree.”
