Guide
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Teacher?
Bachelor of teaching degrees
A bachelor's in education combines subject study, teaching methods and student teaching. It is not the only path: only 54 credentials require the degree itself to be in education, so a degree in another field plus a preparation program often works.
Master's degrees in teaching
38 credentials require a master's degree. These are usually advanced or professional credentials rather than first licenses.
Do you need a degree to be a teacher?
Some emergency, adjunct and career and technical credentials do not require a bachelor's. Check the requirements grid on each state's page.
Teaching degrees online
Title II and IPEDS data used here do not record whether programs are delivered online, so this site does not rate or list online programs.
Requirements by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands
- Micronesia
- Marshall Islands
Frequently asked questions
What degree do you need to be a teacher?
Usually a bachelor's degree. 493 of 611 credentials in Title II require one.
Do you need a master's degree to be a teacher?
Not for most first credentials. 38 credentials require a master's degree.
Do you need a teaching degree to teach?
Not always. Only 54 credentials require the degree to be in education.