Questions about becoming a teacher?

Question

i would like to become a music teacher. i would like to hopefully get a position as a college professor. i know it takes about six years to get a masters. what about a doctorate degree? i heard that it takes an average of six years after undergraduate studies. thats a long time. how do you get teaching credentials? i'm fairly knew this stuff because i just decided this recently. what is gta (graduate teaching assistant) all about? do you get paid? what about a dual masters degree? how do you get one? i have other interests as well such as healthcare. i just want to know what kinds of things you can do to become a teacher. what specific training do you have to do? when do you have time to teach? sorry, too many questions. i'm just curious. i want to know if it is for me. any teacher/professors out there that can help? i would appreciate answers in detail.

Answer 1

Hi, and yes you have a lot of questions!  Let's see how many I can answer.

I have been a teacher for 10 years, and I teach ESL to adults.  Before that, surprise, I was a practicing attorney for some years.  I tell you this to let you know that you can study more than one field and be more than one thing.

Also, the level of education necessary to become a teacher is very variable depending on what level you want to teach, AND if you want to go into public or private education.  The rules are different.  

If you want to teach adults at an adult school in California, all they required for me was a two year credential, plus a BA, which I already had.

You mentioned all kinds of things about master's degrees, getting paid, dual masters, etc.  i  suggest that you focus your energies on what you want right now, specifically.  Ask yourself what level you want to teach, and where.  Public? Community college?  Undergrads?  Kids?  Figure that out first, then find out what it takes to achieve that level of credentialing.  Different levels have different requirements.  If youwant to be a tenured professor, it will take a whole lot more training and school than if youwant to teach at an adult school.  Of course, the pay is equally different.

However, no one goes into teaching with the notion that they are going to make a bunch of money.  You do it for love of teaching.

Best of luck to you!

Lady Morgana