How to become A Business Teacher

• School Master
• School Mistress
• Professor
• Faculty

What do Business Teachers do?

A Business Teacher would typically need to:

• Help their students understand the concepts that influence business success and economic development while developing enterprising attitudes and practical skills for creating and running businesses
• Train their students to solve problems, plan futures, strategize, and transform possibilities into reality
• Teach business-related courses such as accounting, human resources, labor relations, finance, marketing, management, and operations research
• Plan curricula; develop course materials, assignments, and testing material; prepare and deliver lectures; initiate, facilitate, moderate, and encourage student participation
• Compile, administer and grade assignments, papers, and exams; maintain student records of grades and attendance
• Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students with general curriculum and career issues
• Evaluate and revise curricula, course content, course material, and methods of instruction if needed; collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues
• Collaborate with members of the business community to improve existing programs and develop new ones; provide student access to learning opportunities such as internships
• Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities; serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and educational issues
• Participate in campus and community events; perform administrative duties such as serving as department head
• Research in a particular field of knowledge; publish findings in professional journals, books, and electronic media
• Supervise internships and the research work of students; act as advisors to student organizations
• Write grant proposals to procure external research funding; provide professional consulting services to government and industry

Business Teachers typically work with high school students and post-secondary adult students, commonly in career and technical education programs. At the secondary level, Business Teachers are usually considered career and technical education teachers. Secondary school teachers often have a base classroom. However, they may have to carry books and equipment from one class to the next, subject to the space available in each school.

You could do supply teaching where you work in different schools for short periods to cover the absences of permanent teachers. Post-secondary Business Teachers who work for online universities or teach online classes use websites to present lessons and information, assign and accept students' work, and participate in course discussions. Online professors communicate with students by email and by phone and might never meet their students in person.

Professionalism, practicality, and comfort should control a teacher's wardrobe choices. Dress codes can vary considerably by the school, but there are a handful of universal rules. Avoid tight, sheer, or revealing clothing. Stay age-appropriate. Choose shoes for comfort. Layer up. Leave expensive jewelry and accessories at home.

Most Business Teachers at the secondary level work full-time. Some may be employed on a part-time basis, while a very few may opt for self-employment. Teaching usually occurs for 39 weeks a year at the secondary school level, usually from 9 a.m. to 3:30 or 4 p.m. You may spend several more hours outside of these times, planning lessons, marking pupils' work, and participating in activities such as outings, parent evenings, and training.

Post-secondary Business Teachers' schedules are generally flexible. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach classes and have office hours. Classes are usually held during the day, although some are offered in the evenings and weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or family obligations.

Although some post-secondary Business Teachers teach summer courses, many use that time to conduct research, involve themselves in professional development, or travel.

Many post-secondary Business Teachers work part-time at several colleges or universities. 

Schools are the major employers of secondary school Business Teachers. The majority of post-secondary teachers work for brick-n-mortar educational institutions. Others work for online universities or teach online classes.

Business Teachers are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Schools
• Colleges & Universities
• Professional Schools
• Career & Technical Schools
• Business Schools
• Computer Training Facilities
• Management Training Facilities
• Hospitals

Professional associations and organizations are vital for Business Teachers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Unreasonable demands from leadership and unrealistic expectations of consistency; difficult decision whether to stay in or leave the profession, based on factors such as life experiences
• The intense workload of a 5-lesson day and dealing with classroom noise; the pressure to put in overtime hours
• The need to divide time fairly between teaching students, doing research, and publishing findings

Fieldwork is often the cornerstone of a teacher education program, whether the program is a bachelor’s degree in teacher education or a post-baccalaureate credentialing or certification program.

The entire program may require 300 to 500 hours, with a specified percentage of those hours spent in actual classroom instruction. The location of your experiences will vary, although the majority of them will likely be with the grade you are preparing yourself to teach. Most programs require that a candidate spend some time in all classes and also ensure that they gather some experience with special needs children.

Most teachers of business subjects have some work experience in the private or public business sectors. Candidates may earn this experience through internships during school and full-time employment following graduation from a four-year program.

Employers may consider prospective Business Teachers at the college level for tenure-track positions if they have extensive business experience instead of terminal degrees. Professionals following alternative pathways to licensure may need to supplement their education with career experience in the business field to qualify.

A secondary school Business Teacher must typically possess at least a bachelor’s degree with a business major. Ideally, the course should include a state-approved teacher preparation program and subjects like general business management, supply chain management, and accounting with a specialization in economics or marketing.

Future Business Teachers, especially those interested in teaching at a college or university, might also consider advanced study in the business area(s) of interest at the masters or doctoral level.

Whether your location calls it a license, a credential, or a certification, generally, there is a mandatory process that allows you to teach business in the public school system. A regulatory agency provides oversight for the education and qualifications of teachers. It may be a state board of education or a professional standards commission that ensures that those seeking a position of trust and authority with children have the requisite qualifications. The requirements for a teaching license vary by location, but prospective teachers should anticipate taking an exam such as the Praxis Subject Assessments.

Career progression at a secondary school may be through a specialist curriculum or pastoral role or by moving into management. You may become the Head of Department, Head of Year, or Coordinator of a cross-curricular area, such as special needs or career education, as well as Subject or Professional Mentors for trainee teachers on placement. Being promoted to Head Teacher or Head of School is a fond dream of many a secondary school educator.

You could take on additional responsibility as a leading practitioner, sharing excellent classroom practice, knowledge, and expertise with colleagues in your school and other schools in the locality. You would receive additional pay and increased non-contact time for this work.

Moving out of teaching at school to other related jobs is also an option, such as further education lecturing, school inspection, advisory or consultancy roles, initial teacher training, and administration in examination boards. You could also consider a move into education work in museums, art galleries, and zoos.

There are some self-employment opportunities, which include private tutoring, writing educational materials, or running a small private school.

Post-secondary Business Teachers map their career differently. A major goal of a professor in a traditional academic career is obtaining tenure (a guarantee that you cannot be fired without just cause) through doing original research such as experiments, document analysis, and critical reviews, and publishing your findings. Tenure is granted by reviewing the candidate’s research besides their contribution to the institution and teaching. It can take up to seven years of moving up the ranks in tenure-track positions. The ranks are Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor. Some tenured professors advance to administrative positions, such as Dean or President.

Tenured professors have relatively high job security and professional freedom. Tenure also offers the real rewards of academic life: the ability to say, write, and teach what one wishes, with maximum liberty. Job satisfaction is extremely high, and few tenured professors leave the profession; those who leave generally move to lucrative positions in private enterprise or influential positions in government.

Tenure and tenure-track positions are declining as institutions are relying more heavily on part-time professors in an attempt to contain costs. In addition, tenure no longer means complete immunity; post-tenure review is now mandatory at most universities. Those who fall behind on teaching and independent scholarship may not be as secure nowadays. A university’s specific needs for expertise will determine your academic marketability.

Candidates with education, expertise, and experience, as well as a passion and knack for imparting knowledge, will have the best job prospects.

Advances in research in education and evolution in the business world mean that new information is continuously available. Some of what you learned while getting your degree may become outdated over time. However, you can stay current in the area of education and your specialty in several ways.

In many locations, a teaching license or certification has an issue period, and part of the renewal process is completing a specified number of continuing education hours (often 8 to 12 a year). Therefore, Business Teachers must participate in educational opportunities that will allow them to keep abreast of the changes in policy and teaching principles, as well as encourage continued learning in their particular field.

You can also stay current in your field by joining one of the national organizations for teachers that allow Business Teachers to network and advance their professional lives as educators. You can also pursue supplemental certifications or credentials in the area of business education to enhance your abilities.

Additionally, you may find that many school districts and state boards encourage further education in your specialty area. Business Teachers in secondary school may find that they can meet their continuing education requirements and improve their earning potential by taking master’s programs in business, finance, or economics.

A passion for teaching and an interest in business come together in a Business Teacher’s career. Someone who has worked in the business field but may be seeking a change and a way to pass on their learning and experience to others may choose to travel this route.

Who Takes Business Classes?

Business Teachers would tell you that the students who attend their classes are not just those who wish to rise to the top in the corporate world. Their students may range from those aiming for a career in fields as diverse as finance, music, science, or art. What you teach is particularly essential for entrepreneurs to learn, irrespective of the specific nature of their startup business.

Different Strokes

As a secondary school teacher, you prepare your students for the wider world that awaits them, equipping them with tools and strategies to navigate any career they choose. Post-secondary Business Teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic, technical, and career-oriented subjects that go beyond the level of high school. In a continually expanding commercial business environment, Business Teachers train students for diverse international businesses and opportunities. Alongside their teaching responsibilities, Business Teachers also conduct research and publish their findings.

The Business of Balance

However, finding a balance between their various commitments can be tricky, especially for fresh recruits seeking advancement in research universities. Business Teachers in community colleges focus mainly on teaching students and administrative duties.

Do Your Homework

Always research the requirements for teacher education in your location to ensure that you select a qualified education program and follow the correct course to be a licensed, certified, or credentialed Business Teacher.

The most productive day of the workweek is Tuesday.

Educators are liberators. Education is the most powerful tool you can use to change the world, for education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

Find out what "business" means in your location. Plan how to manage your class(es). Design a curriculum. Collect classroom resources. Talk to colleagues, even non-business teachers. Reach out through your professional networks. Line up technical support.