Can you become a teacher without a teaching degree in South Africa? Can I become a teacher without a degree? The term teacher is very broad and many people earn money from teaching who do not have a degree. That said, if you want to teach at any South African school that falls under the Department of Education, then you will need a degree. If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about becoming a teacher. That nagging feeling that you’re not suited for what you just spent four or more years studying? You shouldn’t ignore it. Or maybe you’re contemplating a career change into teaching If you’re looking for a fresh challenge, it’s never too late to switch to a career in education. So, can you become a teacher without a degree in education? Yes. Good news – you don’t have to go back to school and get another bachelor’s degree in education to teach thanks to alternative teacher certificate programs. So let’s unpack this a little more and learn about the alternate pathways to teaching without a degree in education by exploring the following topics: Nope! If you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in any subject you can enroll in an alternative teacher certification program to become a licensed teacher in the states. Virtually every state in the country offers alternate routes known as alternative certificate programs to help prospective teachers (with a bachelor’s degree in any subject). That’s why it’s critical that you carefully research licensure requirements in the state you want to teach in before applying to any sort of teacher preparation program, as different rules will inevitably apply. If you do want to get into education as a long-term career, though, enrolling in an alternative certification program is generally a pretty safe bet. More on that below. As mentioned above, having a non-education degree will not prevent you from becoming a teacher. For example, some private, charter and not-for-profit schools don’t require applicants to have a teaching degree or hold state licensure. If you want to teach in the public school system (either as an elementary or high-school subject teacher), however, you will need a teaching license or teaching credential. Substitute teaching gigs can also be an excellent way for graduates with no teaching background to get some real classroom experience under their belt. Note: Most states set a four-year bachelor’s degree as the minimum education requirement for K-12 teachers. So, while you probably can’t find work as a teacher if you have an associate’s degree, you could still qualify for jobs in education, either as a teaching assistant, preschool or substitute teacher.