How To Become An Art Teacher? (Requirements & Career Info)
Art is about creating a beautiful visual from an ounce of imagination, and an art teacher is an educator who teaches you to do so.
Art is not only a form of expression but also inculcates an innovative mindset, soothes the soul, and uplifts creativity. An art teacher is an instructor who may teach students all forms of art, including drawing, painting, sculpting, ceramics, photography, etc. and is also responsible for provoking students’ creative interests.
Many art enthusiasts who are passionate about their work seek a career in this respective field. This article elaborates on the prerequisites of becoming an art teacher.
How To Become An Art Teacher?
To become an art teacher, you must appear in a state-approved exam. The first and foremost step is to consider if your state’s education department approves your chosen program.
Every state offers different testing programs, such as Art K-12 (001) for Florida, EC-12 (178) for Texas, PK-12 for Pennsylvania, etc., or NES (National Evaluation Series) for various other states.
There are a number of undergraduate programs devised to lead to an initial teaching license with a major in arts. Inquisitive candidates must choose a path according to their interests. We have assembled a guide to assist you in understanding the procedure.
- Complete Bachelor in arts degree
- Choose a state-approved program
- Earn an internship
- Internship according to the grade level you will teach
- Apply for teaching credentials
- Pass the required state exam
- Apply for art teacher positions at different institutions
Art Teacher Job Description
Art teacher needs to be creative to be able to attract students to the subject, teach them to develop an aesthetic sense, and give proper instruction regarding art.
They are responsible for preparing lectures, sourcing craftwork supplies, and ensuring the students are engaged adequately. Moreover, the educator should be supportive, attentive, and responsive toward the learners.
Art Teacher Requirements
A person eligible to apply for an art teacher position needs a minimum bachelor’s degree in fine arts and should be trained for a teaching job with a state-approved certification.
A prior experience in the field is considered a central plus point, with excellence in art techniques. Moreover, some personal traits of the employee are essential too like:
- Problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills
- Supportive personality
- Group work supervision expert
- Creative mind
Art Teacher Requirements By State
Art Teacher Salary & Career Scope
Art is an evolving field that is becoming highly in demand every day. Art educators are required in every school for every grade beginning from middle school to high school. The employment opportunities and pay are fair in this field. The salaries depend on the grade level you are teaching.
How Hard Is It To Get a Job as an Art Educator?
It’s not very hard nor too easy to get an art teacher job because of the high competition. It would be a plus point if you’re well-experienced and creative enough to fulfill all the requirements for the position. Your chosen art degree should be approved and certified by the state’s education system as well.
What Is Being An Art Teacher Like?
It’s a rewarding yet demanding position like any other subject teacher. Teachers are mostly caught up in paperwork, office meetings, new regulations, parents’ meetings, etc. Being an art teacher is fun if you are an art lover passionate about evolving your creativity and teaching craftwork.
The profession enables you to impact learners and make them confident in their skills positively. On the contrary, it would be hectic if you were not given enough supplies or if you had to deal with students having behavioral issues. But that’s just a normal part of being a teacher.
Is An Art Education Degree Worth It?
Yes, it’s a good career option for passionate art lovers. The degree allows the students to enhance all their creative skills and engage in craftwork daily, improving their mental health and problem-solving skills. Arts give pleasure and soothe the soul of the artist innovatively. It allows you to forge a professional artistic career with like-minded people.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Becoming An Art Teacher
Like every other profession, there are numerous ups and downs to being an art teacher too.
Advantages of Becoming An Art Teacher
- The salaries are higher compared to various other fields
- Teaching art is a growing field
- The demand for art teachers rises daily as it is a must subject in every grade
- The work is fun rather than stressing like another subject teacher
- It includes easy practical work rather than challenging theories
- You get to influence the children positively
- Learning new creative skills daily
- Helping students with their stress
- Teaching your class to be more confident
Disadvantages of Becoming An Art Teacher
- High competition
- It creates a lot of mess
- Art-focused degree requirement
- Working outside school for long hours
- Organizing supplies every day
Here are some questions we’ve addressed to help you better understand the topic. But before that, let’s take a look at some reasons to be an art teacher.
Is it necessary to be a good artist to be an art teacher?
Yes, being good at the subject you are teaching is an essential factor because if you are experienced at it, you inspire the students to learn from you. Having enough proficiency in arts and crafts enables you to lead appropriately.
How to get a high school art teacher job?
To become an art teacher at a high school, it is necessary to have a minimum bachelor’s degree in arts and be certified by the state. Prior experience in the field is a plus point to applying for the position.
Is it possible to teach art without a degree?
It is only a possibility for professional artists to apply for art teaching positions. A state license and a relative degree are essential to understand everything about art and teaching it. However, short certificate programs might prevent you from returning to school for an art degree and applying for a teaching job.
Is art teaching a stressful job?
It is not entirely stressful. However, it might get hectic to deal with different types of students daily, controlling them, stocking art supplies, cleaning the mess, etc. On the contrary, it is fun to be surrounded by innovative minds and creativity.
What can you do with a master’s in arts?
There are various career opportunities for art students, such as teaching at different levels (elementary, secondary, high school), principal jobs, career counselors, artists, painters, photographers, art galleries, etc.