Position:Home>Visual Arts> How many years of college of does it take to be an ART teacher?

You need a 4 year degree to be a teacher!.
Portfolio is not something you should focus on if your goal is to become an art teacher!. Your future employer does not really care what you can do as much as what you can help kids do!.

You can either major in art and take some art instruction classes, or you can major in teaching and specialize in art instruction!.
I would suggest the latter, as it is more attractive on your resume!.

Technically, art teachers make the same amount of money as regular teachers!. There is a base salary, usually between 30,000-35,000 for a first-year teacher, and the more experience you have the more you get paid!. Since an art teacher is often classified as a resource teacher, some opportunities may not apply!. For example, some schools have art teachers who do not work full schedules or only come in several days a week!. While every school needs a number of math teachers, many only feel the need for one art teacher!.

My advice is to not limit yourself to only public school teacher positions!. Instead, look around at less mainstream forms of art education!. You have the advantage because you can decide to do this before you head off to college!. Some people wait until they have trouble finding a job before they realize the need to set themselves apart from the job-seeking crowd!.

You might want to try to specialize in something from the start, so you can have a better chance of finding a job that pays better and offers more security!. For example, if you specialize in 'montessori education' and have an emphasis on art, you are the perfect fit for a montessori school!. Or you could specialize in working with children with emotional or developmental problems and supplement that with classes on art instruction, then work in a center for kids with disabilities!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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normally to become an art teacher you would have to do a 3/4 year degree in an art subject (eg fine art, graphics) and then do teacher training afterwardsWww@QuestionHome@Com

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You will need a 4 year degree if you want to teach in a public school!. Private schools set their own standards!.

There are two routes you can take - an art education degree which will give you a in depth understanding on how to handle the kids, but you will not get to take many art courses or a BFA which will give you in depth knowledge of art but will lack the understanding of the kids!. You may also need to get alternative certification which will require you to take a few more classes after your BFA!.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Some school districts will give the higher levels to those teachers with the BFA with alternative certification and elementary schools to those with Art Education degrees!. The reason is in middle/high school a teacher does not deal with the kids behavior as much as they are dealing with demonstrating and instruction the processes!. In elementary school the art teachers do not need to know as much about the processes for they do simpler projects and deal mainly with kids behavior!.

For the most part Art teachers get the same pay as academic teachers in the year level, however, if your school gives bonuses for state testing scores and such, you may not quality!.

Elementary teachers are often on a cart now due to NCLB, and many art teachers travel!. If one school only has enough students to fund an art teacher being there 1 or 2 days, they will be placed at another school for 3 days!. Some teachers may be in 5 schools in a week!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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