A career change to teaching is an attractive option for professionals who feel uninspired by their original career choice. One reason is that teaching is a gratifying profession making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Many who start in non-teaching careers often feel the pull toward education after getting a taste of teaching in mentorship programs or through volunteer work. Others may have initially considered teaching initially but chose another career path. But with teaching, it’s never too late. And there’s no better place to make the transition than Massachusetts, which has a long history of supporting education.

The desire to teach touches people in every profession. They may come from finance, science, business, journalism, healthcare, or tech. A career change to teaching may seem intimidating, but online graduate programs make the transition smoother and much more convenient than in the past.

Why Become a Teacher?

According to businessman-turned-teacher Allen Edgar Rogers, there is always a need for well-rounded professionals with real-world experience to enter the teaching profession. While it may not seem like the most common career road to travel, Rogers, a business school graduate with years of experience, wrote that “while my career has taken many turns, being a teacher remains my most fulfilling role.”

That feeling of fulfillment leads many into the teaching profession. Most also have the natural skills to work with children and teenagers, including empathy, patience, and kindness.

Professionals who make a career change to teaching also enter a profession that plays a critical role in the lives of students, parents, and the greater community. According to global research firm Ipsos, teachers are often regarded as one of the most trustworthy groups of people in the world.

The company’s “Global Trustworthy Index 2021” found that people rank teachers as the third most trustworthy group. They rank behind only doctors and scientists and ahead of judges, lawyers, TV news anchors, government employees, bankers, and “ordinary men and women.”

Tips for a Career Change to Teaching

In writing about his transition from business to teaching, Rogers offered tips to help smooth the path for a mid-career professional who wants to become a classroom teacher.

  • Earn all the proper state certifications for teaching.
  • Understand all the transferable skills acquired from professional experience that give a teacher confidence and lead to success in the classroom.
  • Earn a master’s degree and increase the chances of doing a quality job, career advancement, and earning the trust and credibility of peers and students.

Rogers also pointed out that teaching allows professionals to continuously learn and grow throughout their careers, something not all occupations offer. He wrote that while it “might sound cliche,” teachers also make a daily positive impact, allowing them “to do something good for a student who needs that positivity every single day.”

The Benefits of Earning Massachusetts Teacher Licensure

Massachusetts ranks as one of the best states in the country for teachers. State leaders have demonstrated a solid commitment to education through the years. While the qualifications to become a teacher in Massachusetts are rigorous, they also prepare new teachers to work at a high level in the classroom.

Teacher salaries in Massachusetts reflect the state’s commitment to education. For example, high school teachers in Massachusetts earned an average annual salary of $85,360 in May 2021, behind only New York and California. The Boston-Cambridge-Nashua metropolitan area ranks in the Top 10 in the country for teacher pay ($86,600).

Merrimack College’s Master of Education Programs

For those making a career change to teaching, Merrimack College offers online Master of Education programs that prepare them with the skills and knowledge they need to lead in the classroom successfully.

The 36-credit M.Ed. in Elementary Education prepares graduates for their Initial License to work in grades 1-6. The 36-credit Master M.Ed. in Middle School (5-8) and High School (8-12) prepares graduates for their Initial License to work in secondary education.

Both programs feature a future-focused curriculum that allows professionals to develop expertise in curriculum design, instructional strategies, observation and assessment, communication, subject matter knowledge, and collaboration with families and communities.

Both programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and align with Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers and Subject Matter Knowledge requirements.