You can teach computer science as a subject in high school or as part of a college degree in majors such as information technology or computer engineering. Private business colleges require computer teachers to teach business software to students and how to troubleshoot for problems. You can also find computer technology teaching jobs in private computer training colleges which offer courses in computer support, repair, installation, network management, software training, and more. Virtual teaching jobs are also possibilities for computer teachers and trainers as the flexibility and convenience of online learning becomes increasingly popular.
While there are a number of employment possibilities for computer teachers, your qualifications and experience will determine which ones are really open to you. High school teaching requires a minimum qualification of a bachelor's degree in a computer science-related major and additional teaching certification which will vary from state to state. To teach at a university, you will generally need at least a master's degree, though a PhD would be ideal. You will also need experience teaching and preferably some experience in industry, as well as high-level research skills.
If you have the qualifications to teach in one or both of these formal educational environments, you will be more than qualified for most other computer technology teaching jobs or software training jobs. This does not, however, work in reverse. If you are an experienced computer teacher in a private business college or training organization, you will not be able to move into a high school or college teaching job unless you also have the necessary tertiary qualifications.
The good news is that you can get some excellent computer teaching jobs or training positions without going through years of university study. Depending on what you teach, you can gain certifications at the end of short courses for a range of skills which you can then utilize in industry. Once you have some experience, you can then obtain training certifications which allow you to train and assess groups. The more experience you have, the more teaching opportunities will open up for you. However, for highly technical training, you will still probably require a university degree.
Before you begin searching for computer teaching jobs, it can be very helpful to read the selection criteria of the sort of jobs you're aiming for. Make a list of the requested qualifications and experience and tick off those qualifications that you have and those that you still need to acquire. Look for the quickest and easiest pathways to obtain the credentials and skills you need. You may be surprised at how quickly you can get up to speed through short courses and online training. It can also be helpful to contact organizations you would like to work for and ask their preferences about qualifications.
When you are first starting out, you can gain a lot of experience quickly by doing contract work through an agency specializing in computer staffing. Not only will you usually be paid excellent hourly rates, you can gain skills quickly by being thrust into a variety of roles. Contracting also introduces you to a number of different workplaces in which you can mention that you are seeking work in teaching or training. You may be contracted to run training sessions and as a result get references and experience that will help you find a full-time teaching role.
Even traditional education providers are developing online curricula and increasingly advertising virtual teaching jobs. If you can gain the qualifications and skills to create, implement, and manage online learning programs, you will find yourself in great demand. Universities and private training organizations alike are investing a lot of time and money in developing online learning streams.
Whether you're a novice or an experienced computer teacher seeking a new opportunity, you can find an excellent range of positions on online job sites. It's easy to quickly find the sorts of jobs you're looking for searching by category, locality, and salary range. You can even do more specific searches by job title. There are also specialist job sites which advertise only computer-related jobs.
You can also save time looking for the right job by going straight to recruitment companies which specialize in supplying computer professionals to clients. If they don't have vacancies at present, they can keep you in mind for when any vacancies do come in. They may also be able to keep you busy with contract work.
If you're seeking a traditional education role, there are many education job sites advertising for teachers. These positions are also traditionally advertised in regional newspapers, on the websites of private schools, and directly on some government education sites. Every state and region will be different, so look for how these positions are advertised locally. Often substitute teachers are engaged as full-time teachers when a position becomes available, so you may wish to get your feet wet with casual work. Some education job websites will allow you to upload your resume, and potential employers can then get in contact with you directly.
If you prepare and apply for appropriate computer teaching jobs with diligence and common sense, you'll have a competitive edge over many other applicants. By following the suggestions in this article, you will be well on your way to landing just the right computer teaching or training job for you.
