Do I Need a Master’s Degree to Teach Elementary Students?

Bachelor’s Degree Requirement Only

The bottom line is that nobody needs a master’s degree to become a regular classroom teacher. A bachelor’s degree and appropriate state teaching license are all that is required. Many teachers work through their entire careers as teachers without ever gaining a master’s degree.

Pay According to Education

One key fact to keep in mind in the teaching profession is that a teacher’s pay grade is determined significantly by two factors. The first is the total number of teaching years in one school district. A teacher with greater seniority will have higher pay. The second factor is the teacher’s total education level. Regardless of seniority, a teacher with a master’s degree will be eligible for more pay than a teacher with only a bachelor’s.

This fact is also a two-edge sword in the budget-strapped teaching profession. By law, a school is required to offer a master’s degree teacher higher pay, even if they have no actual teaching experience in the district. Many principals prefer to higher bachelor’s degree teacher because they can pay them a lower starting salary while they gain experience. Having a master’s degree but no experience is common of students who choose to get their diplomas back to back, meaning they got their master’s immediately after graduation without gaining any years of work experience. These overqualified and under experienced teachers are often passed over on applications.

The Master’s Degree Expectation

At the same time that principals do not want a teacher with no experience to have a master’s degree they do want that same teacher to get a master’s degree before their fourth year or so of teaching. This is not a requirement. Rather, it is merely an unspoken expectation of the profession. A teacher cannot be expressly fired for not gaining a master’s degree after their fourth year of experience, but if their position is not protected by tenure or a contract, then they may simply, quietly be let go at the end of the year. Teachers not so protected must often reapply for their position at the beginning of each academic year.

Teaching Beyond the General Classroom

There are teaching positions involving elementary students that do often require a graduate degree. The most common example is special education. A special education teacher normally has a bachelor’s in elementary education, child psychology, counseling or a similar field and has a master’s degree in special education.

A master’s degree is also required for other specialist positions in the school, such as a reading specialist. Administrative positions also normally require master’s degrees and some years of experience in teaching.

While a master’s degree in education is not required to be teacher, it is highly recommended. Timing is also critical, and most teachers are advised to pursue their master’s after gaining some years of experience. The rewards of higher pay and greater overall job security are well worth the extra effort of getting a master’s. Many teachers also long to move from the classroom to a more specialized position or to enter into administration. Since both of these goals require master’s degrees, then the master’s degree should be part of any teacher’s long-term education plans.