For anyone considering Art teaching as a career option, they may be wondering, “Do I need a degree to teach Art?” Although most professional teaching positions require a degree, there are different licensing and degree requirements depending on the job specifications and where you would like to teach.
Teaching college-level Art: If you are interested in teaching Art at a university or community college, you will need both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. To teach a Fine Arts studio class (such as Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, etc.), you will typically be required to obtain both a Bachelor’s degree with an Art major, and an M.F.A (Master’s in Fine Arts) degree. Though most colleges do not require teachers to have a teaching license, check for each school’s specific requirements.
Teaching Art in a public school: You may only teach Art at a public K-12 school by obtaining a teaching license and a Bachelor’s degree with an Education emphasis. Two ways to earn a state Art teaching license
1.) Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education, leading to state licensure
2.) Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in a different subject, then earn an M.A.T. (Master of Arts in Teaching) degree in Art Education, leading to state licensure.
State licensure is earned by passing the Praxis exam series (learn more about the Praxis at the end of the article). Be aware that many U.S. states now require all new teachers to earn a Master’s degree within a limited time period to keep their teaching license.
Despite this, there are rare occurrences when some public schools bend the rules. For example, at an elementary school, an Art teacher may retire or be cut, so a general classroom teacher with an Elementary Education degree will be asked to take over and teach Art. This is, however, the exception.
Teaching Art at a tech or trade school: Although most tech or trade schools generally require the same qualifications as a public school, there are times when exceptions are made for those with a Bachelor’s degree who have professional experience in the field, but may not have a teaching license. Often, they may be required to pursue an M.A.T. degree or teaching license, however, to keep their job.
Teaching Art at a private school: Depending on the school’s accreditation, you will find that many private schools have different qualifications for Art teachers, though teachers are still required to have a Bachelor’s degree. Most schools want their teachers as highly qualified as possible; but some private schools may be more lenient and hire teachers that have a degree in an unrelated field, but have plenty of professional experience in their teaching area. Although private schools prefer licensed teachers, they may hire teachers without a license on the condition that they earn one in a specific amount of time.
If you teach Art at a private school, know that some may not require teachers to earn Master’s degrees. However, some private schools – especially those associated with religious organizations – may require an additional teaching certificate. For example, a private Christian school accredited by A.C.S.I. (Association of Christian Schools International) will require all of their teachers to earn an additional ACSI teaching certificate.
Teaching Art at museums or camps: Most camps or museums do not require a teaching degree although most prefer it), as long as a candidate shows plenty of prior experience and related work in the field, plenty of enthusiasm, and a professional demeanor.
Teaching private Art lessons: You do not need any credentials or degrees to be a private Art tutor, teaching individual or group lessons in your home or with an organization. This is a path that many retired public Art teachers take, teaching private lessons from their home or studio. However, even non-teachers that are working artists in their own right, can become successful private teachers locally.
Teaching Art online: In recent years, there has begun a trend in ‘virtual education’. Because these virtual schools are often chartered by the states they are located in, they need to follow state guidelines. This means that Art teachers – even online – are often required to have the same qualifications as public K-12 school teachers, with degrees and licenses.
In close, though some job circumstances may not require a specific degree or license, rest assured that you are only doing yourself a favor by obtaining a degree in Art Education. If teaching Art is your passion, then you want to make yourself as marketable as possible to employers. Earning your Bachelor’s degree, pursuing a Master’s degree, and gaining an Art teaching license will open hundreds of doors for you in your career.
For more information on Art teaching, visit the NAEA (National Art Education Association) website at: http://www.naea-reston.org/.
To learn more about the Praxis series of Art teacher exams required to earn a state teaching license, you can read a Guide to the Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge test, as well as Study Guide to the Praxis: Art Studio, and Study Guide to the Praxis: Art History.
