Our world is becoming increasingly virtual. Today, you can access almost any piece of knowledge or service online as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.
Education is no different. Online teaching jobs offer an alternative to face to face teaching. It allows us to connect with an educator from across the globe.
With the increase in demand for online education comes an equal need for those that can provide the service, and online teaching jobs are easier than ever to find.
While it’s true most online teaching jobs will require a teaching license or specialized degree, many jobs available do not and may offer opportunities for non-teachers as well.
Online teaching jobs vary as much as the subjects you can teach, but they generally fall into five main categories.
- College Faculty
- K-12 Teachers
- Adult Education
- English Teachers
- Tutors
We’ll discuss each of these categories, the requirements for each, as well as where you can find these online teaching jobs.
The Best Online Teaching Jobs
College Faculty
Online college classes have been available for over a decade, and there is an increasing number of programs and universities that are entirely online.
Online college courses cover the gamut of all academic and vocational subjects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, offering a wide range of possibilities for online teachers.
There are online teaching opportunities available at 100% virtual colleges such as Southern New Hampshire University, Capella University, or Walden University.
Teachers can also find online opportunities within the distance learning programs at traditional colleges and universities. Some of the best ranked online programs belong to conventional brick and mortar universities.
Requirements
Most online teaching jobs at the college level will require a Master’s or Ph.D., but positions as lecturers or instructors may not.
Regardless of your degree level, all online faculty positions will require expertise and experience in the field you are teaching.
Where to Find Online College Faculty Jobs
Of course, a search through job finder sites like Indeed.com, Glassdoor, or Zip Recruiter can yield a quick compilation of possible online faculty teaching jobs, but your best bet may be to go directly to the source.
Start by exploring opportunities at colleges and universities in your area or state, or look directly into schools and programs you are interested in. If you need to widen your search, a comprehensive guide to online schools and schools offering online programs can be found here.
K-12 Teachers
Although not as prevalent as in higher education, online K-12 education is growing in popularity across the country, and more online teaching jobs are becoming available.
Virtual public schools are held to the same standards and requirements as traditional schools, and a wide range of subject areas and specializations are available. Thus, educators certified in special education, as well as itinerants like speech pathologists and occupational therapists, are also needed in these programs.
However, it’s important to note that not all online school programs offer services for all K-12 grades, with some focusing on a specific grade range rather than the full K-12.
Requirements
The requirements for teaching for an online K-12 program will be the same as those for teaching in a traditional school district.
While requirements may vary slightly by state, a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and state certification/licensure will be needed for K-12 online teaching jobs.
Where to Find Online K-12 Teaching Jobs
Two of the biggest online K-12 school programs are run by Connections Academy and K12, with both offering programs in multiple states.
You can also search for online programs by state to find available jobs.
Adult Education
Adult education programs are another fast-growing sector of online education that offers opportunities for online teaching jobs.
While online college and university programs could technically fall within the range of “adult” education, typically online adult education is tailored toward those older than standard college-age students.
Furthermore, online adult education programs are usually designed for those that want to earn a GED, learn a specialized skill to gain employment, or participate in continuing education to advance their career.
For those seeking to earn a GED/diploma or workplace skills, online adult education programs will offer courses in English literacy and math, English as a second language, as well as job skills. These programs may also provide entry-level training for certain professions.
Every state should offer some form of adult education program. However, these may not always provide an online option. You can also find several adult GED/diploma programs online that can serve you regardless of location, but these will typically charge tuition.
On the other hand, continuing education programs are typically offered through colleges and universities to those that already hold a high school diploma or higher levels of education and who want to advance their careers.
In some cases, continuing education may be a requirement or an option for those renewing licensure, such as teachers.
Requirements
Requirements for teaching online adult education will vary depending on the subject, program, and state, but typically require at least a Bachelor’s degree in the subject area as well as prior teaching or experience in the industry.
Where to Find Online Adult Education Jobs
While you may be able to find adult GED/diploma online teaching jobs in programs run by the state, several options are available anywhere that you can look into to find employment.
Here are online adult education programs to look into include Excel High School, GED Academy, and The Keystone School. You can also conduct a broader search for online adult education jobs at HigherEd Jobs.
For online continuing education jobs, you can conduct a search using Indeed, Job Finder, Zip Recruiter, or simply investigate specific colleges or universities you’re interested in.
Tutors
Yet another growing sector of online education is online tutoring.
You can now find tutors for almost any grade level or subject, and the instruction can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Those considering online tutoring could either work for a tutoring company or develop their clientele.
Requirements
Requirements vary depending on the subject and grade level, as well as whether you work for a company or develop your own online tutoring business.
Generally, those tutoring high school or college students will need a Bachelor’s degree in that subject area as well as some teaching experience. Some programs may even require a teaching degree or license.
However, those teaching younger students or who develop their own business may only need expertise in the subject area to get started tutoring online.
Where to Find Online Tutoring Jobs
There are many online tutoring companies out there, and a quick search will reveal many of them. Some of these include Tutor.com, Chegg, Course Hero, and Skooli. These platforms need tutors for a variety of subjects and grade levels.
If you want to provide online tutoring services independently, you can place ads on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and in neighborhood groups.
Although you must find students yourself, the benefit of providing your tutoring services is that you get to keep all the money!
English Teachers
Of all the online teaching jobs described in this article, teaching English online has had the most considerable growth in recent years.
There has been an explosion in demand for English instruction in recent years, especially in China and other Asian countries. The demand is a result of international companies looking to hire candidates that are skilled in English, and English is now the most widely-taught language around the world.
Because English is now seen as a prerequisite for future success, there has also been an increase in the number of children learning English as a second language, further driving up the demand.
Luckily, with online English teaching platforms, it’s easier than ever to tap into this demand without leaving your country or even your home. And the best part is most of these programs have already developed the lessons for you. All you need to do is deliver them!
Requirements
Generally, online English teaching platforms will require you to be a native English speaker (many want you to live in North America) and to have a Bachelor’s degree, but not necessarily in teaching.
Most will also require you to be TEFL certified (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) but may help you obtain certification. You can also get certification yourself relatively easily with an online program.
Other requirements will include high-speed internet, webcam, and a good headset/microphone for delivering instruction.
Where to Find Online English Teaching Jobs
As with most jobs on this list, you have several options when it comes to teaching English online.
The most well-known platforms for English online teaching jobs include VIPKID, Qkids, Education First, Teach Away, and Gogokid.
Final Thoughts
The world is becoming increasingly digitalized, with more information and services becoming available online every year. Education is no different, and there has been a steady increase in demand for online teaching jobs.
Upon first glance, you may think that you’re not qualified to teach online, but there are more options than you may think, and more are becoming available every day.
Remember, online teaching jobs include online college faculty, online K-12 teachers and itinerants, online adult education teachers, online tutors, and online English tutors.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree and expertise in one or more subjects, there is likely an online teaching job out there for you. If you’re a native English speaker, you are probably qualified to teach online.
Furthermore, all you need is expertise in one or more areas and the ability to go and find clients to start your own online tutoring business.
Online tutoring jobs are as varied as the subjects you can teach, and with so much flexibility, they make the perfect side hustle or even a full-time job.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and find your perfect online teaching job today!
Talk about Money Earned.
This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks and has been republished with permission