Job Search & Hiring
How To Become a Professor
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | Jan 1, 2024
Are you thinking of becoming a Professor or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Professor, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Professor job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Professor
Do you love molding young minds and helping students succeed? If that sounds like a dream job to you, become a professor with these four steps:
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Earn a doctoral degree in your chosen field.
Most university teaching positions require applicants to earn a doctoral degree in the field they wish to teach, such as economics or psychology. In addition, most postgraduate programs take between five and seven years and require a master's degree prior to enrollment. However, some doctoral programs will allow you to earn your master's along the way.It is possible to teach some college-level classes without a doctoral degree. However, those positions are only at certain schools like community colleges and technical schools and only in certain subjects, such as creative writing. Understandably, these professor jobs are pretty competitive, so you may want to bring at least a master's to the table. -
Get some teaching experience.
- Tutoring in your spare time.
- Coaching a little league sport's team.
- Host an undergraduate class.
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Earn your professional certification.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia offer national certification. Teachers are required to complete coursework, pass exams, and meet other specified criteria to receive their license. The process to obtain your credentials ensures that teachers meet rigorous standards in their subject areas, pass required background checks, and are proficient in commonly accepted instruction methods.Universities may also require you to obtain a professional certification in addition to getting a doctoral degree and your state's teaching license. For example, depending on your subject, educators who prepare students for an occupation that requires a permit, such as a nurse, must generally hold the same credentials. -
Publish academic papers and books.
- Giving yourself enough time.
- Asking for help.
- Targeting the right journal.
- Following the publication's instructions.
- Embracing criticism.
- Being patient.
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