Adult and Vocational Education Teachers

Career summary

#No alternate titles-no additions to national narrative from Specialty Teachers

Adult and vocational education teachers help adults earn their high school diploma or equivalent, and help immigrants learn English. They teach by means of lectures, assignments, and demonstrations.

Vocational teachers combine academic and vocational courses with a hands-on approach, to teach students real world skills. They prepare students for specific vocational or technical careers.

Vocational teachers teach in:

• Secondary schools
• Factories
• Trade schools
• Business offices
• Junior colleges
• Colleges
• Universities

Vocational teachers help people learn procedures and develop the skills they need to get started in an occupation. They also help people who are already working improve or update their skills. They help employees adapt to changes in their occupations, such as new processes, new technologies, new products, new regulations, or changed attitudes and expectations. They may help employees learn the skills they will need when they are promoted, or the skills that will let them work at new jobs.

Vocational teachers plan programs or training sessions, evaluate and select materials, and give demonstrations or classes. They also talk to students about their work, discuss how to learn from mistakes, and how to evaluate and select materials. They may help people with disabilities or handicaps develop job skills. They also may help students prepare for licensing or certification exams.

Teachers of adults often adapt materials to meet the needs of students, usually on a one-to-one basis. Teachers assign and correct homework and select books and materials for basic reading and math classes. They may help students improve their language skills. They sometimes refer students to counselors and recruit new students.

Related careers

This career is part of the Education and Training cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Employee Training Specialists
• Farm and Home Management Advisors
• Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
• High School Teachers
• Instructional Coordinators
• Librarians
• Middle School Teachers
• Musicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Public Health Educators
• Recreation Guides
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• University and College Teachers

Military careers

• Teachers and Instructors
• Training Specialists and Instructors

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to adult and vocational education teachers.

• Determine training needs of students or workers.
• Plan course content and methods of instruction.
• Prepare outline of the program, lesson plans, and set course goals.
• Plan and conduct field trips to enrich the program.
• Select books, materials, supplies, and equipment for training, courses, or projects.
• Present lectures and guide discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence.
• Observe and evaluate students' work to determine safety and progress.
• Provide feedback and make suggestions for improvement.
• Observe students to determine their limitations, abilities, and individual needs.
• Solve problems and provide technical help with equipment and processes.
• Direct and supervise student project activities, performances, tournaments, exhibits, contests, or plays.
• Issue assignments to students.
• Correct, grade, and comment on lesson assignments.
• Prepare, administer, and grade oral or written student examinations.
• Maintain records, such as student grades and attendance, and supply or equipment inventories.
• Assign final grades to students based on their mastery of the subject.
• Keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Take part in seminars, conferences, or adult education courses. May return to work in their trade for a time.

Common work activities

Adult and vocational education teachers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Teach others
• Coach others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Think creatively
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Document and record information
• Use computers
• Develop goals and strategies
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Assist and care for others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Analyze data or information
• Schedule work and activities
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Perform for or work with the public
• Process information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Develop and build teams
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, adult and vocational education teachers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of contact with students.
• Regularly speak in front of groups of people. Public speaking is required of all teachers.
• Often work as part of a group or team of other teachers and educators.
• Communicate regularly by telephone, e-mail, and in person. They also write letters and memos, but less often.
• Are responsible for the work outcomes and results of their students.
• Are responsible for their students' health and safety while in training.
• May be placed in conflict situations in which students may be rude or angry, perhaps about a grade or assignment.

Physical work conditions

• Most often work indoors in classrooms, laboratories, or at work sites.
• Work physically close to students, within several feet or inches, especially when helping them learn a specific task.

Work performance

• Make decisions that affect students and coworkers on a weekly basis. They rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action.
• Set nearly all their daily tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor first.
• Must meet daily and weekly deadlines.
• Must be very exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
• May repeat the same mental or physical tasks.

Hours/travel

• Many work part time. Some work more than one part-time job.
• May teach day, night, or weekend courses.

Physical demands

Adult and vocational education teachers frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for adult and vocational education teachers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for adult and vocational education teachers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

Skills and abilities

Adult and vocational education teachers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Adult and Continuing Education Teaching
• Education, General
• Nursing Education

Other programs of study to consider

• Adult Basic Education
• Agricultural and Extension Education Services
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) / English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Multilingual and Multicultural Education
• Teaching English as a Second Language

Training

To work as an adult and vocational education teacher, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree;
• have work experience in the area you are teaching; and
• have a teaching license if you want to teach high school students.

Education after high school

Most adult and vocational education teachers have at least two years of education beyond high school. The exact length and type of training required varies by state and by the subject or trade being taught. While many adult vocational education teachers do not have advanced degrees, some may have as high as a doctoral degree (PhD). Most have a bachelor's degree. In general, they rely on their work experience to teach others a trade.

If you would like to teach in a high school, you need at least a bachelor's degree and a teaching license. Most schools require adult basic education teachers to also have specialized training in adult basic education.

To teach at a four-year college or university, you need a master's or doctoral degree (PhD). You also need work experience. A bachelor's or master's degree may qualify you to teach at a two-year college.

Work experience

Many adult vocational education teachers have many years of experience in the field they teach. For example, you can teach others to become plumbers through an apprenticeship program. However, first you need to work for many years as a plumber.

Military training

The military trains people to be training specialists and instructors. Training lasts two to 14 weeks, depending on the specialty.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Teacher Assisting

Many adult and vocational education teachers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers almost always require that applicants be licensed, certified, or registered in the occupational areas that they teach. They also require experience and skills in the field being taught.

Community colleges usually prefer applicants who have at least an associate or bachelor's degree in a related field. They often require new teachers to complete some coursework in teaching methods.

Colleges and universities may require a master's or doctoral degree.

Costs to workers

Some teachers join professional associations, which may have annual dues. Teachers usually pay for their own continuing education classes.

Licensing/certification

Vocational teachers who teach in public schools or skill centers need a Career and Technical Education (CTE) certificate. For the initial certificate, which is valid for four years, applicants must:

• be 18 years of age;
• pass moral character and fitness checks, which includes submitting fingerprints;
• acquire the necessary education and experience through either the college/university or business and industry pathway;
• complete Issues of Abuse course; and
• apply for the Residency Teacher certificate or apply to add the CTE endorsement to an existing teacher certificate.

The college/university pathway prepares students to teach in one of four broad subject areas: Agriculture Education, Business and Marketing Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, and Technology Education. Additionally, applicants must:

• have a bachelor's degree from a regionally approved program;
• complete a state-approved teaching program in one of the four subject areas;
• demonstrate competency in that subject area by completing content knowledge test; and
• document 2,000 hours (one year) of paid occupational experience in the broad subject area in which certification is desired, with the exception of Family and Consumer Science Education (FCSE). Those in the FCSE area may use equivalent teaching experience. For all areas, 300 hours must be within two years of certificate application.

For the business/industry pathway, applicants must:

• complete a board approved program; and
• document three years (6,000 hours) of paid occupational work in the area in which certification is desired. One year of work (2,000 hours) must have been completed within the past six years. If any or all of the 2,000 hours extend beyond ten years, an additional 300 hours of work or volunteer experience must have been obtained in the last two years.

To get a continuing CTE teaching certificate, applicants must:

• complete all the requirements for the initial certificate;
• complete at least nine-quarter hours or 90-clock hours of CTE educator training in the chosen CTE subject area;
• provide proof of completion of two years of teaching/coordination in the CTE subject area in which they are certified to teach. This teaching experience must have been with an authorized employer such as a school district or skills center; and
• complete or show proof of completion of Issues of Abuse course.

The certificate fee is currently one dollar, plus a $39 processing fee. There is no certification fee for adult and vocational education teachers who teach at community and technical colleges. The basic cost to electronically process fingerprints and do a background check is $45.25. Authorized agencies or school districts usually charge an additional $5 to $25 to take your fingerprints. Teachers may have to pay for continuing education in order to keep their certificate current.

#Base fingerprint fee 1/22/20.

For information on Career and Technical Education certification, contact:

Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Professional Certification Office 
Old Capitol Building
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
360.725.6400

Driving school instructors who work for private driving schools or high schools must be licensed by the State. Licensing requirements include:

• submitting fingerprints for a background check;
• submitting high school or college diploma;
• proof of driving instructor training from an approved school;
• passing a knowledge and a skills test;
• paying an application and testing fee;
• complete eight hours of continuing professional development before renewal date; and
• renew license every two years.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Licensing
Driver Training School Program 
PO Box 9027
Olympia, WA 98507-9027
360.664.6692

#removed fee info 1/22/20

Owners and instructors of cosmetology schools must have a current state cosmetology license. For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Licensing
Cosmetology Licensing 
PO Box 9026
Olympia, WA 98507-9026
360.664.6626

For community and technical college certification, contact the nearest college to receive current information.

# updated & review 1/22/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors 
• Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 
• Self-Enrichment Education Teachers 
• Vocational Education Teachers Postsecondary 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wage tables are available for the following SOC titles. Click the title to show or hide that title's wage table.

Wages for adult and vocational education teachers vary by subject area. Wages also vary by employer and the teacher's level of education.

Adult and vocational education teachers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits are sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan. Those who are self-employed must provide their own insurance and retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Employment & Outlook tables are available for the following SOC titles. Click the title to show or hide that title's table.

National employment

About 22% of adult and vocational education teachers are self-employed.

About half of all adult and vocational education teachers work for public school systems, universities, and community and junior colleges.

Major employers:

• Colleges, universities, and other schools
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Child and family service agencies

National outlook

Employment for adult and vocational education teachers can be affected by the economy. When jobs are scarce, many people need additional training to get hired. Changes in technology also require that many people return to school for additional education. 

Demand is expected to be very strong for nursing instructors and others who teach skills required for medical assisting and dental assisting occupations.

Reduction in post-secondary school funding may reduce the number of positions for teachers. Increased scrutiny on for-profit schools will also reduce employment for teachers in those schools.

Part-time teachers are expected to have more job opportunities as many institutions are filling vacancies with part-time rather than full-time positions. Full-time-tenure track positions are limited and very competitive.

Other resources

American Alliance for Theatre and Education 
718 7th Street NW
Washington DC 20001
202.909.1194

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences 
400 North Columbus Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.424.8080
703.706.4600

American Federation of Teachers 
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.879.4400

Association for Career and Technical Education 
1410 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.826.9972
703.683.3111

Education World 

International Association of Workforce Professionals 
3267 Bee Caves Road
Suite 107-104
Austin, TX 78746
888.898.9960

Music Teachers National Association 
1 West 4th Street, Suite 1550
Cincinnati, OH 45202
888.512.5278
513.421.1420

National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) 
c/o Ana G. Méndez University System
11006 Veirs Mills Road, L-1
Wheaton, MD 20902

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 
1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
703.465.2700

National Career Development Association 
305 North Beech Circle
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
866.367.6232
918.663.7060

National Education Association 
1201 - 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
202.833.4000

National Guild of Piano Teachers 
PO Box 1807
Austin, TX 78767
512.478.5775

Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCATE) 

TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) 
1925 Ballenger Avenue, Suite 550
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-6820

WA-ACTE, Washington Association of Career and Technical Education 
PO Box 315
Olympia, WA 98507-0315
360.786.9286

Washington Education Association 
PO Box 9100
Federal Way, WA 98063-9100
800.622.3393
253.941.6700

Washington Federation of Teachers 
625 Andover Park West, Suite 111
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.242.4777

References

Career cluster

• Education and Training

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupations

• Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors (25-3011.00) 
• Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1072.00) 
• Self-Enrichment Education Teachers (25-3021.00) 
• Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1194.00) 

O*Net job zones 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

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Strong Interest Inventory

• Business Education Teacher
• English as a Second Language Instructor
• Vocational Agriculture Teacher

Holland occupational clusters

• Social/Artistic/Enterprising
• Social/Investigative/Artistic
• Social/Realistic/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Service Professional