Adult and Vocational Education Teachers

Employers

Approximately 36,890 adult basic and secondary education and literacy teachers and instructors are employed in the United States, along with 90,070 career/technical education teachers. Most of these teachers work in the educational services industry. Adult education teachers can find work in various schools and education programs. Community and junior colleges regularly have openings for teachers. Specially trained teachers can work for state-funded programs, such as literacy and ESL programs. Teachers are also hired for long-distance education programs and to lead continuing education courses for corporations and professional associations. Teachers are often needed in such institutions as prisons, hospitals, retirement communities, and group homes for disabled adults.

Starting Out

Most people entering this field have professional experience in a particular area, a desire to share that knowledge with other adults, and a teaching certificate or academic degree. When pursuing work as an adult education teacher, you should contact colleges, private trade schools, vocational high schools, or other appropriate institutions to receive additional information about employment opportunities. Many colleges, technical schools, and state education departments offer job lines or online job listings. You can also often find job openings in local newspaper classifieds.