India-to-the-U.S.: Finding Teaching Jobs in the United States

Many Indians (as well as Filipinos and others) are eager to find teaching positions in the United States. For the most part, applicants are well-spoken, qualified educators with years of experience. However, a great many are unfamiliar with the requirements for obtaining teaching credentials in the United States.

In many countries outside of the United States, a person with a degree in Mathematics can be hired to teach Mathematics in a high school. While this does occur to a limited degree in the United States, it is not the norm. Most teachers in the United States (particularly at public schools) must possess a degree in Education. Additionally, teachers must often pass state-conducted or other standardized tests (such as the Praxis). Foreign teachers can get teaching jobs in the United States, but they must first complete the requirements for teaching certification for the state (such as Michigan, New York, or California) in which they plan to teach.

Teaching certification requirements are different in each state because, according to the United States Constitution, the administration of education is left to individual states. A teacher certified to teach in Ohio cannot automatically teach in a public school in Texas. Click here for a list of teaching certification requirements (and teacher job postings) by individual states.

If you are unable or unwilling to complete the requirements for state certification, it is still possible for you to find a teaching job in the private sector. This could be in a religious (e.g., Catholic, Jewish, Muslim) school or in a private secular school.

Catholic schools are organized by diocese. There are hundreds upon hundreds of dioceses in the United States. Typically, a single office conducts teacher hiring for an entire diocese. The diocese will have a standardized application. You must apply for a teaching job directly with the diocese. For example, imagine that you want to teach Science in a high school in Toledo, Ohio. You would visit the website for the Diocese of Toledo and complete the application process. For another diocese or school, try doing a Google search (such as "diocese New York" or "Islamic school Detroit" or "Hebrew school New Jersey").

Note: Some religious schools require that teachers practice the faith of the school, but this is not always a requirement. For example, many non-Catholics teach in Catholic schools.

Even if you do not pursue a degree in Education from an American university, you should familiarize yourself with common American educational practices and beliefs. You will be asked questions about these practices during interviews. You should understand the U.S. attitudes toward inquiry- and student-based learning.

Good luck on your journey!