Adult Education Teacher Education Paths


With improved health care increasing life expectancy, and new technologies requiring older practitioners in fields such as alternative healthcare to seek continuing education, adults now have an abundance of reasons to keep learning. Adult education teacher programs offer personal enrichment, academic and vocational courses in areas as diverse as cooking, art, music, technology, math, language, and health and wellness.
More importantly, outside of the usual recreational or required CE education offered, adult education teachers provide a critical conduit to other adults looking for literacy and high school equivalency diploma classes. In fact, if you’re interested in this teaching field, this is where you’ll most likely focus your efforts.
Adults Teaching Adults
If you are a current, or substitute, teacher or are looking for extra work, becoming an adult education teacher may be the perfect fit for you. Most adult education instructors teach adults part time and have a passion for their subjects and their students. Many teach on weekends or at night schools focusing on a trade or in a community or university college system.
From week-long self-enrichment workshops to year-long certification courses, adult education teachers offer a variety of class types and schedules.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you plan your career in adult education:
- Determine the specifics of the classes you want to teach.
- Find a university, community college or other venue or program that will include you in their curriculum.
- Plan your course and gather or create materials for your class.
- Depending on the venue, you may need to promote, advertise and market your own classes.
The Importance of an Adult Education Teacher
Besides teaching adults basic job skills or proficiency education such as reading, writing, and English, adult teachers also help learners who left school at an early age in order to support their family, get a job,-or for other reasons-complete their high school equivalency diploma program. Adult teachers are important advocates for instilling confidence and skills in those who haven’t had the chance to complete their basic learning and preparation for a fast-paced job field. These teachers also help students who may already work in a trade or vocational field-such as mechanics, construction, electrical or cosmetology-advance their learning, earn professional certification so they may move into management or senior roles-or start a business of their own.
It’s important to remember that students enrolled in adult education courses are voluntarily participating and consequently they are often highly motivated to complete their coursework and program successfully so you will need to be able to help propel them to their ultimate goal as well as teach required curriculum.
Highlighted programs for you
Put simply, All Star is in the business of connecting students and schools. We help students find schools that are great matches for their educational needs, personal preferences and lifestyles, and schools pay us for our work.
Here's a quick Q & A of information we think you should know if you choose to use our websites. The main takeaways: Using our services is free, but starting and completing a degree, certificate or diploma program takes commitment and effort and should be considered carefully.
1. How do you provide your services for free?
Schools pay to advertise on our sites. This allows us to offer our service to prospective students like you for free.
Schools place a very high priority on enrolling students who go on to graduate. By using All Star's focused, information-rich services, schools can be more confident that the prospective students we introduce them to are truly committed to their education and to succeeding once they're enrolled in school.
2. How do you differ from your competitors?
There are other companies out there that do what we do. But there is no one that does it with more integrity or respect for our users and their choices. We put you, the student, in control. You get to choose the schools you're interested in, and you get to choose what programs you'd like to learn more about. We will never submit your contact information to a school without your consent.
3. Do you really work with ALL schools?
No. Our listings are not exhaustive, we do not list all schools, but they do include a rich selection of options. We believe this wide variety of options from hundreds of schools meets the needs of most prospective students who visit our sites. We partner with smaller schools that specialize in one particular career field, such as Pima Medical Institute, as well as world-class, multi-discipline institutions like the University of Southern California.
4. Is getting a degree really going to open up doors for me?
We really want you to succeed in the program you choose. So does your school. But we feel compelled to be very frank and upfront: You must work hard and stay committed to graduate. And assuming you do graduate, there is no guarantee you will find a job in your chosen field, or any job for that matter.
Obtaining an education has many personal benefits and can also improve your financial prospects. However, it's important to keep in mind that obtaining an education does not guarantee financial success or even a job. Job markets vary greatly by region, state, and even locally, and are affected by trends in the national economy and even international events. Other factors affecting your job-hunting success may include your job history and experience, and your level of education, degree, or certificate type. Your area of specialization plays a role, too.
5. If I do find a job, what can I expect in terms of salary?
The government publishes a great deal of information related to hundreds of jobs on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website. We use this as a resource for many of the articles on the All Star websites. As comprehensive as the BLS information is, it is neither complete nor entirely accurate. The BLS salary information we publish is a national average. Actual salaries for a particular job or skill may be different where you live. For example, if you live in a large city or where the job market for particular skills is especially competitive, such as Silicon Valley in California, you're likely to receive a higher wage or salary for the same job than you would in a rural or economically depressed market. Other factors that can affect salary rates include the size of the employer, union contracts and governmental regulations to name a few.
6. Where are you located? How can I contact you?
All Star Directories is located at P.O. Box 1677 Renton, WA 98057. You can reach us at (206) 436-7500 or at customerservice@allstardirectories.com.
Liberty University

Liberty University
Master's
Master's
Online
Accredited
The Master of Education with a cognate in School Counselor program prepares you to be a school counselor in Christian, public and private schools. You will master counseling and psychology skills, focusing on ethics and techniques, ethnicity and family counseling and career guidance. Courses provide specialized preparation for individuals seeking credentials for a K-12 school position or those with a desire to further their education and pursue either an Ed.S. or Ed.D.
Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University
Master's
Master's
Online
Accredited
Grand Canyon University’s Master of Education in School Counseling (IL) degree program prepares individuals with a bachelor’s degree to pursue a career as a school guidance counselor and seek certification. A master’s degree serves as the next step for professional advancement in two impactful fields—education and counseling. By completing this degree, school counselors can feel more confident and become competent in helping struggling young learners overcome obstacles, while they prepare for the next step in their educational journey and realize their career dreams. Course topics include theories and models of counseling, counseling skills, counseling the culturally diverse, organization and administration of a school counseling program, group counseling, lifespan and development, counseling for college and career, research methods and program evaluation, developmental disabilities and contemporary issues in school counseling.
University of Southern California - Rossier School of Education

University of Southern California - Rossier School of Education
Master's
Master's
Online
Accredited
The Master of Education in School Counseling online program from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares candidates to pursue their school counseling credential and become school counselors for children in grades K–12. GRE scores are not required to apply.
Where You’ll Work
Once you start looking, you will find that opportunities to teach adult education courses are nearly everywhere. Universities and community colleges may have full quarterly schedules of self-enrichment and continuing education classes. Public schools often have dance or music classes for adults at night or on the weekends. Local grocery and specialty stores offer cooking classes, and technology companies offer computer classes at night. Hospitals and private healthcare practitioners offer workshops on health and wellness, parenting, grieving and nutrition; and health clubs offer exercise and yoga classes. Senior and community centers are often excellent places to teach specialty courses for patrons of all ages, including various art and performing skills, outdoor recreation and academic endeavors.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Occupational Outlook Handbook cites the following places as the largest employers of adult education teachers:
- Elementary. middle, and high schools
- Community and junior colleges
- Other schools and institutions
- Self-employed workers
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools
If you are part of the technology industry, professional certification is available through established tech software companies such as Microsoft certifications and Oracle and others.
Education and Training
Where and what you teach will determine the education level you’ll need as requirements for adult education teachers vary as much as the industry’s scope. If you are a cook, specific culinary school training qualifies you to teach continuing education classes in cooking at community colleges; however, if you are a house builder with just a high school education or vocational training, you may still be qualified to teach a class on house framing at your local home improvement store or community center, though you will not be able to teach in a community college setting
More commonly, just like teachers in other types of classrooms, adult education teachers should have a bachelor’s degree, especially if you plan on teaching adult literacy or high school equivalency diploma classes. Most states require these types of teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree while some prefer a master’s degree or some post-graduate work in adult education or ESL.
If you plan on working for the government, chances are you’ll need your teaching certificate as well, and some other states have certificates specifically for adult education. You’ll need to check with your state’s Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Education for exact requirements.
You may need to complete specific degree programs and classes in order to teach adult basic education, high school equivalency or English as a Second Language.
What Does an Adult Education Teacher Do (Besides Teach)?
Not only will you give instruction in your chosen subject to your students, you’ll also have many behind the scenes duties to perform. Some of the tasks that don’t strictly involve teaching may include the following:
- Create lesson plans to help adult learners meet their goals
- Adjust your curriculum and style to adapt to a classroom full of diversified strengths and weaknesses
- Work on skills that will help students find jobs, such as resume building and interview techniques
- Assess students for possible learning disabilities
- Monitor and record student progress
- Be adaptable to several types of curriculum for adult learners who may be trying to complete their high school diploma
- Teach time management and study skills besides the required coursework
- Help students find the resources to network in the job community
What Traits Make a Good Adult Educator?
Being an adult education teacher takes a special sort of person. Here are some of the skills and qualities that make for the best adult educators:
- Communication skills are essential to help adult learners achieve their goals. You must be able to explain their progress and where they may need to focus in terms they can understand.
- Cultural sensitivity is also essential, especially if you plan on teaching English as a Second Language. In any event, you may deal with a variety of students from different cultural, economic and educational backgrounds.
- Resourcefulness is a must as you’ll need to be able to respond to all types of situations. What may work well for one student may not for another. You’ll need to dig deep to find the right middle ground that is appropriate for everyone in your classroom.
- Patience is the most crucial trait, as you’ll deal with some students who grasp the material quickly while others need more hand-holding and on-on-one help.
What Type of Classes Will Help You Succeed?
Because your students have special circumstances and may be focusing on a particular subject, you’ll need to be adept in not only the curriculum but dealing with adult learners in general. Here are some of the types of classes you’ll take in a typical master’s degree program that can help you address their particular needs:
- The Teaching of Adults
- Perspectives on Adult Learning
- Family Literacy
- Adult Literacy
- Teaching Math to Adults
- Language, Literacy, Identity and Culture
- Social Issues in Adult Education
- Distance Learning for Adults
- Teaching Reading to Adults
- Program Planning in Adult Education
- Emerging Web technologies and Learning
Job Outlook and Salary
Job growth for adult educators is expected to decline, with a -6.2% decrease in the field anticipated through 2031, according to the BLS. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this data due to the fact that there will continue to be an influx of immigration to the U.S. as well as adults as a whole returning to school. The BLS says traditional schooling does not always give some adults the skills they need to find employment, so classes focused upon their special circumstances may be key to their success. The BLS also notes that most of these types of positions are part time and full-time positions may be difficult to find.
Salaries for adult basic education teachers are good, with the median annual salary at $58,590 in 2021 according to the BLS. The BLS also says the highest 10% of the occupation earned more than $97,010 annually.
Take the Next Steps
Self-enrichment courses for adults add a great deal to people’s quality of life, and are very popular. If you have marketable skills in a particular area, or want to help adults looking to better their lives, you may find it satisfying-personally and monetarily-to teach in these varied education scenarios.
Get started by finding schools that can help you reach your education goals so you can begin your journey helping others reach theirs.