Can Anyone Be a Homeschooling Teacher? (Spoiler: It Depends)

Are you thinking about becoming a homeschooling teacher for your child? 

Can you do that? How about hiring a private homeschool teacher? Can you hire a private teacher to homeschool your child? 

Being a homeschooling teacher is a great responsibility and shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, many parents choose to teach their children themselves, and they do a great job. 

Others prefer to hire a private tutor and rely on their expertise. 

But, what are the qualifications required to become a homeschool teacher? 

Keep reading to learn how to become a homeschool teacher, what qualifications you need to be one, and what you should do if you want to hire a private homeschool teacher.

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How to Become a Homeschool Teacher

When discussing homeschool teachers, it’s important to differentiate between homeschool parents who want to be their child’s teacher and external homeschool instructors. 

Let’s start with the case of parents who want to become homeschooling teachers.

Can Anyone Be a Homeschool Teacher?

In the broader sense, yes. In a more specific sense, it depends. 

If you’re in the U.S. and want to be your children’s teacher, no qualifications are required in 36 states. In three states (New York, Kansas, and California), it’s required that parents are “competent,” “qualified,” or “capable of teaching,” without specifying what that means.

Finally, in most of the other 11 states, a high school diploma or GED (Tests of General Education Development) is required.

So, do you need a license to homeschool your children? The answer is no. To homeschool your children, you don’t need to be a certified homeschool teacher. However, check your state’s homeschool teacher requirements and overall homeschooling laws. 

Qualifications for Homeschooling Teachers

It would be impossible for me to list the requirements in every state. 

However, I’ll analyze the situation in 3 of the most populated states in the U.S. Also, here’s a link with all the homeschool laws by state. 

California

If you want to become a homeschool parent in California, you first have to file a “Private School Affidavit” to the California Department of Education. 

The state considers homeschooling like opening a private (home-based) school. To become a homeschool teacher in California, parents don’t need teaching credentials. 

All you need is to be “capable of teaching,” and the classes “must be provided in English.”

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Florida

In this state, there are no parent qualifications required. 

However, parents should keep a portfolio of their children’s work and have them assessed annually by standardized test or portfolio evaluation.

If, as a parent, you have teaching credentials, you can opt for the private tutor program. This program requires 180 days of instruction and keeping basic records.

Texas

In Texas, homeschools are also considered private schools. Therefore, teacher certifications aren’t required, and there’s no need for third-party curriculum approval.

However, the instruction “must be bona fide” (not a sham), and the curriculum must include reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship. 

What If You Want to Hire a Homeschool Teacher?

In case you don’t want to or simply can’t be the teacher, some homeschool teachers come to your house and take over the homeschooling process.

These private teachers are responsible for developing a curriculum for every subject, planning lessons, grading assignments, working with parents, and writing reports.

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Does the Homeschool Teacher Have to Be Certified?

In most states, there’s no educational requirement for homeschool teachers. 

However, states like California require that if you decide to “homeschool via a private tutor,” the instructor must have California teaching credentials.

Make sure to familiarize yourself with your state’s homeschooling laws before hiring any teacher. 

Nevertheless, it’s always recommended that your homeschool teacher has some educational background, such as a bachelor’s in teaching or a master’s in education.

Remember that you’re hiring the person responsible for your kid’s education, so you must find the right teacher. 

With the growth of homeschooling all across the US, many certified teachers are looking for homeschooling jobs to open a new career path. An ex-teacher who knows how the education system works could make for an ideal candidate.

How Much Would it Cost to Hire a Teacher to Homeschool?

As with every job market, the cost of hiring a private homeschool teacher can vary depending on location, experience, and qualifications. 

You can hire a homeschool teacher for as little as $8 an hour. While on the other extreme, you can end up paying $85 an hour. 

You can find teachers that charge from $17 to $24, and even hourly rates that go up to $40.

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How to Hire a Private Homeschool Teacher

If you decide to hire a private homeschool teacher, you need to find one. 

Some companies focus on providing teachers and tutors with individualized instructions at home. One of the most popular is Teachers To Go. All you need to do is contact them directly through their website, and they will reply with all their information about pricing and conditions. 

Another good option is to search for a private teacher on a freelance website such as Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr, which lists thousands of professionals from all different areas.

LinkedIn is another excellent source. This employment-oriented social network allows you to see the background and experience of each candidate, and you can even talk to their previous employers. 

Doing background vetting of your child’s teacher is always a good idea. 

Once you have contacted any potential candidate, make a point of having an in-person interview. This is essential to know your candidate and discuss the position or your child’s needs.

If you have chosen a teacher and both have agreed to the terms, make sure to put everything in writing and sign a detailed contract. What to include in the contract? 

• Duties
• Responsibilities
• Pay conditions
• Work conditions

Find the Best Homeschooling Teacher for Your Child

It doesn’t matter if you’re the teacher or hire a private teacher. The important thing is that you find the best possible homeschooling teacher for your child.

If you decide to be a teacher, remember that you don’t need almost any qualifications. Also, you’d be saving the cost of hiring a private teacher. 

If you hire a private tutor, remember to look for a qualified teacher. Someone that knows the system, the curriculum, and, more importantly, how to work with children.

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