Thinking about switching careers? With today’s challenging economy, and the renewed focus on job security as a result, teaching has become a popular second career choice. Employment of school teachers is expected to grow by 12 percent between before 2016, This new growth will create 479,000 additional teacher positions.Teaching is also an extremely rewarding career, allowing you to make a difference on a daily basis.

While teaching is a desirable profession, many people still have concerns if a career change is right for them. Some things to consider:

Am I too old to switch careers?

Regardless of your age, it is never too late to switch careers. If you have been in one industry for a substantial period of time, remember this, most employers and educators highly value experience and professionalism, something many younger applicants don’t have. Use this to your advantage.

What if I have already earned a degree in a field other than teaching?

Many schools offer accelerated programs with teacher certification. These programs are designed specifically for students who have already earned an Associate or Bachelors degree in a different field.

Can I earn my teaching certificate while working full time?

Yes. Many schools offer part time programs. You can also set your own schedule by earning your degree online. Online degrees are valued just as highly as campus degrees in the education field.

Where can I get information on going back to school?

TheApple has partnered with a number of great colleges to help people just like you go back to school to earn their degree. Get free information by filling out the short form on the right.

Every year, thousands of people make the decision to switch to a career in teaching, not just because it is rewarding work with competitive salaries and room for promotion, but because the education field is one of the few not affected by an unstable economy. Take the first step towards becoming a teacher by filling out the short form on the right and get free information from a variety of educator programs.