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Field instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a field instructor. Field instructors usually study social work, psychology, or business. 62% of field instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,867 real field instructor resumes to see exactly what field instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for field instructors are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online field instructor courses to help get the education required to be a field instructor.
There are certain field instructor certifications that you should consider. These field instructor certifications include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Instructor.
What education do you need to become a field instructor?
What degree do you need to be a field instructor?
- Bachelor's, 62%
- Master's, 24%
- Associate, 9%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a field instructor?
- Social Work, 28%
- Psychology, 14%
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 45%
Most common colleges for field instructors
| Field instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 10.05% |
| Michigan State University | 8.61% |
| Western Washington University | 6.22% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 5.74% |
| Temple University | 5.74% |
Best majors for field instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 27.5% |
| 2 | Psychology | 14.3% |
| 3 | Business | 6.6% |
| 4 | Environmental Science | 5.8% |
| 5 | Sociology | 4.9% |
Best colleges for field instructors
The best colleges for field instructors are University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St Louis, and Stanford University.
A field instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for field instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become field instructors.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
4. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
8. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for field instructors
Advertising disclosure
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Wilderness First Aid is for anyone who wants to improve their safety in nature. In this specialization, you will find basic emergency medical care to help stabilize or evacuate injured or ill people in wilderness settings. The courses include an introduction to wilderness first aid, medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, and environmental emergencies. Join us as we learn from real-life scenarios and stories from wilderness experts and medical professionals...
3. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
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6. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy
Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...
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8. Oxford Diploma: Art Therapy:create books; run (4) workshops!
All you need to a) create a book and b) run FOUR Art Therapy workshops (including the Art Therapy exercises)!...
9. Art Therapy: Art Therapy Exercises For Healing In Life
35 Art Therapy exercises for life happiness & stress management. Art therapy with paintings, art & affirmations...
10. The Risk Management Certification Program (PMI-RMP) (PMBOK7)
Planning Risk Management, Identifying Risk, Analyzing Risk and Responding to Risk by PMBOK6 (PMBOK7 Updated)...
11. Managing mental health issues in the workplace
Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...
12. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
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How to manage mental health in the workplace to boost productivity and be the best boss!...
14. Colombian Wood Therapy Course - Maderoterapia
Learn how to use Colombian Wood Therapy to help your clients reduce cellulite and melt fat...
15. A Beginner's Guide to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Learn how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) contributes to long-term personal growth and sustainable mental resilience...
16. Abnormal Behavior & Clinical Psychology (Certificate)
Guiding students into the field of mental health services for either personal and/or professional development...
17. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communications
Public Relations: You Can Shape and Control Your Media Messages at The Worst Possible Times...
18. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...
19. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults...
20. Metacognitive Therapy
Learn MCT, a cognitive psychotherapy based on CBT, that helps clients tackle the root of their anxiety and depression...
Top 10 most affordable universities for field instructors
The most affordable schools for field instructors are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - fresno, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for field instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for field instructors.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
9. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for field instructors
The hardest universities for field instructors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St Louis, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for field instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for field instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
14%
SAT average
1,423
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for field instructors
The easiest schools for field instructors to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and nyack college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a field instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for field instructors.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
4. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
5. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
6. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
7. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
8. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
9. Clarke University
Dubuque, IA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,058
10. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
Average field instructor salary by education level
| Field instructor education level | Field instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $64,695 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $46,589 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,380 |
| Doctorate Degree | $74,541 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,253 |
Field instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025