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Lead teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a lead teacher. Lead teachers usually study early childhood education, elementary education, or human development. 51% of lead teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 64,426 real lead teacher resumes to see exactly what lead teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for lead teachers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online lead teacher courses to help get the education required to be a lead teacher.
There are certain lead teacher certifications that you should consider. These lead teacher certifications include Child Development Associate (CDA) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
What education do you need to become a lead teacher?
What degree do you need to be a lead teacher?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Associate, 22%
- High School Diploma, 12%
- Master's, 10%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a lead teacher?
- Elementary Education, 12%
- Human Development, 10%
- Psychology, 9%
- Other Majors, 47%
Most common colleges for lead teachers
| Lead teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 16.85% |
| Ashford University | 12.70% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 6.52% |
| Grand Canyon University | 5.89% |
| Liberty University | 5.26% |
Best majors for lead teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education | 21.8% |
| 2 | Elementary Education | 11.7% |
| 3 | Human Development | 9.5% |
| 4 | Psychology | 9.3% |
| 5 | Education | 8.9% |
Best colleges for lead teachers
The best colleges for lead teachers are Vanderbilt University, Boston University, and University of Rochester.
A lead teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for lead teachers. 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 lead teachers.
1. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Enrollment
34,637
5. Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$48,350
Enrollment
4,103
6. Ohio State University
Columbus, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$10,726
Enrollment
45,769
7. Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$8,184
Enrollment
11,675
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Enrollment
31,441
10. California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,310
Enrollment
28,439
20 best online courses for lead teachers
Advertising disclosure
1. The Teacher and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social and emotional learning, or SEL, programs have flourished in schools during the last decade. These programs vary widely but most share a concern for five individual, student competencies: self awareness; self-management; social awareness; relationship skills; and finally responsible decision making. It is important for teachers and parents to know about and understand these programs. While lots of SEL programs emphasize K-12 student social and emotional learning, only a very few programs...
2. THINK GLOBAL: TEACHERS TRAINING COURSE (IDP-ICE)
A group of seven European partners from Catalonia, Belgium, and Wales worked together on the Erasmus+ funded ‘Think Global’ project on global competence. The project seeks to address the following research question through development and piloting of practical classroom activities: What is global competence, and how can it be learned effectively? The Think Global project explores, through international collaboration, how global competence is defined, taught, learned, and measured in the...
3. Preparation for CELTA Teacher Training
Learn the skills required to succeed in your CELTA training - gain practice in lesson planning and writing assignments!!...
4. Mindfulness for Life Coaching Success: Teacher Certificate
Transform Lives with Mindfulness & Meditation: Accredited Life Coach Teacher Certificate (2023)...
5. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher
Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...
6. Virtual Teacher Final Project
The Final Project will be a hands-on, comprehensive project that practitioners of virtual education can implement in their profession. For this final project, learners will draft a design plan for an online learning module utilizing materials learned from the virtual teacher series. Learners will choose the subject matter, method of delivery, tools, instructional strategies, and assessments, with the goal of creating a module of online or blended instruction that meets the needs of their...
7. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Putting Theory Into Practice in the ESL/EFL Classroom...
8. Mindfulness Teacher Training Certificate
Become a certified mindfulness teacher with this accredited mindfulness teacher training programme...
9. Music Education for Teachers
In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...
10. Get Organized: How to be a Together Teacher
This course is designed for classroom teachers who juggle time-sensitive tasks and often-exhausting teaching schedules. With an eye toward long-term sustainability, The Together Teacher examines the purpose for planning ahead, provides tools for tracking time commitments, deadlines and tasks, and helps teachers develop a personal organization system that interacts with their day-by-day practices. All teachers, from the pen & paper list maker to the tech-savvy digital maven, will benefit from...
11. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom
Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
12. Mind Maps/ Mind Mapping for Teachers, Trainers, & Presenters
Using Mind Mapping to Plan>Rehearse >Teach brain-friendly lessons, broadcasts or webinars (Mind Maps,Memory,Mindmapping)...
13. Leading and Developing Top Talent
This course offers seasoned and up-and-coming leaders a clear, concise overview of hiring for team culture, the concepts and practices of building a productive environment for remote and hybrid teams, and leading organizational strategies, which begins with developing a strategic plan, creating SMART goals, and determining the most critical key performance indicators or metrics to manage and measure the plan’s success. Studies have shown that leading and developing talent includes creating a...
14. ELL Success in the Content Classroom: Teacher Toolbox Series
Plan lessons, activities and assessment with the ELL in mind, and create an engaging and welcoming environment for the ELL and their families.\n\nThis Specialization covers lesson planning and assessing with the ELL in mind as well as engaging the ELL student and their families in the school and community. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply the skills you learned by creating an annotated lesson plan and assessment with appropriate modifications for the ELL students. You will also...
15. Pilates Teacher Training & CPD Certification
Become a Classical Mat Pilates instructor with this accredited training course...
16. Professional Accredited Yoga Teacher Training Diploma Course
Full Certification Diploma Course to Learn the In depth techniques of Yoga to teach to Students & Groups!...
17. Teacher Training - How to Teach Online - Remote Teaching 1Hr
Crash Course! Learn to Teach Online. Coronavirus Has Now Made Online and Remote Teaching a Necessary Teaching Skill...
18. 20hr Intensive Chair Yoga Teacher Training- Certified
A fun-loving Chair Yoga Teacher Training for Yoga Teachers & Senior Yoga Practitioners! Studio Certificate & No Homework...
19. Outcome Based Education (OBE) & Academic Quality Assurance
Master Course for Teachers' Development: Grow Your Teaching-Learning Expertise to World-Class Level...
20. Advanced Reiki Training (ART) and Master/Teacher Training
Learn. Heal. Transform...
Top 10 most affordable universities for lead teachers
The most affordable schools for lead teachers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - fullerton.
If the best universities for lead teachers 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 lead teachers.
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 - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
4. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
9. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
10. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for lead teachers
The hardest universities for lead teachers to get into are Vanderbilt University, Boston University, and University of Rochester.
Some great schools for lead teachers 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 lead teachers 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. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
3. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
7. Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,321
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. Fordham University
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions rate
46%
SAT average
1,354
10. American University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,320
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for lead teachers
The easiest schools for lead teachers to get into are D'Youville College, holy names university, and the university of texas permian basin.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a lead teacher 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 lead teachers.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
4. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. College of Mount Saint Vincent
Bronx, NY • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,021
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
9. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
10. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
Average lead teacher salary by education level
| Lead teacher education level | Lead teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $39,918 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,869 |
| Doctorate Degree | $40,486 |
Lead teacher education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025