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Reading instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a reading instructor. Reading instructors usually study elementary education, english, or education. 64% of reading instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,339 real reading instructor resumes to see exactly what reading instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for reading instructors are the Florida State University and the Florida State University.

There are also many online reading instructor courses to help get the education required to be a reading instructor.

There are certain reading instructor certifications that you should consider. These reading instructor certifications include Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) and Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:).

What education do you need to become a reading instructor?

What degree do you need to be a reading instructor?

The most common degree for reading instructors is bachelor's degree, with 64% of reading instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 26% and master's degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 64%
  • Master's, 26%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a reading instructor?

You should major in elementary education to become a reading instructor. 19% of reading instructors major in elementary education. Other common majors for a reading instructor include english and education.

Most common colleges for reading instructors

Reading instructors often get their degrees at Florida State University, University of Phoenix, and University of South Florida. Here are the most common colleges for reading instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Reading instructor common collegePercentages
Florida State University9.27%
University of Phoenix8.61%
University of South Florida6.62%
University of Florida6.62%
New York University5.30%

Best majors for reading instructors

Best colleges for reading instructors

The best colleges for reading instructors are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University.

A reading 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 reading 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 reading instructors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

9. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

20 best online courses for reading instructors

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1. Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom

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Welcome to Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom! This course will help you effectively assess student performance virtually, including compliance issues, feedback models, online grade book functions, and data analysis. We will discuss why effective measures of performance and assessment are a crucial component of any virtual program, and the importance of teachers and administrators understanding both the myths and challenges of assessing performance virtually, administering...

2. Teach English Now! Teaching Language Online

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Whether you have already taught English as a Second Language and want to start teaching it online, you've already been teaching ESL online and want to sharpen your skills, or you are new to teaching and interested in teaching ESL online, ASU and VOXY provide you with the basic ideas and concepts you need to know in order to successfully teach ESL online. This course uses a fun and interesting theme of "International Travel" to deliver content in an entertaining way. There are also plenty of...

3. TESOL - Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages

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Teaching Skills and Classroom Management...

4. Learn to Read and Write Arabic For Beginners

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The Ultimate Arabic Reading and Writing Course for All Levels...

5. Low Intermediate English: Planning & Organization

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In this course, you will learn important language for planning your life, including your social life, your travels, and your work. Learning activities in this course will take place on Voxy, an engaging language learning platform that automatically adapts to your current level and your performance across reading, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills so that every lesson is optimized for rapid improvement. Each week is made up of engaging, short, task-based lessons that can be...

6. Constructivism and Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

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This course is designed to help participants examine the implications of constructivism for learning and teaching in science, mathematics, and technology focused areas. Course readings, discussions, and assignments will examine constructivist views of learning, research on students' ideas and idea-based interactions, research on instructional approaches taking student ideas into account, and challenges in implementing constructivist perspectives in instruction...

7. IELTS Band 7+ Preparation Reading Course

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A guide to learning how to answer each IELTS Reading Comprehension Question...

8. Complete Google Classroom Course: Teaching Google Classroom

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Mastering the Art of Teaching with Google Classroom - Teaching Online with Google Classroom - Google Certified Educator...

9. IELTS Reading Section Skills Mastery

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Whether you have taken the IELTS test before, you will benefit from completing this course on the reading section of the exam. The lessons in this course will improve your overall skills in reading and prepare you for every type of question in this section of the test, increasing your chances of getting your target band score. You will be ready to confidently complete the 40-question reading section, which includes a dozen different types of reading tasks. We’ll review plenty of sample readings...

10. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)

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Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...

11. Speak English Like a Native: Troubleshooting Course for ESL

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English language students, learn conversation skills with over 50 video lectures in this Basic English language course...

12. A1-A2 Elementary Level English Reading  Read to Learn

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READ to LEARN A1-A2 Basic and Elementary Level English Grammar, Essential Structures, Vocabulary and Pronunciation...

13. Tarot Card Success - The Complete Tarot Reading Course

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TAROT CERTIFICATE COURSE! Master your Psychic Ability and Learn to Give Accurate Professional Level Tarot Card Readings...

14. Speed Reading MACHINE 3.1: How To Read 307 Books In 2023

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The ULTIMATE Secret To Reading 100, 200 Or Even 300 Books Per Year Without Using Speed Reading Or Book Summaries...

15. Master the FTCE Reading K-12

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Instruction and Practice on the 44 Skills Needed to Pass the FTCE Reading K-12 Exam...

16. The DEFINITIVE course on Speed Reading. All techniques+hacks

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17. 10X SUPERHUMAN Learning: Speed Reading & Memory Booster

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18. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.

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Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...

19. The complete Instructional Designer course

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20. Love Readings: Give Psychic Love Readings with Ease

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CERTIFICATE COURSE: Master Professional Level Relationship Readings with Tarot, Oracle Cards & Spirit Guides...

Top 10 most affordable universities for reading instructors

The most affordable schools for reading instructors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for reading 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 reading instructors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

9. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for reading instructors

The hardest universities for reading instructors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for reading 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 reading 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

7. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for reading instructors

The easiest schools for reading instructors to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, barry university, and felician university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a reading 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 reading instructors.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

7. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

10. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

Average reading instructor salary by education level

According to our data, reading instructors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $53,584 annually. Reading instructors with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $52,981.
Reading instructor education levelReading instructor salary
Master's Degree$53,584
Bachelor's Degree$40,575
Doctorate Degree$52,981

Reading instructor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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