Qualifications for Technical School Teachers

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Trade school students are seeking short-term, specialized training that prepares them for the workforce in a specific field. It's the responsibility of a trade school teacher to know what skills students need for a particular industry and how to teach those skills.

Industry Experience
Industry experience is more important for trade school teachers than a bachelor's or master's degree, which is required for academic teaching. Research by the National Center for Education Statistics showed that nearly 60 percent of career and technical education teachers in fields such as manufacturing, construction and transportation had less than a bachelor's degree. Good trade school teachers will have obtained their knowledge and experience from working in their profession, and they'll know what skills students need to join it.

Industry Contacts
Although they may have been teaching for several years, good trade school teachers still have contacts in their industry. Many of these contacts may be part of the trade school's advisory board, which consists of local industry and business leaders involved in the specific trade. This organization meets two to three times per year to discuss the trade school program and whether or not it is producing graduates with the skills needed to work in the industry. Teachers can adapt lessons to fit the recommendations of this group. In addition, having industry contacts can be beneficial to the student since many trade school teachers help their students find a job in the field upon completion of the program.

Teaching Experience
Good trade school teachers usually have teaching experience before they they enter the classroom. Most often this is within the industry as many of them have been trainers or managers of new employees. They've worked with these employees to teach them the skills and knowledge they need to do well at the particular company at which they work.

License
Depending upon the state and the grade level of student, a good trade school teacher may be required to be licensed. This often requires submitting proof of industry knowledge through work experience and industry certification if available. In New York, for example, the state requires trade school teachers to have a license, which can be obtained by showing proof of a high school diploma and two years of experience working in the industry about which they will be teaching.

People Skills
While an industry workplace can be rough and crude at times, trade school teachers must be able to take a more gentle approach as they work with students, parents and other school employees. If a trade school teacher lacks the people skills to do this, he may turn students off from learning and possibly away from the industry.