Teaching as a Second Career
Teach For America's Corps
Teach For America's Corps
TFA corps members teach full-time for at least two years in schools serving students from historically underserved communities, where systemic barriers influence their opportunities. Our mission is to cultivate equity-driven leaders who will transform education and expand possibilities for children across this nation. By joining TFA, corps members:
- Receive training and support
- Are hired by local schools or districts
- Are paid a full-time salary with benefits
- Work towards certification while in the corps
This is your chance to step into a role that will challenge you, grow you, and allow you to make a lasting impact. Build on your leadership skills, join a community of passionate changemakers like you, and open doors to a career that will transform both your life and the lives of those you serve. Ready to take the leap? Take our Eligibility Quiz and start your journey today.
3 Reasons Why People Consider TFA Later in Their Career
3 Reasons Why People Consider TFA Later in Their Career
There are many reasons for changing your career—craving purpose and impact, feeling burnout, wanting to align your career with your values—just to name a few. Every corps member has their unique “why” for entering the classroom. Below are the top three reasons why others like you chose to take the leap and transition into teaching.
When we ask corps members why they want to be a teacher, the most common answer is the desire to make an impact. What does that look and feel like?
As a teacher every day you will use your talents and prior experiences to help your students thrive. With any job there are challenges you will have to face. You will have a front row seat to the inequities woven into our educational system. Yet the place where inequity is plainly visible is also where possibility and hope exists. You will advocate for your students' needs while paving pathways for their future, receiving returns beyond measure.
A career in teaching is one where the relationships that you create with your students and fellow teachers will motivate you, give you purpose, and likely change you. You will laugh with them, grow with them, and take every success and failure as a lesson. All of this will leave you wondering why you didn’t pursue teaching sooner.
We’re committed to reducing barriers for exceptionally talented leaders to enter education. Added financial burden and debt should not be the reason that you are unable to work in the classroom. We help lessen the burden.
Stipends
All incoming corps members are eligible for a Baseline Regional Stipend, designed to help bridge the gap in the transition to the classroom. Baseline Regional Stipends are meant to cover living expenses and certification costs through the summer, the amount varies by region. An additional Pell/EAD Stipend is automatically added for all Pell Grant recipients and EAD holders, regardless of region.
Need-Based Aid
Incoming corps members with additional financial need for their transition to the corps may apply for Need-Based Transitional Support to supplement their baseline support stipends. Need-based applicants will be offered an interest-free loan; applicants with the highest need may also be offered a grant. Learn more about how to apply for Need-Based Transitional Support.
AmeriCorps (Student Loan Assistance)
Corps members who join AmeriCorps may be eligible for additional funding to help pay off student loans or put toward certification costs. The AmeriCorps award is distributed after each year of membership. Learn more about AmeriCorps eligibility.
Wondering what qualifications you need to become a teacher? Many of our corps members are considered “non-traditional” teachers since they haven’t completed a traditional course of study in education before starting in the classroom.
Get Your Initial License
This is what you need to teach on day one. To receive your initial license, you’ll be required to pass your grade level and subject exam (this may vary by region). You are not required to complete your licensing exams prior to applying to TFA. If accepted, TFA staff will guide you through this process offering you support along the way.
Get Your Full Certification
While you can start teaching with your initial license in the fall, most states require you to be working toward your full certification. During your first year of teaching, TFA will support you in enrolling in a certification program at a university, partner organization, or with TFA. Most certification programs are completed within two years and do vary by region.
Why I Changed My Career To Be a TFA Teacher
“After separating from the military I found that continued service and mission-oriented work motivated me. Teach For America's mission inspired me and continues to inspire me.”
- Brett, Phoenix Corps
“I left behind my successful tech career because I realized that I gained more joy, meaning, and fulfillment from my volunteer role as an after-school teacher…With its deep resources and intensive training, TFA became the perfect catalyst to support my transition in teaching.”
- Eileen, Bay Area Corps
“In my previous job, I was required to juggle a number of tasks and to make game-time decisions regularly. This certainly helped me in the classroom, because this is what teachers do all day.”
- Jessica, Nashville Corps
“After 15 years in media, I did not have the passion for it anymore. I knew I wanted to go through Teach For America because of their mission and what it means for kids who look like me.”
- Danielle, D.C. and Viriginia Corps
“I wanted to give back to the community and help out people who may not have access to the same quality of education as my own kids do.”
- Stephen, Baltimore Corps
Is This Career Change for You?
Is This Career Change for You?
Teaching is the most challenging, rewarding, and important job in the world. You’ll engage with rigorous training, coaching, and professional development, allowing you to further develop as a leader. The members of the community you will be joining have these things in common:
- Believing deeply in kids and families facing systemic racism and/or poverty
- Leading others to pursue a bold vision for change beyond the status quo
- Working effectively in collaboration with others of diverse perspectives and backgrounds
- Operating with curiosity and continuously learn
FAQ: Am I eligible to apply for the corps?
FAQ: Am I eligible to apply for the corps?
In order to be considered for admission to the Teach For America corps, you must:
Have a Bachelor's degree with a 2.5 minimum undergraduate GPA. If your undergraduate GPA is below 2.5 but you graduated from graduate school with a 3.50 or above, you may qualify for our GPA waiver.
Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible EAD holder.
Application Process
Our application process is different than what you might be used to. There are multiple deadlines throughout the year to apply to Teach For America. No matter the deadline you choose, if admitted to the corps, your start date wouldn’t be until the following Spring when you started your Pre-Service training.
The online application form asks about your background and leadership experience. Plan to upload your resume and write two short response reflections about a meaningful accomplishment and your interest in joining TFA as a corps member. Your responses help us gain a deeper understanding of your skills, strengths, and experiences. Learn more about the application and interview process.
You’ll also tell us where and what you’ll teach. When applying, you may already have a place in mind where you’d like to teach and a favorite subject or grade level. Use the Explore Your Region Tool to see if TFA is in your community or somewhere new that interests you. During your application, you can select the region you want to apply to most, with the option to select one or two alternate regions you’re excited about. Learn what’s true and what’s false about how you get matched to a region.
The interview occurs virtually and consists of a sample lesson, case activity, and a one-on-one interview.
After your interview, you’ll finalize your regional selection(s) to determine where you will teach. You will also preference the subjects you qualify to teach.
You’ll learn if you are accepted and receive your placement and subject notification through email and the applicant center. You have approximately 10 days after the offer to confirm that you’ll join us.
Taking that leap into your new career starts with one application.
Choose Your Application Window
As a working professional seeking new opportunities, we have an application window that fits your schedule! Review our application deadlines and choose when you’re going to apply.
| Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. ET on | Sept. 16 2024 | Oct. 25 2024 |
Feb. 3 2025 |
Mar. 10 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learn if you're invited to an interview (after 3 p.m. ET) | Sept. 23 | Nov. 1 | Feb. 10 | Mar. 17 |
| Attend your interview | Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 | Nov. 12 - 15 | Feb. 18 - 21 | Mar. 24 - 27 |
| Learn your admissions decision + regional/subject placement (after 3 p.m. ET) | Oct. 21 | Dec. 4 | Mar. 11 | Apr. 11 |
| Accept or decline your offer | Oct. 30 | Dec. 13 | Mar. 20 | Apr. 21 |
| Submit Your Application By |
Learn if you’re invited to an interview |
Attend your interview | Learn your admissions decision plus regional and subject placement (after 3 p.m. ET) |
Accept or decline your offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 16 2024 | Sept. 23 | Sept. 30 - Oct. 02 | Oct. 21 | Oct. 30 |
| Oct. 25 2024 | Nov. 01 | Nov. 12 - 15 | Dec. 04 | Dec. 13 |
| Feb. 03 2025 | Feb. 10 | Feb. 18 - 21 | Mar. 11 | Mar. 20 |
| Mar. 10 2025 Critical Needs Deadline |
Mar. 17 | Mar. 24 - Mar. 27 | Apr. 11 | Apr. 21 |