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Qualifications for Tutoring Jobs: Building it A-La-CarteNo matter what your qualifications for tutoring jobs are, remember one thing: All you have in the end is your reputation. Reputation is everything...remember this.This page is written with tutors in mind. The “Four Things Parents Should Look For in a Tutor” can help tutors understand what parents are looking for in a tutor. It also gives tutors an idea of where they should be focusing their attention when trying to improve their qualifications for tutoring jobs. General QualificationsNow, to be a tutor, it's usually good to either be a teacher, or have a minimum of an undergraduate degree in the subject you plan to tutor. A big part of a private tutoring qualifications rests with her experience as a teacher. But just because you don’t teach or have an undergraduate degree doesn’t mean you can’t tutor is certain subjects. Some people have become experts in fields such as birding, scrap booking and gardening, just by the sheer fact that they have a tremendous amount of experience doing what they love.Although there are agencies that certify tutors as having a minimum level of knowledge or experience, there are no state or national private tutoring qualifications. This is another reason why you should be concerned about your reputation. Even without the experience and educational background, you can still have an excellent reputation as a tutor. And some tutors with all the degrees and experience can have bad reputations. Because there are so many tutors and tutoring companies, and also because there are no required qualifications for tutoring jobs, you really won’t stand out unless you produce excellent results, thus building your good reputation. Continuing education is always a good idea, and joining tutoring associations will keep you up to date on the latest techniques. So what do parents look for in a tutor? Four Things Parents Are Looking For in a TutorFirst, parents are looking for at least an undergraduate degree in their tutoring specialty. An undergraduate degree in criminal justice won't qualify that tutor to teach college math. But don’t look at this requirement as the only or even the most important, private tutoring qualifications.Second, parents are seeking tutors with teaching or real world experience. It's one thing to find a college kid who does well in math to tutor your child, and quite a different thing to find a degreed professional who knows how to impart her knowledge to her pupil. Real world experience is a real asset to your qualifications for tutoring jobs. Having a N.A.S.A. scientist explain gravity is different from a kid who read about gravity in a text book. And being able to explain how the subject actually applies to the real world is a big advantage for tutors.Third, passion for the subject, and for teaching in general, is a must. Over the years, I have seen tutors who have come to work for me with a passion to teach, and others who were trying to make a little extra money, and the difference is staggering. Passion is hard to measure, but is essential in a great tutor. Parents are looking for it in the tutor's attitude, the way they talk about their subject, about their students. It isn't an objective measure, but instead a subjective measure. It's a gut feeling based on a parents limited observations of you. Fourth, and perhaps the most important thing that parents look for in a tutor, are recommendations. Not just recommendations that the tutor offers, but recommendations from friends and people within the parents circle of influence. If you have a few really good clients, make sure they talk you up to their friends, because their recommendation is golden. Tutoring AssociationsThere are also tutoring associations that certify tutors according to their curriculum and testing.Organizations such as the Association for the Tutoring Profession (ATP), bestow certifications for Associate Tutor, Advanced Tutor and Master Tutor based on the applicants completion of a set minimum hours of training, experience and recommendation of their peers. Other associations such as the American Tutoring Association (ATA), International Tutoring Association (ITA), and National Tutoring Association (NTA) offer similar certifications based upon their own standards. So, what does this mean? Well, it always looks impressive to have a bunch of letters after your name, but there isn't a standard that says that a tutor must be certified by a particular association. It's good to have certifications, even on a voluntary basis. Not only will the certification lend credibility to a tutor’s name, but the organizations that offer certification will also require a certain amount of continuing education which is never a bad idea. And belonging to a tutoring association will enhance your private tutoring qualifications, they also have other benefits such as online resources, job leads, tips on tutoring and current issues in the supplemental education field. Of course being a part of a larger group that you can use as a sounding board helps your sanity too. Return from Qualifications for Tutoring Jobs to Tutor Trend Home Page
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