If you have ever thought about being a teacher, but do not have the time to go college because of work and familial obligation, you may be in luck. Colleges and universities offering online degree programs in education leading to teacher certification credentials have become more common. Becoming a teacher involves completing college and a state-approved teacher education program. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for teachers should steadily increase from 2008 to 2018.

Visit the website of your state board of education to determine which schools have state-approved teacher education programs. For the schools that have approved programs, determine which of those schools offer online degrees in education by visiting their website. From your state's board of education website you should also determine whether or not you will need a degree in education or not. Some states like Texas and California require you to have a bachelor's degree, but only in a field related to the field you intend to teach in. If your state does not require an education degree, you can simply look for colleges or universities with online degrees in fields related to the field you want to teach.

Enroll in online classes and complete your general education requirements. Before you can pursue your education courses and any other courses related to your education degree, you will need to complete the courses that are a part of the common curriculum of the college or university. These are usually courses that all students take in areas like science, math, English, history, communication and even psychology. They provide you with foundational knowledge and skills for the remainder of your courses.

Complete your bachelor's degree. In states where you are only required to complete a bachelor's degree, but not necessarily in the field of education, you can declare your major and begin to take courses to complete it. Otherwise, you will need to complete courses in education, child psychology and others related to your intended field of instruction.

Complete your teacher education program. This is usually completed concurrently with your bachelor's degree and is incorporated into the school's curriculum, but some schools that offer online degree programs, like Western Governors University, offer a post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program. These programs are primarily intended for those that have bachelor's degrees but need to complete state-approved teacher education training in order to be certified and licensed. Some schools like Regis University offer certification preparation programs for more than one state. Regis, for example, offers programs for Wyoming, Nevada and Colorado.

Apply to take the state certification exams. This can usually be done online, but the exam itself will have to be taken at a time and place designated by your state's department of education. Certification exams usually involve testing of your skills in basic skills in math, reading and writing. They also test your knowledge of the subject you plan on teaching to ensure that you are properly qualified to do so.