Do you have a passion for helping teachers integrate technology into their teaching? Are you enthusiastic about sharing best practices in a particular subject area? Does the idea of teaching other people how to reach students with disabilities make your heart beat with excitement? If so, becoming an educational consultant may be the perfect career for you. To become an educational consultant, you usually need a bachelor's degree in a related area and at least seven years of experience in the field. You may also need to meet licensing requirements for teachers in your area, which will likely include a teacher's credential. It is important to narrow down your areas of expertise, as education is a very broad field.
The Educational Consultant develops programs for in-service education of teachers. They plan and coordinate education policies for specific subject areas or grade levels, and consult with federal, state and local school officials to develop curricula and establish guidelines for educational programs. Designing and managing higher education and professional development programs for K-12 teachers at universities and colleges is also part of the job. The American Institute of Certified Educational Planners offers the CEP (Certified Educational Planners) certification for consultants who work directly with families in college career planning.
It is important to note that members of the IECA do not accept any compensation from educational institutions for the placement of a child. If you are considering starting your own educational consulting business, there is no step-by-step guide available. However, some graduate schools offer post-secondary certificates in educational consulting, which can help you gain experience in the field that you can use as a consultant. A master's degree will also help assure your clients of your knowledge.
As an educational consultant, you will be responsible for managing your own general expenses, health insurance, retirement and self-employment. You may also be hired by school districts to review how teachers and districts conduct their educational processes, and then make suggestions on better ways to accomplish those tasks. Remember, every employer is different and everyone will have unique qualifications when you hire for an Education Consultant position. I have been a consultant in a New York public school district for 15 years for a number of hours hired each year.
