Teaching online is an excellent way of earning money while working at home on your own schedule. In fact, it has been said by one to be one of the best jobs you can get if you absolutely must work from home but still want to earn a respectable living.
This guide will teach you how to become an online teacher despite not having a teaching degree. We will discuss what online teachers do, how much they get paid, what platforms they use, and, more importantly, how you can get started yourself.
We’ll also share some of the best companies you can work for as an online teacher and some jobs that are available right now!
If you’re ready to learn how to become an online teacher without a degree, this beginner’s blog post will steer you in the right direction.
Can You Really Teach Online Without a Degree?
Most people wonder how you can possibly make money online without going to college and getting your degree. The answer lies in tutoring. While some companies require their tutors to hold at least a bachelor’s degree (and in some cases, a master’s degree), there are also plenty of places with less strict requirements. Typically, if you want to start tutoring for a company that does not require you to have a degree, you’ll need to:
- Hold a high school diploma or GED.
- Reside in and be eligible to work in the US.
- Have a valid Social Security Number.
- Possess a strong command of the English language, including good oral and written communication skills.
- Meet the technology requirements for the platform you want to work on. (Usually, this means you’ll need a high-speed internet connection, a headset, webcam, speakers, and a laptop or computer with certain technical specifications. Each company’s requirements can vary)
- Have kindness, patience, and a desire to help others learn.
What Does an Online Tutor Do?
Like the students they teach, tutors can come from various backgrounds, and all will possess different strengths and capabilities. Online Tutors use their particular academic strengths to help students learn in a one-on-one virtual environment outside of the usual classroom.
In some cases, a tutor will specialize in one specific subject, such as math. Depending on the tutor’s skills in math, they may help students who are behind in math to catch up in school, or they may teach students who desire a higher level of math skills than what they are getting in their regular classroom.
A lot depends on the age of the student as well. For example, online tutors may choose to work with children in the elementary grades or work with high school students. In some cases, they might even work with adult learners.
Some other things an online tutor might do include helping students with test preparations, note-taking and study skills, homework help, or learning new concepts. The goal, of course, is to help students improve or increase their academic performance.
As a tutor, you may find yourself helping preschool and kindergarten students learn to read, assisting elementary school students with history, teaching calculus to high schoolers, teaching English as a second language to adult learners, or something entirely different. Aspiring tutors have many niches to choose from, and what you teach will depend on your own skills and areas of expertise.
Where Can I Work as a Tutor With No Degree?
If you don’t have a degree but still want to do online tutoring, you have a couple of options. The first option is to set up your own tutoring business. This option allows you a lot of flexibility, and you don’t need to go through any application or approval process. However, on the flip side, you will need to generate your own clients, which can take time.
The second option is to work for a tutoring company. The advantages of going this route are that the company finds the clients for you, and you can depend on regular paychecks for the work you do. You’ll also be able to take advantage of any training or growth opportunities to help you improve as a tutor, and you might be able to connect with other educators too.
What Companies Hire Tutors Who Don’t Have a College Degree?
This section will discuss a few companies that are hiring right now and what to expect from each of them when you’re searching for a role as an online tutor.
Preply
Preply works more like a job-board type of platform for students looking to learn specific skills. A vast majority of the clients are high school-aged and up and are searching for a tutor specializing in a particular language. In many cases, they are trying to improve their English skills, but they may also be trying to learn a foreign language. There are no certifications needed to become a tutor at Preply. All you need is a desire and willingness to teach. According to the site, the average English tutor makes between $15 to $25 an hour on Preply.
Tutors.com
At Tutors.com, you can teach nearly any subject, skill level, and age. You create a free profile on the platform listing your expertise, skills, and areas of interest. This site has a lot of flexibility. You can teach the usual subjects, but you can also teach fine arts, business, computer skills, health, and a host of other topics. Then, you get matched up with people who want to learn those skills. For example, if you want to teach math to 5-10-year-old kids, families looking for a math tutor in this age group can see your profile and consider you as a potential tutor. You do not need a college degree to work with Tutors.com. According to the site, the average tutor charges $30 per hour.
Wyzant
Wyzant is a site for those who want to start their own tutoring business but still want the structure of an online platform. Much like Tutors.com, aspiring tutors at Wyzant fill out a profile to get connected to those who need tutors. Instead of searching for your own clients, Wyzant does the legwork for you. They also handle all the payments, so you never need to chase down your money. The company does charge a fee for their services, however. Tutors receive 75% of the payment, and Wyzant keeps 25% as a service fee.
Teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) Online
ESL tutors are probably the most in-demand tutors right now. As a result, there are several tutoring platforms where you can teach English without a degree. While the tutoring platforms we listed above are also looking for ESL teachers, the following sites are looking specifically for those who want to help children and adults learn English as a second language. Here are a few of them:
Cambly
On Cambly, you get paid to chat with people all over the world and help them build their language skills. If you like to talk and meet new people, this is the ideal tutoring job for you. Cambly pays its tutors by the minute. You’ll earn $0.17 a minute chatting with adults and $0.20 a minute talking to kids.
Skimatalk
Similar to Cambly, Skimatalk does not require you to hold a degree to teach English on the platform. Additionally, you don’t need to be an American English speaker to sign up. They accept applicants with Canadian, British, Australian, Irish, and New Zealand English dialects. You’ll need to conduct three free lessons to learn the ropes. After that, you can start earning $8 per 25-minute session.
Pro Tip: Obtaining TEFL Certification Can Significantly Increase Your Earnings
Prospective English tutors who want to earn even more money should consider getting TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certified. There are many places online to get this certification. You may even be able to go through your town or city’s adult education department to earn your TEFL certificate.
Notably, several companies hire English tutors with TEFL certification, including:
Posts
Tutlo
What if I Can’t Afford To Get My TEFL Certificate?
This is a familiar issue that many people run across—sometimes, you have to have money to make money. Unfortunately, TEFL certification is typically not free. So what if you are trying to live on a budget, but you want to further your education?
There are a few options here. One option is to keep working at an online tutoring company that does not require certification. Then pursue the certificate when you’ve saved up enough money.
Alternatively, you could pick up an additional part time-gig, like paid online surveys, Uber driving, food delivery, or another side hustle. There’s always a way to reach your goals with a bit of creativity.
Closing Thoughts
Teaching or tutoring online is one of the top ways to make money at home these days. It’s a fairly lucrative opportunity. Plus, it can also be gratifying knowing that you are helping someone else learn valuable skills that can help them get better grades, pass a test, or even learn to speak English.
There are plenty of options for teaching online without a college degree. You just need to explore them and see what is available to you. And remember, if one platform doesn’t work for you, try another. Don’t give up on your goals if you really want to make money as an online tutor. Keep trying out different sites until you find something that fits.
FAQs
Can I become an online tutor without a degree? ›
There are currently no legal requirements for one to one tutors to hold any professional qualifications, as we've already mentioned, but having them does help.
Does Palfish require a degree? ›Requirements: You do not need a degree, certification, nor working experience to work at Palfish, but you do need to be fluent in English. Just send a video with your application, and if you're enthusiastic, friendly, and hard working, you are guaranteed a spot on the Palfish team.
Can I become a tutor with no experience? ›You don't need any qualifications to join! Become a tutor and you'll develop your communication, planning, and organisation skills - all things your future employer will love. Juggling university, part-time work, hobbies and a social life can be tricky.
What qualifications do you need to teach online? ›- English proficiency.
- A college degree.
- Background in teaching or working with kids.
- Proficiency and comfort with computers and online technology.
- Experience or training with online course management platforms, such as D2L, Canvas, Blackboard, or Angel.
Some positions may require you to hold a degree in the subject that you plan to tutor students. For example, you may need at least a bachelor's degree in biological sciences to tutor students on A-level biology. Some employers may require that you have prior teaching experience and gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
Which app is best for online teaching? ›- ClassIn. ClassIn is a leading EdTech app that provides all-inclusive solutions for online learning. ...
- Zoom. ...
- Teachmint. ...
- TeacherKit. ...
- Kahoot! ...
- Quizizz. ...
- Educreations.
- Step 1: Choose a subject. ...
- Step 2: Know your audience. ...
- Step 3: Making the course pattern. ...
- Step 4: Selling the course. ...
- Step 5: Choose the Platform to Sell. ...
- Work from anywhere. ...
- More productivity. ...
- Cost-effective.
Fortunately, teaching online presents a solution! But can you support yourself working as an online teacher? While teaching English online salaries depend on your qualifications and the specific job, you can expect to make anywhere from $10-$25 USD/hour (and sometimes more).
Does VIPKid verify your degree? ›How does VIPKid verify the degree? You must submit proof of the degree with one of the following: A photo of your physical Bachelor's degree certificate. A copy of your official transcript from your institution.
Do you need a degree for VIPKid? ›We are very strict about applicants' education level and require you to have at least a Bachelor's degree. We require this because this is something that the parents of the children in China that we teach care about and trust that we are maintaining.
Does Cambly require a degree? ›
Cambly teachers must be native or near-native English speakers. Cambly does not require any additional degrees, certifications, or qualifications. You should be good with people and have strong conversation skills.
Can you teach online with a phone? ›Teachers are no longer limited to teaching in the traditional brick and mortar classroom; they can use their mobile phone to share information at any time, anywhere.
How much do online tutors make? ›Entry-level positions start at R 120 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 240 000 per year.
What qualifications do I need to be a tutor? ›There is no requirement to have specific qualifications to become a tutor. However, it will depend on the course level and type. Most tutors have an undergraduate degree, and some courses/subjects may require individuals to have specific qualifications.
Can you train as a teacher without a degree? ›So yes you can become a teacher without a degree and hold QTLS, which the government states has parity with QTS in maintained primary and secondary schools. There is however no guarantee that the schools you apply for will consider the QTLS qualification as equal to applicants holding QTS.
How do I start my own tuition at home? ›- Create a Plan. ...
- Determine the Services You Will Offer. ...
- Set Your Prices. ...
- Publicize and Advertise Your Home Tutoring Services. ...
- Operate and Improve Your Service.
All private tutors who run their own tutoring business need to be registered with HMRC. Even if you only tutor part-time, you still need to declare your earnings to the government. Most tutors start out as sole traders and keep their own financial records.
What software do online teachers use? ›Zoom. Zoom is a web-based training and conferencing platform. Around the world, many teachers, speakers, and students use it for distance learning. Teachers and students of the Game Project Management program have also adopted such services for distance learning under quarantine conditions.
Do online teachers pay well? ›Does teaching English online pay well? Generally speaking, online English teachers typically make anywhere between $10 - $40 USD per hour depending on their level of qualification. If you're a first-time English teacher with a TEFL certification, you will likely be making $10-$20 per hour to start.
How much do online teachers make per month? ›The average online teaching salary in South Africa is R 240 000 per year or R 123 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 210 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 390 000 per year.
How can I start teaching online and make money? ›
...
Some of the best platforms for teaching are:
- Chegg.
- Byju's.
- Vedantu.
- Unacademy.
- Khan Academy.
- Skill Share.
- Udemy.
Becoming an online teacher requires a high degree of motivation and self-direction. If you're someone who can't resist “taking a break” every 10 minutes to see what's new in the fridge or who's “liking” your posts on Facebook, then online teaching may not be the gig for you.
Do online teachers work from home? ›1. Online Teacher. For teachers who still love the job, but want to work at home, online teaching offers opportunities for every focus. Some virtual teachers focus on home-school students, for example, while others might focus on adult learners or corporate training programs.
Is Vipkid still hiring 2022? ›This company is no longer hiring online teachers due to recent changes in China. However, you can choose to look at the helpful links below instead: List of Non-Chinese Online ESL Companies – featuring companies such as, Cambly.
Why is Vipkid shutting down? ›What Happened to VIPKid in 2021? VIPKid, a leading force in the edtech space, originally served as a platform connecting Chinese students with Native English-speaking tutors. However, from July 2021, the Chinese government enforced a crackdown on companies offering tutoring services from abroad.
Is it easy to get hired at Vipkid? ›VIPKID is admittedly strict when it comes to their teacher requirements – while you might see some of their competitors hiring blindly and without defined criteria, VIPKID has earned the reputation of being very thorough and hands-on with their screening process and has requirements for everything from a teacher's ...
Is China shutting down VIPKid? ›Three months after China issued a regulation banning all for-profit tutoring within its borders, Chinese tutoring giant VIPKid is terminating its signature education program for students in the Chinese market, the company told EdWeek Market Brief.
What qualifications do you need for VIPKid? ›- Bachelor's Degree (Any Field) ...
- 2 Years of Experience Working With Children. ...
- Work Authorization in US or Canada. ...
- Not a Resident of California, New York, or Washington. ...
- Pass a Background Check. ...
- Reliable Internet. ...
- Device/System Requirements.
How long does the VIPKID hiring process take? Some have reported rocketing through the entire process in less than a week, but a more realistic expectation is 2-3 weeks from start to finish.
Is Cambly still hiring 2022? ›Yes! Cambly has significantly fewer requirements for teachers than other online platforms. As long as you are a native English speaker, you have a good chance of getting hired by Cambly.
How do I get hired at Cambly? ›
- Fill out a basic information form. There are no requirements other than being able to speak English fluently.
- When prompted, please select “Cambly (students 18+)
- Create a tutor profile which includes recording an introduction video.
- Complete an internet connection test.
You make $0.17/min ($10.20/hour) on Cambly and $0.20/min ($12.00/hour) on Cambly Kids. Get paid via Paypal every Monday. With our students spread across the globe, you can start tutoring at any time of the day based on your schedule. Work as little or as much as you want.
Can you teach online full time? ›You can do this! Teaching English online has many benefits and it is a great time to get into the industry. Becoming a full-time online English teacher is totally possible.
What kind of tutors make the most money? ›- Spanish Tutor. ...
- English Tutor. ...
- Private Tutor. ...
- Algebra Tutor. ...
- Elementary Math Tutor. Salary range: $35,500-$54,000 per year. ...
- Reading Tutor. Salary range: $34,000-$52,000 per year. ...
- Tutor. Salary range: $31,000-$52,000 per year. ...
- Math Coach. Salary range: $37,500-$51,000 per year.
Working as a private tutor will entail being self-employed, and with that will come the need to deal with your tax return.
How do I register as a tutor? ›- Signup as Tutor. Create your tutor profile for free by signing up as tutor.
- Complete your Profile. Fill all the teaching details on your profile page after successfull signup & upload your recent photograph.
- Start Teaching. ...
- Update Profile.
The average tutor salary in South Africa is R 210 000 per year or R 108 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 141 600 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 336 000 per year.
At what age you can be a tutor? ›You must be at least 18 years of age to work as a tutor with Grade Potential.
Is a tutor the same as a teacher? ›What's the difference between a teacher and a tutor? Teaching and tutoring involve a lot more differences than you might think. While teachers have to manage large class sizes of up to 30 students, a tutor's job is to support student's learning in a more personalised and flexible way.
How do I become an online tutor from home? ›- Research the requirements. ...
- Learn about your potential student base. ...
- Choose a subject. ...
- Write the curriculum. ...
- Find or create an online platform. ...
- Start taking on students.
Can you make a living off online tutoring? ›
If you do want to have a consistent year round income, it is definitely possible through tutoring and teaching online.
Is it easy to become an online tutor? ›The skills you need to become an online tutor are similar to the skills you need for in-person tutoring. You'll need to be knowledgeable in your subject area, have an adaptable teaching style, and good one-to-one teaching skills.
Is it hard to tutor online? ›Not only do online private tutors need to have expert knowledge in the subject they are teaching, but they need to dedicate a lot of time and effort to mastering e-learning software, marketing their services, and developing a number of interpersonal skills.
How much do online tutors earn? ›Online Tutor salary in India with less than 1 year of experience to 8 years ranges from ₹ 0.7 Lakhs to ₹ 6 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 2.2 Lakhs based on 1.9k salaries.
How do online tutors get paid? ›- VIPKID.
- Chegg Tutors.
- Tutor.com.
- Wyzant.com.
- Tutoring Jobs on FlexJobs.
- Revolution Prep.
- Smarthinking.
- ExploreLearning.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing monthly salaries as high as $6,792 and as low as $2,208, the majority of Online Tutor salaries currently range between $3,041 (25th percentile) to $5,166 (75th percentile) across the United States.
How can I earn fast money? ›- Become a Ride-Share Driver. Average income of up to $377 per month. ...
- Make Deliveries for Amazon or Uber Eats. ...
- Become a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker. ...
- Get a Babysitting Gig. ...
- Install Christmas Lights for the Holidays. ...
- Become a Home Organizer. ...
- Help With Home Gardening. ...
- Assist With Deliveries or Moving.
Being a successful online tutor means making learning relevant to your student. It is also rooted in having a good understanding of the topic you are teaching including various concepts, ideas and principles. By focusing on content relevant to your tutee's situation, your sessions will be more productive.
How do I become a self-employed tutor? ›There are currently no specific qualifications or certification required to become a private tutor. But the more you can demonstrate your expertise, the easier it will be to attract clients.
How many hours a week should I tutor? ›However, be wary of having too long of a session because having as long as 4 hours of tutoring will be overwhelming for a single sitting. Therefore, for most students having anywhere between 1 to 2 hours of tutoring each session and about 2 to 4 sessions per week is the right amount.
How many days a week should I tutor? ›
One day per week:
Generally, enough as a supplement to school content. For example: Your student is getting B's or higher but would like to improve specific skills in writing or reading. Your student is fine in managing her/his homework, but a weekly check-in for big projects or tests seems beneficial.
The four main areas of risk online are content, contact, conduct and commerce. Material that can be damaging to learners, young people or vulnerable adults when it isn't age appropriate. Sites may show sexual, violent or, hate material. Sites may promote harmful behaviour.