Many children take advantage of tutoring services at some point during their school careers. Parents sometimes want their children to move ahead in a certain subject; other times, a student needs extra help in a subject. To become an after school tutor, you should make sure that you are familiar with any laws governing tutoring in your area, decide what subject you would like to teach, obtain any certifications you can and determine whether you want to work for yourself, work for an agency or volunteer your time.
Before beginning any tutoring work, you should first check the laws and regulations governing tutors in your area. Although there might not be any in your area, it is better to check before going through the work needed to become an after school tutor than to find out at a later date that there are laws in place to regulate tutoring. Adhering to any regulations ensures that you are set to continue your tutoring efforts.
As a tutor, you will have the opportunity to tutor a variety of children in many subjects. To become an after school tutor who is successful at what you do, you should first determine which subject or subjects you would like to teach. If you were always great at math, you might decide to become an after school tutor in math. There are a variety of subjects to choose from, and your expertise and level of comfort with the subject you choose will show in your tutoring.
Many people like to see at least one or two specialized certifications or qualifications when applying to become an after school tutor, especially if you are looking to work for a tutoring agency. If you have a teaching background, this might not be difficult. Even if you don't have a teaching background, many agencies offer a training course specifically for new tutors. You might also take advantage of continuing education courses in your area to obtain qualifications.
A big part of the decision to become an after school tutor is determining whether you would like to work for yourself, work for an agency or volunteer your time. Working for yourself might not net you as much money as working for an agency, but you will enjoy much more freedom in choosing when and where you work, how much you charge and the families with which you work. An agency might be able to provide you with more money, but you will be limited regarding when and where you work, what you charge and with whom you work. If you truly enjoy helping others and are interested in making a difference in a child’s life, there are many after school programs that are volunteer-led and in which you might volunteer your tutoring time. Many of these programs have a specific focus, such as reading or math tutoring, giving you the opportunity to help a student who is really struggling.
If you will be working for yourself, advertise through school bulletin boards, the newspaper, online and through word of mouth. You might already know of a few children who would benefit from your help. When looking for work through an agency, it is best to prepare a résumé and apply through the agency's website or a job search engine. A volunteer program might have an application process similar to that of a paid tutoring position. Also remember to prepare yourself for the interview process and take any steps that you would when applying for a job.