What is Adult Education?

Adults going back to school on a part-time, casual basis for self-enrichment and continuing education is one of the fastest growing segments in education. New technology, advanced life expectancies and older workers staying in the workforce longer means there is a growing need for adult education instructors. As an adult education teacher, you may find opportunities to teach adults in a wide variety of subjects, from recreational experiences to skill development in numerous vocational fields. Adults are signing up for courses in everything from cooking to website coding.

Adult education teachers tend to teach adult students part-time, as most courses are held on the evenings or weekends. You can find positions running  extended, multi-week  workshops, a weekly course, or a Saturday morning  lecture series. Many adult educators bring their expertise to the subject they are knowledge about --  an art teacher who works in the public school system may also offer evening courses to adults through a community program, for example.

To work in adult education, think about the classes you are qualified to teach, and find a community center or local college or university where you may be able to teach your curriculum. Places to consider teaching include public schools open to the community for evening classes, medical centers that promote health and wellness lectures, , and senior and community centers. Before you approach any of these venues, you’ll need to draft a solid syllabus and list your materials, and, if accepted, you may be asked to help market your offering.

Income varies widely, depending on what you teach, where you teach and how often you hold classes. You may be paid hourly, or you may get a percentage of the fee each student pays the venue. As of 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average hourly pay at somewhere between $20 and $33 per hour, with some adult editors earning considerably more.

Education and training requirements for adult education teachers vary as much as the industry's scope. If you are a cook, specific culinary school training qualifies you to teach cooking at community colleges; however, if you are a house builder with just a high school education or vocational training, you are still qualified to teach a class on house framing at your local home improvement store or community center.

There is no official accreditation or verification needed to be an adult educator. The role is highly dependent upon your experience, and what the venue requires of you. To teach affiliated with a college or university, adult education teachers will need, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree, probably a master’s degree, as well. For others, it may be that you need professional standing in your field. Someone who runs a writing workshop for adults will probably need to be a published author, for example, while a cooking instructor should be a professional caterer or chef. 

  Working as an adult educator can be a fulfilling and not time-consuming role for teachers, for adults with expertise to share, and for anyone who is looking to work on a flexible, part-time basis.