To become an elementary school teacher, you typically need a bachelors degree in a subject that is teachable in school or in a related area of study such as early childhood development or elementary education. While many different degrees can lead to an elementary school teaching career, the most direct route is a Bachelors in Elementary Education (BS) Degree. The time required to become an elementary school teacher depends on your starting point and where you practice, but generally, you need to obtain a bachelors degree (approximately 4 years), complete state requirements for teacher licensing (approximately 3 months), and complete a period of supervised teaching (up to one year) . If you complete a bachelors degree that doesnt provide teaching experience, an extra year for continuing education may be necessary. Elementary teacher requirements depend on the state or region in which the prospective teacher is seeking certification, but generally, a minimum of a bachelors degree in elementary education and completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program is expected.