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Strong communication and organizational skills

The (BLS) lists college professors as postsecondary teachers. As noted above and by BLS, often a doctoral degree is required to join the faculty at most institutions, but sometimes a master’s degree will suffice to meet open-role education requirements. Depending on the role, some employers may seek out someone who gained teaching experience along the way as well. Either way, a graduate degree is a foundation needed to move forward to become a contending candidate.

1. Get a graduate degree in the subject

The path to becoming a college professor starts after earning an undergraduate degree. The undergraduate degree can be in teaching or in the field in which the aspiring professor plans to teach, such as business or psychology. After a bachelor’s degree, apply to graduate programs that offer degrees in a chosen field, find professors to write letters of recommendation, and take any qualifying exams, such as the GRE^® test, unless the program specifies otherwise.

Once accepted into a graduate program, students spend anywhere from one to four years earning a master’s degree, depending on the program. The day-to-day consists of taking specified courses and completing assignments to gain expertise in the field of choice. By the end of your program, students will likely have to��write or create a thesis project that showcases the specialized knowledge cultivated during the master’s program. Students are often asked to present and defend their thesis to a panel before graduating.

3. Write articles and books about a subject area to build a reputation as an expert

Before a college or university hires a candidate for a professor position, they need to know that person is an expert in their field. One of the best ways to prove this is to write articles or books in the subject area they want to teach. It is ideal if written work is published in reputable journals, newspapers or with esteemed press companies. Publishing work not only helps prove expertise when applying for jobs, but it can also help make the author a recognizable figure to others in that field.

4. Join professional organizations related to the field of study

Nearly every profession has a����to join. These organizations host yearly conferences to present work and also provide a way to connect with professionals in those fields of study. Some of these organizations also provide job listings to members, provide professional training opportunities, and run magazines to can publish work.

5. Apply for faculty positions

Becoming full-time or part-time faculty at a university such as a lecturer can help gain teaching experience. Requirements for this may not be as rigorous, and becoming full-time faculty may serve as a stepping stone to becoming a full professor.

6. Serve on committees and attend conferences to network with other professors

Taking an active role in a field of study and networking is a great way to land a job as a professor. After joining a professional organization, consider serving on a committee or holding a leadership position. Attend conferences, even when not presenting, to learn more about other professors’ work and make connections with them. While qualifications are important to getting a tenure-track position as a professor,�� it's important to network with professors who can provide recommendations when applying for jobs.

7. Apply for college professor position

Once a student has graduated with a master’s degree, gained teaching experience, published work, and networked with professors in their field, it’s time to startapplying for professor positions��at universities.

If the field requires a doctoral degree to earn tenure, start by applying for adjunct faculty and assistant professor positions to get a foot in the door at a large university or apply for professor positions at smaller institutions and community colleges.