High School

Take a well-rounded college preparatory curriculum. If you know the field that you'd like to tutor in, take as many classes as you can in that subject. For example, if you want to eventually tutor in math, take algebra, geometry, calculus, and any other math classes that are available. Taking speech and English courses will also help you hone communication skills, which will be important when you work with students. Taking a foreign language, such as Spanish, will help you to work with those who do not speak English as a first language.

Postsecondary Training

Tutors and trainers have a variety of educational backgrounds. Most tutors have a bachelor's degree or higher—usually in a field that is related to the area in which they tutor.

Other Education or Training

The National Tutoring Association offers specialized workshops to help tutors keep their skills up to date. Past workshops included: "Implementing The Common Core Standards: Practical Strategies & Effective Lessons," "Understanding Learning Preferences and The Holistic Dialogue," "Mathematics Workshop: Pathway To Competence," and "Tutors: Understanding Compassion Fatigue." The Association for Talent Development also provides continuing education classes and webinars.

Certification or Licensing

Certification is not required to work as a tutor or trainer but can enhance skills and employment opportunities. The National Tutoring Association and the Association for Talent Development offer voluntary certifications to tutors and related professionals.

Any experience teaching young people that you can obtain while in school will be useful in these careers. Trainers usually have several years of experience as tutors.

Besides being skilled in the topics they teach, the best tutors are excellent communicators and are poised, friendly, and instantly at ease around new people. Tutors must also have great patience, especially if their student is having difficulty with a subject. Well-trained tutors will find other methods or approaches for teaching the lesson until the student understands the topic.

Successful tutors are also creative, oftentimes calling upon new inventive ways of instructing and inspiring their students. They must have strong communication skills, be organized, and enjoy teaching others.