What Qualifications Do I Need to Become a Tutor?

Guardians need at least a high school diploma to work with students. Diplomas also allow tutors to continue their education at community colleges or four-year universities if they choose to study teaching or become subject matter experts. There are multiple avenues of training for tutors, and the qualifications vary depending on the type of tutoring they plan to do. To tutor younger students, guardians must have at least a high school diploma.

To teach high school and college students, tutors must have at least a college degree with a specialization in the subject they intend to teach. In some cases, candidates pursuing a master's degree will tutor undergraduate students at the same university. Certification is provided by the National Tutoring Association, the American Tutoring Association, and other qualified organizations. While grades are certainly important, keep in mind that the “right tutor” looks different for each student.

In general, tutors who teach particular academic subjects have some kind of degree or equivalent qualifications. With the right tutoring platform and a tutor with the right qualifications, online tutoring is as effective as in-person tutoring. Choosing the right tutoring platform, especially one that allows you to choose your own tutor, is an important step in finding the most qualified tutor. So how do you judge what is important when looking for the right tutor? What does it matter and what doesn't? For example, if you don't have a qualified training certificate or an official qualification, it may be quite difficult for you to establish that you can meet established tutoring standards.

Many students in the United States are looking for tutors who are different from conventional teachers and who have unique skills and experience, so for them, grades become irrelevant. As I said before, there is no legal qualification to provide tutoring except subject skill and knowledge. Perhaps the first thing on the minds of many when it comes to finding a qualified tutor in a subject is to consider the education of a tutor. While a firm knowledge of the subject and adequate academic credentials are prerequisites for any qualified tutor, they alone are not enough to make someone a good tutor. Programs like these tend to focus on teaching theory and practice, so a tutor with such qualifications will usually have the tools necessary to share and teach important information in a way that is understandable to their students. Although certified full-time tutors have an advantage over private tutors who don't have as much experience and qualification, this doesn't mean you're disqualified from the race.

With enough knowledge in your chosen subject and passion for learning, you can become an excellent tutor.

Dr. Julian Mercer
Dr. Julian Mercer

Archetype:The International Baccalaureate Learning ArchitectAn educator who understands the IB not simply as a curriculum, but as a philosophy of learning. Dr. Mercer blends classroom experience, global education insight, and practical tutoring expertise.Background:Dr. Julian Mercer is a former IB Diploma Programme Coordinator and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) teacher with 18 years of experience in international schools across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. He later transitioned into academic mentoring and tutor training, specialising in:• IB subject-specific tutoring (Maths AA/AI, Sciences, Humanities)• academic coaching for the IB’s unique demands: EE, IA, CAS• university admissions perspectives for IB students (UK, US, EU)• tutoring pedagogy + structuring high-impact sessions• starting and scaling online tutoring businesses• global tutoring platforms, marketing, and income strategies• parent decision-making: when to hire a tutor, how to evaluate qualityDr. Mercer writes with a voice that is measured, internationally informed, empathic, and deeply strategic, ideal for guiding families, tutors, and students navigating the IB ecosystem.Tone Signature:Worldly, reflective, structured, supportive, academically authoritative.

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