Teaching is one of the most fulfilling career choices, especially for people who love helping and enlightening others.
It enables you to make a difference in students’ lives and create bonds that can last a lifetime.
If you’re interested in teaching but would like the flexibility of working anytime and anywhere you want, consider online tutoring.
This profession allows you to educate others while enjoying the freedom to choose your subjects, students, rates, schedule, and location.
This helpful guide outlines the key steps on how to become an online tutor.
You’ll also get an idea of the potential earnings, associated costs, and benefits of becoming a tutor.
An Overview of Online Tutoring: A Primer
Online tutoring involves providing students with personalized lessons over the Internet to enhance their knowledge of a particular subject.
Online tutors can teach multiple subjects and student levels, or they can specialize in one field of study.
Some online tutors specialize in test preparation, while others focus on teaching a specific skill, like speaking a foreign language.
Compared to traditional teaching, online tutoring jobs provide more flexibility in terms of choosing clients, subjects, and working hours.
It’s an ideal career path for individuals who enjoy educating others and sharing their academic expertise while working remotely.
The typical responsibilities of a tutor involve creating lesson plans, conducting tutoring sessions, and monitoring students’ progress.
As an online tutor, you’ll also respond to students’ inquiries about your subject and coordinate with parents and administrators.
How Much Do Online Tutors Make?
Your earnings as an online tutor depend on a number of factors, such as your hours worked, subject complexity, and client base.
On average, tutors make $21.55 per hour, with the potential of earning as high as $180 per hour.
The highest-paying subjects for online tutors include Corporate Finance, Law, Computer Science, and Calculus.
Foreign languages, such as German, Hebrew, and Latin, also charge high hourly rates.
Your choice of platform can also influence how much you earn as a tutor. Some companies, such as Preply, allow you to set your preferred rate. Others have a fixed hourly rate and take a commission out of your earnings.
What You’ll Need to Become an Online Tutor & Associated Costs
One advantage of an online tutoring career is that it doesn’t require a sizable upfront investment.
As long as you have a genuine passion for teaching, plus the following tools and resources, you’re good to go:
- Education and experience: Not all tutoring jobs require teaching experience or a degree in education. Some platforms only require tutors to have a high school diploma, a relevant bachelor’s degree, or online tutoring experience.
- Professional certifications: A certification related to tutoring or your designated subject can greatly increase your chances of getting hired as a tutor. The cost of certifications can range from $50–$500.
- Online tutoring platform or software: Registering on an online tutoring platform is usually free as long as you meet the company’s requirements. Subscriptions to tutoring software, including Google Classroom and WizIQ, can cost $0–$170 per month.
- Attire, equipment, and Internet connection: You’ll need a reliable Internet connection, a distraction-free space, and a computer with a webcam and microphone. Ensure that your background is plain and your attire is professional when tutoring.
How Much Does It Cost to Become an Online Tutor?
Depending on your choice of certifications and tutoring software, becoming an online tutor can cost $50–$700.
If you sign up on a tutoring platform, the company will likely provide the software at no cost.
Free training courses, certifications, and software trial versions are also available. You can save up by using the professional attire, workspace, and computer equipment that you already have.
The cost of getting a four-year degree in education varies per institution and averages around $9,400–$37,600 annually.
Is It Hard to Become an Online Tutor?
The main challenge of becoming an online tutor involves acquiring the high-level knowledge needed to teach certain subjects.
Some platforms require tutors to have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or even a Ph.D. in their chosen subject. Others only accept tutors with teaching certifications, licenses, and teaching experience.
You also have to compete with other tutors in finding clients, especially if you teach a common subject.
Additional challenges of becoming an online tutor include overcoming technical issues and forming genuine connections with students.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Online Tutor?
Several online tutoring platforms enable you to become an online tutor in less than a week. All you have to do is apply and submit proof of your educational background and work experience.
Once you qualify, you’ll undergo a simple background check and an orientation program before you start tutoring.
If you plan on getting professionally certified first, the entire process can last from 2 weeks to a month.
Starting an online tutoring business involves additional time-consuming steps, including creating your course curriculum and marketing your services.
This route can take up to 6 months, depending on how fast you find clients and whether you build a new tutoring platform.
How to Become an Online Tutor in 5 Simple Steps
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can become a successful online tutor, with or without experience:
1. Choose Your Subject and Target Audience.
Begin by taking stock of your educational background, work experiences, special skills, and interests. This will help you determine your field of expertise and what subjects you’re qualified to teach.
Consider picking up additional qualifications to demonstrate your tutoring ability and gain your client’s trust.
For example, if you plan on teaching English online, a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate adds credibility.
2. Set Up Your Schedule and Tutoring Platform.
Depending on your availability, you can choose to be a full-time or part-time online tutor. Consider students’ peak available hours when creating your schedule.
You also have the option of starting a tutoring business or joining an existing online tutoring platform.
Chegg Tutors, TutorMe, Preply, and Skooli are among the platforms that connect students with tutors by schedule and subject.
Don’t forget to select the right course model as well. The night school model of tutoring involves providing immediate access to a set of lessons for a one-time fee.
The academy model enables your students to use your comprehensive library of tutorials for a monthly subscription.
3. Develop a Curriculum and Course Materials.
Your curriculum serves as a “roadmap,” which contains the lessons, course content, and resources for your tutoring sessions. Aim to develop it in a way that suits the needs of your students and engages them to learn.
Be creative with your learning materials. Use videos, slideshows, worksheets, interactive activities, and games to create a positive learning environment.
Give your students the freedom to ask questions, share insights, and even collaborate with coursemates.
4. Market Your Tutoring Services.
Utilize social media, paid ads, email marketing, and word-of-mouth to promote your online tutoring services.
Invest in an e-learning website for your business and implement a marketing and advertising strategy to attract page visitors.
Another way to market your business would be to publish blog posts and use optimization for more website viewers.
If you’ve joined a tutoring platform, don’t hesitate to inform your family and friends of your availability there.
5. Conduct Tutoring Sessions and Gather Feedback.
Establish a good relationship with your students and adjust your approach to match each individual’s learning style.
Practice patience, especially when discussing complex topics, and share your tips on how to overcome challenging lessons.
Respond promptly and helpfully to every student that asks a question or sends a message.
As you progress on your tutoring journey, collect feedback, ratings, and reviews to better improve your services.
Reasons to Consider Becoming an Online Tutor
Online tutoring can be challenging at first, but it can be a rewarding career if you have the passion and skills for it.
Here are several reasons why online tutoring ranks highly among the best gig jobs:
- Flexible location and schedule: Online tutoring can be a flexible job for college students or individuals juggling multiple responsibilities. It allows you to earn income comfortably at your preferred time and place.
- Job satisfaction: This career allows you to form meaningful bonds with students and watch them reach their goals and ambitions.
- High earning potential: Take on as many students as you want, regardless of their geographic location and time zone. You also have the freedom to set your preferred rates.
- Culture and creativity: Online tutoring is a wonderful opportunity to meet students from different backgrounds and to unleash your creativity in presenting lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out the answers to these tutor-related questions for more info about this career:
Is There a Demand for Online Tutors?
The rise of digital learning has increased the demand for online tutors who provide personalized academic support to students.
Compared to traditional tutoring, online tutoring is a more convenient, engaging, and cost-effective way for students to bridge learning gaps.
It also provides students with the confidence and encouragement they need to succeed.
How Do I Sell Myself As an Online Tutor?
Social media marketing, email campaigns, and paid advertisements are effective ways to promote your services.
You can also build an official website and attract viewers by publishing relevant and high-quality blog posts.
Consider reaching out to friends, family members, and nearby schools to spread the news about your tutoring services.
Similar Gigs to Check Out
Do you want to explore other options aside from online tutoring? Here are several similar gigs for you to consider:
- How to Become a Translator: Earn income by skillfully converting written and oral content into another language for your clients.
- How to Become an Adjunct Professor: Use your extra hours to share your expertise in a field of study by working part-time at a college or university.
- How to Become a Life Coach: Empower your clients to live better lives and overcome personal obstacles by providing them with strategies, guidance, and mindset training.
Wrapping Up
Online tutoring is more than a job. It’s a challenging yet fulfilling opportunity to educate students and help them realize their full potential.
Hopefully, this guide has given you a clear understanding of how to become an online tutor.
Remember, the rewards and benefits of this career aren’t only measured by your paycheck. They can also be counted by the number of hearts and minds you’ve inspired through tutoring.
Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below, and feel free to share this post with potential educators!
