How To Become A Math Tutor
The tutoring industry is a potential goldmine. Regardless of how questionable this statement sounds, the increasing number of students taking ACT college entry exams tend to validate this argument. It merely so happens that mathematics is a vital area of interest.
For anyone with the requisite skills, it might be a good time to make math tutoring a primary or additional source of your income. You may be wondering, what does a math tutor do? What makes them peculiar from other tutors? Don’t worry, I am here to share the results of my research on online math tutoring with you.
Illustration: Overview of the U.S tutoring industry (Sources: Statistica, IbisWorld)
What does a math tutor do?
Math tutoring comes with its peculiarities, as it deals with numbers, equations, graphs, etc., in addition to words. Although the primary job description of a math tutor is generally similar to all other tutors, proficiency in major mathematical scopes like; algebra, trigonometry, Calculus, etc. is mandatory to help students to improve their skills in areas where they fall short.
A tutor must also be able to efficiently communicate abstract mathematical concepts into simple terms for a student to grasp. While a regular tutor would be able to just deliver lectures online without writing or doing much explanation, a math tutor would need to: solve, explain formulas in detail, and give exercises to ensure students comprehend what is being taught.
Math Tutors are also required to assess and monitor their students’ progress over time. Tutoring can come in various forms, especially private tutoring – these include one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring, and online tutoring – each type comes with its own set of requirements and unique challenges.
Hence, a tutor must be sure of which tutoring service suits them best. Online tutoring involves a tutor and a student making contact through a tutoring platform. Here, the tutor proffers information, instructions, resources, and assessments through this platform.
Types of online math tutoring jobs
Live Online math tutoring:
This requires both the tutor and student to be online at a particular time. Both parties come together and agree upon a time. Tutoring can occur through Skype, Zoom, or other video chat applications.
- Solving high school or college math homework
Rather than teaching a student through live chats, you may also choose to assist students with their homework for a few extra bucks.
- Math tutor websites
Sometimes, instead of solving specific questions or tutoring a particular group of students, you can decide to use math tutor websites to address math problems on a website.
- Selling math DVDs
Although not exactly an online tutoring method, it is another remote math tutoring platform that has been available long before the internet took over. Maths courses on DVDs are usually made in parts addressing math problems for a specific group of students. It is more applicable to elementary math tutors.
Requirements to become an online math tutor
The first step to becoming a math tutor online is finding a suitable platform. Like many other types of jobs, professional tutoring requires a certificate. One can, with relative ease, get tutoring certification online. Some of the bodies that give online tutoring certifications are;
If you decide to choose the route of becoming a professional tutor, requisite certification is compulsory. The process to obtain this certificate involves just a few steps, including application and verification. Besides, they offer training programs for tutors.
- National Tutoring Association (NTA)
This association offers training and certification of tutors online. All of which are accessible on their website.
Here, training and certification for tutors are carried out online, but unlike the previous, are not restricted to the U.S alone, but globally.
- Teaching-certification.com
This platform provides actionable information on the types of certification, how the online programs work, and certification requirements of tutors across the various states in the U.S.
Some platforms do not require certification before one can become a tutor. These platforms usually pay less when compared to their counterparts who require professional certifications. A typical example is Preply which is a freelance platform that connects math tutors with students.
Who are those that require a math tutor?
The target groups for tutorship are primarily students at all academic levels or individuals who want to boost their professional qualifications.
- Math tutor for primary school pupils
These groups of people are at the introductory stage of learning. While the knowledge level required for teaching this group is rudimentary, the methodology tends to be peculiar, and tutors need to be well versed in handling this age group. Online teaching is not always applicable here.
- Math tutoring for high school students
At this stage, students are being introduced to more complex math problems. These groups of students are mature enough to participate in online learning options. However, they are still under their parents, who, in most cases, are the employers of these tutors.
- Tutoring college students
Are the most diverse group of students or clients. The complexity of this group is characterized by the requirement of specializations among college students. While some are majorly interested in calculus, others may be more inclined towards geometry, etc. This group often requires tutor to possess knowledge of mathematical software packages like MATLAB, Axiom, etc.
- Best tutors for autistic children
These are a special group of children (usually in the elementary school age group) who have unique learning challenges, we recommend that only professionally trained tutors cater to this group. Learn more on the website of Autism Certification Center.
- Is there tutoring for adults in math ?
Several variations exist within this particular groups’ requirements. Some people may just need basic math knowledge, while others could require tutoring in the more complex aspects of mathematics. Whichever the case may be, the requirements are often mentioned beforehand.
How much do you earn as a math tutor?
The payment of math tutors are in most cases, on an hourly basis, but some may decide to go for the daily or even monthly option depending on prior agreements. Offline service payment is usually agreed upon by the tutor and the client who can either be a student or the parent.
A math tutor can earn between $25 to $80 per hour, with $40 per hour as the average. The above is influenced by;
- The qualifications of the tutor
- the category of the student
- the subject area(s) covered by the tutelage
- the location in question
- and sometimes the number of students tutored at a time.
Online tutoring rates, on the other hand, are usually lower, Payscale estimates that wages from $10 to $40 per hour, but it usually hovers around $17 per hour on average. This also varies based on the level, requirement, and tutoring platform. There is no exact formula on how to price tutoring services either as a professional, a college student, or a teenager. In many cases, the tutoring company decides on a particular pay for the service offered.
Based on your level of commitment, you can opt for part-time or full-time online math tutor jobs. There are some online math tutors, most of these people can be students or people who already have actual jobs and hence take online math tutoring jobs with low commitment requirements.
The full-time online math tutor jobs are better paying but normally, more time-consuming. These usually involve live math tutoring, and they are usually private tutors.
When in need of a math tutor, the first place a student may likely search is the internet, so we recommend you place yourself where you can easily be found. There are many websites online that help students or parents seek online math tutors around them.
A typical example is Tutors.com, which pair tutors with students based on location (zip codes), requirements, etc. Other websites offer similar services.
If you are wondering where to find math tutors or what the best math tutor websites are, a simple google search may give you a list of options. But here are some of the sites we consider reliable.
- Skooli
Skooli is a platform for those seeking online tutors or those seeking online tutor jobs. It offers one-on-one learning for all grade levels, from elementary math tutoring to more advanced subjects.
Yet another online math tutoring platform that offers both tutoring services, and helps with assignments. It is frequently used by college students.
- Varsity Tutors
This is a virtual tutoring platform that offers private online tutoring and online group classes, among others. Despite its moniker, ,Varsity Tutors offers tutoring for all learning levels from Kindergarten to grad school.
- StudyPug
They offer study plans for single individuals and the entire family at very competitive prices starting as low as $9.92 per month for the annual subscription plan.
- Preply
Preply has already been mentioned earlier in this post. They are basically a freelance tutoring service targeting global users as they offer tutoring a host of foreign languages. Hence the prices are more affordable compared to the others.
This is a very popular platform especially for those who need a free platform to get tutoring on a variety of subject areas.
To sum it all up, tutoring is a lucrative avenue to make money on the side as a student. But to become a math tutor, one needs to be a good communicator, and also good at math. Based on the level of professionalism you intend to pursue, you can either get a degree and certification or not. Feel free to choose from the different platforms available for math tutors both online and offline.
