Find out how you can earn money by teaching (even without a degree)!

In the past, teaching was only accessible to people who went through an accredited teacher certification program and had the right credentials or degrees to apply for teaching positions at schools. Today, the Internet has made it possible for you to get paid for teaching without a degree, as long as you are passionate about what you do and want to share it with others!  

See these 4 creative ways folks are sharing skills they grew through their careers and experience, showing that anyone can become a teacher (with or without a degree).

1. Write for a blog

Whether it’s writing on your own blog or on others' as a guest post, you can leverage your writing skills to teach what you love doing the most. Davina Choy, a crafter who runs a knitting blog, uses her platform to post a variety of content, ranging from free tutorials to easy-to-follow patterns. Using years of experience, Davina grew her blog into one of the top online catalogues of knitting resources. Similarly, graphic designer Teela Cunningham shares a vast reservoir of resources and tutorials on lettering through her design blog, every-tuesday. Free lettering layouts, guide sheets, fonts, and vectors are only a few things among the material she offers for online learners. 

If you don’t feel like starting your own blog from scratch, that’s completely fine! You can write guest blog posts for companies looking for your particular skill set. Freelance copywriter and blogger Marc Schenker does just that through his personal brand. He uses his expertise on business, marketing, e-commerce, and design to write for company blogs and generate marketing material for companies such as Canva and Fiverr.

2. Write an e-book

If blog posts aren’t enough, you can write an e-book and put together a collection of your own tips and tricks, showcasing the best and easiest ways to learn the skills you know so well. In addition to running her blog Hello Brio, Philadelphia-based designer and illustrator Jenn Coyle published an e-book on brush lettering for beginners that include practice sheets and tips on how to run a creative business. Although Jenn graduated with an Interior Design degree, she notes that she rarely uses it in her current job and business. Her success as a creative entrepreneur points to how online teaching can open opportunities that were previously restricted to certified teachers.

On a similar vein, food blogger Matthew Ivan published a cookbook and guide to easy, healthy eating with a list of his favorite 30-minute recipes and practical tips. As a self-proclaimed food geek, Matthew quickly found that he could turn his passion and love for food into a teaching gig and full-time business. With the ability to publish your own content with a relatively low level of risk and cost, e-books are a great avenue to put your creative skills into use and earn money through teaching.

3. Host a local class

Sometimes people like teaching in-person classes by hosting offline workshops for their local community. Ellen Bruxvoort, a weaver who sells handmade home goods and accessories through her brand FIBROUS, occasionally teaches introductory classes on weaving where she provides necessary material as well as personal guidance on how to create handwoven necklaces. Sandal and shoe maker Rachel Corry also teaches local classes, from making leather heel sandals to creating leather bracelets and collars. Neither of these teachers needed an official teaching degree to hold a fun, engaging, and productive class, and the same can be said for you!

Don’t have your own platform to host and market your class? Don’t worry! There are plenty of websites, including Eventbrite, Verlocal, and Vayable, where you can create any class, event, or workshop and share it with your local community.

4. Teach an online class

Teaching an online class is by far the most effective and rewarding way to impart your skills without going the extra mile of earning a teaching certificate. Teela Cunningham was even able to use online teaching to quit her day job and pursue her entrepreneurial dream. A large majority of the teachers on Skillshare, in fact, are not “certified” experts in the traditional sense. Whether they are in-house designers, casual photographers, or DIY junkies, all of them recognized that they had something to bring to the table and could teach what they love while earning some passive income. That explains why all of the teachers mentioned earlier in this article also have classes on Skillshare, as it allows them to pursue their individual passion as a freelancer, business owner, and much more by growing and monetizing their online following.  

You too can start teaching today. We believe anyone can teach, and we’re here to help you along the way with our resources and supportive community. Head below to learn more about teaching online!

Teach on Skillshare