How to become a tutor

Consider studying towards a degree in your chosen subject area. This can make it easier for you to teach students from different backgrounds and levels. You could also study towards a certificate which can evidence your proficiency as an expert tutor.

Build experience working with students or learners from different educational backgrounds both in-person and online. You can offer your skills doing supply work or even volunteer at charities to gain experience helping others from different backgrounds.

Most tutoring contracts will require that you have an enhanced DBS check. Some companies may cover this fee for you. If you expect to be tutoring for a long period of time, you can sign up to the update service for the check to be renewed every year at a small fee.

Before you begin working as a tutor, there are many things you need to factor into your planning. Consider the following: 

• Subjects and levels: Most importantly, you need to know what you would like to tutor in. Decide on the subject/s and levels based on your preferences or specialism. Make sure you are familiar with the syllabuses or specifications as well as how these may change between boards and over time. 
• Location: Will you be working from home in-person or online? If you are working online, you will need to decide on a platform you would like to host your lessons on and familiarise yourself with it as a lesson space. If you are working from home and in-person, you will need to think about having a quiet environment for the lesson to take place. Will you be travelling to the tutee's house? In this case, you will need to ensure you plan accordingly so you can arrive on time and perhaps consider paying for insurance.
• Decide on rates: If you are working independently, then you can decide on the rates you would like to be paid for lessons. You can keep this fixed or vary it depending on the level and choose to increase it with the experience you gain.
•  Resource bank: With the more experience you have and lessons you teach, you will quickly find that resources will keep piling up in your storage space. It's important to ensure this is organised and maintained to keep it easier to find the resources you need.

Once you feel like you are all set up and ready to go, you can start advertising your services. If you are offering tutoring online or in-person, you can do this online via social media channels or public forums relevant to the subject or location. If you prefer to stay local, you can advertise through posters in local businesses or posted flyers. 

Make sure you share key information such as:

• What you offer and at what level or age group
• How you will deliver sessions/your tutoring style
• Where the sessions will take place
• The fee for tutoring
• Your qualifications and background
• Previous reviews from students

Alternatively, if you are offering your services in-person, you could also create posters and distribute them in your area. You can also apply to tutoring agencies or companies by sharing your CV and experience.