Are Teachers Civil Servants? An In-Depth Look

When considering the requirements of becoming a teacher in your state, you’ve probably wondered: “are teachers civil servants?”

Yes. All public school teachers are considered civil servants because they are paid by taxpayers and work in the public sector. Teachers become civil servants after they are licensed by the state they are teaching in and begin teaching at a public school. Because teachers are considered civil servants, they are eligible for incredible benefits and enjoy increased job security and a higher-than-average salary.

What is a Civil Servant?

Many people are considered civil servants, and there is no specific career path that a civil servant must take. A civil servant is an employee of the federal, state, or local government and can work in government buildings, schools, and other public spaces.

Since civil servants are employed by the government, they can receive substantial benefits and excellent job security. Government benefit packages offer some of the best coverage you can find in the entire country. Many government jobs are also guaranteed regular pay increases, but the amount of the increase and your salary as a civil servant varies depending on the contract you have, and the type of civil servant you are.

For many, the most appealing part of becoming a civil servant is the regular pay increases. In addition to the competitive pay rates, the incredible health and retirement benefits available to civil servants means that they make much more on average than people who are not civil servants.

Civil service jobs also provide some benefits that are similar to those in the private sector. Many civil servants can expect their employers to provide some form of childcare, subsidized meals, and more depending on the contract they have with their employer.

Civil service encompasses a wide variety of different jobs — you are not limited to becoming a teacher or librarian as a civil servant. Many government agencies hire PR specialists, writers, accountants, and more. If you aren’t sure about the next step in your career, there are plenty of opportunities for growth and change as a civil servant.

Are Other School Employees Civil Servants?

Yes! Anybody who works in a school is considered a civil servant, whether they are a teacher, bus driver, lunch worker, or high-level administrator. These positions are all considered civil service because they work in the public sector and are paid by taxpayers.

This means that many school employees are eligible for the same (or similar) benefits as teachers, even if they are not a part of a teachers’ union. Since other school employees are eligible for some of the same perks, people with many different backgrounds can find a career path in civil service.

Working in a school district provides an excellent, safe opportunity for a good career in your community. School districts employ huge numbers of people in your local area, and they are always looking for people with any sort of valuable skill. If you think you’d like to work in education as a school employee instead of a teacher, take a civil service exam and see exactly what you can accomplish!

Interestingly, school board members may also count as civil servants even if they are not receiving any financial compensation. This differs from most other types of civil servant positions because school board members can be elected to their positions. These positions don’t come with any of the benefits either, but they can still be a great way to serve your local community!

Not all civil service positions in school districts promise opportunities for career growth or advancement, but you are nearly guaranteed to have job security and benefits. School districts are the perfect place to look to involve yourself as a valuable member of your local community.

How to Become a Civil Servant

Becoming a civil servant requires dedication to your local community, a desire to help those around you, and a skill that you can use to develop your career. To officially become a civil servant, you need to meet a few additional requirements that measure your ability to work effectively in your position.

Since civil service covers such a wide range of different careers, there are many different civil service tests you may need to take to become a civil servant. Depending on the path you choose, you may need to take academic skill tests, physical skill tests, and meet all of your state’s licensing requirements. Some positions also require that you meet certain health and safety training requirements, especially if you want to work as a firefighter or police officer.

An additional requirement for all prospective civil servants in the United States in the USA Hire exam. This exam tests potential civil servants on a wide range of topics like math, reasoning skills, and reading comprehension. The USA Hire exam is specific to your field and analyzes how you would respond to certain situations while working.

Since civil servants must pass so many different examinations covering a lot of different material, many test-takers will enroll in prep courses to help them improve their scores. Earning a high score on your civil service test is essential for making sure you get the job you want. Many jobs have a minimum civil service test score, so you can miss out on a lot of opportunities if you don’t adequately prepare for the exam.

Prep courses can help boost your score on your civil service test by structuring how you study and providing practice materials for you to use. Practice materials include practice questions, readings, and even complete practice exams! You can find hundreds of helpful prep courses online to suit your needs for whichever position you’re applying for.

You can also open yourself up to a huge number of opportunities as a civil servant if you continue your education beyond high school. There are civil service jobs in every field, ranging from law and linguistics to computer science and mathematics. Earning any sort of advanced degree can qualify you for many different civil service positions. Keep an open mind while you apply and there’s no limit to the number of job opportunities you can find.

How to Become a Teacher

Becoming a teacher specifically requires a few different steps from becoming a different type of civil servant. To become a teacher, you must meet all of your state’s certification requirements and earn at least a bachelor’s degree in education.

Many states have requirements for their teachers in addition to earning a bachelor’s degree. Many teachers, for example, are required to earn a master’s degree in their field. Many teachers must also pass frequent recertification exams to make sure that they are fit to continue teaching.

The best part about civil service as a teacher is the opportunity for growth within your school district. Many teachers go on to become high-level administrators for their school districts. Even if you choose to stay as a teacher, you will receive increasingly more pay the longer you spend in a classroom.

The longer you stay, the more you’ll earn and the more secure your job will be. Once you’ve earned your tenure (in nearly all 50 states) you will be nearly entirely protected from losing your job. Not all states have a tenure policy, but because of their status as civil servants, teachers can already expect a good amount of job security.

Conclusion – Are Teachers Civil Servants?

Becoming a civil servant requires a lot of work — becoming a teacher takes even more. In addition to the requirements of becoming a civil servant, you will need to meet rigorous expectations to become a certified teacher. You will need to be frequently recertified, and you’ll need to enjoy your job to make sure you’re giving it your all.

Since teachers are considered civil servants, they enjoy access to substantial health and retirement benefits in addition to their regular pay increases. Teachers also have incredible job security, which only increases the longer you spend as a civil servant.

Civil service in education is not just limited to teachers though, and employees like librarians, bus drivers, and lunch workers are also considered civil servants because of their valuable service to the community. All public school employees are valuable members of the community that deserve the incredible benefits and pay they can receive.

Civil service also encompasses many careers outside of education. Many different people of all backgrounds can become civil servants to help out their local communities. Government agencies are always hiring people to fill many different positions, so keep an open mind while you are looking for jobs and you will be sure to find something in your field!