Education Consultant Jobs: How to Find the Right Fit

One of the questions I get asked all the time is what types of jobs for former teachers are out there? Well, there are about a million different options because we all know teachers have a WIDE range of skills. But there are a few that are ideally suited for teachers with classroom teaching experience including today’s focus which is education consultant jobs.

So over the next few weeks, I’m going to be breaking down several of the best jobs for former teachers that are perfect for those who want to stay in the realm of education and use their classroom teaching experience.

Be sure to check out all of the resources, links, and websites listed at the end of this post.

What is an education consultant?

An education consultant is an individual who works closely with schools, families, educators, districts, colleges, and/or universities to improve learning through educational planning and instruction as well as assisting these entities through a wide range of education related issues. These individuals can be self-employed or a representative of an education consultant firm.

That is the “official” capacity of an education consultant. However, the phrase “educational consultant” can actually be applied to anyone who works with others in the educational arena.

For example, I could be considered an educational consultant because I work with educators to help them leave the classroom and pursue other careers and interests outside of teaching. If you have a TpT shop and you create curricula for teachers to use in their classroom, you could be considered an education consultant.

So you can see how this title might be a bit confusing. But for this particular podcast episode, I want to focus on the formal description and job of an educational consultant.

What do education consultants do?

Educational consultant jobs can vary widely from a position similar to a school counselor or academic advisor to an instructional coordinator. Because of this, you will most likely find a unique set of duties listed for each posting you read.

But here are a few of the specific duties and responsibilities listed for current education consultant vacancies. Typical duties and responsibilities include…

Analyzing, researching, & developing effective curricula and teaching materials
Observing & advising educators on teaching styles and methods as well as educational strategies to improve student learning
Providing workshops, materials, & specialized training to increase student participation, improve lesson deliverability, and educate teachers on effectively using digital or online learning tools
Gathering information, evaluating academic progress, and providing data analysis
Preparing reports & explaining relevant data
Developing training programs & initiatives for schools and districts
Visiting classrooms to observe lessons and counseling educators on how to meet the needs of unique populations
Meeting with school administration to discuss budgeting
Organizing events for school personnel to attend

This is just a small grouping of some of the more common duties assigned to education consultants. If this sounds like a list of things you might be interested in pursuing, be sure to research “education consultant jobs near me” to see what is available in your area.

What are the requirements for becoming an education consultant?

Because education consultant jobs can vary so widely the requirements vary as well, but most employers looking to hire education consultants require…

At least a Bachelor’s Degree in an education-related discipline, and/or
Some classroom teaching experience

However, there are usually additional requirements including…

A Master’s Degree or PhD in an educational discipline
A specific amount of teaching experience
Experience in curriculum design, instructional design, and/or blended learning

Remember, this job will require you to be in a supervisory role guiding teachers and administrators…potentially at the district level. So it is really important that you have experience and knowledge to back up what you claim!

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What skills do education consultants need?

Many of the skills needed for education consultants are consistent across the board. You need…

Excellent leadership skills as you will be working with instructors and educators in a variety of settings
Proficiency in verbal and written communication as you will be communicating with a wide range of individuals with varying levels of understanding and knowledge and keeping records of your interactions
Problem-solving skills in order to provide the most effective interventions for all stakeholders
Knowledge of best practices to meet the needs of the specified client population
Expertise in organization and attention to detail
Self-motivation as you will spend ample amounts of time working independently

What is the salary?

According to information from Glassdoor.com, as of March 2022, the estimated base pay for an education consultant is $52,456 per year. However, there is the potential to make much more in additional pay which can be as much as $24,214 per year. This additional pay could include cash bonuses, commissions, tips, or even profit sharing.

But if you choose to be an independent or freelance education consultant, you can charge any price you want. Just be sure you consider a few factors when determining your rates. You can…

set a predetermined, non-negotiable hourly price for your services,
charge a predetermined amount per project or task, or
decide your price based on the location of the company, group, or school with whom you will be working and the scope and sequence of the job they would like for you to complete

If you decide to base your pricing on location and cost of living, make sure you diligently research competitor pricing in that particular area. Then based on the resulting information, determine appropriate rates.

What other jobs are related to education consulting?

As I mentioned earlier, you can call yourself an educational consultant if you work independently with any educational entity including teachers, schools, or programs. However, when you start learning more about this particular field you will find similar careers like…

Instructional Coordinator
School Counselor
Academic Advisor
Educational Planner

Depending on where you are looking to be hired, the job description may be REALLY similar to that of an educational consultant. Just pay close attention to the description and then the title so that you are certain the job is right for you.

Where can I find jobs in education consulting?

You can basically just start a search on Google to find careers in education consultancy, but there are three things you definitely want to do to get yourself moving in the right direction.

1| Determine your route

There are two different routes you can pursue when seeking education consultant jobs. You can become part of a firm or choose to go the independent route.

Education consulting firms

If you are new to the concept of educational consulting and you want to get your feet wet, becoming part of an education consulting firm would be an excellent first step. This will allow you to gain some of the necessary skills and then apply the skills you are learning in a more linear fashion.

Because these companies or firms are dedicated to consulting with schools, organizations, and companies worldwide, you will be given lots of opportunities to see this career from the inside out.

Want to know the names of the top ten education consulting firms in the world? Check out this article from ManagementConsulted.com.

Obviously, if you are just starting out, you might want to set your sights on a career outside of those particular firms. But take some time to research education consulting firms jobs based on location or other factors like remote/online opportunities or even part-time options.

If you already have experience or you want to go into business for yourself, you could think about the independent educational consultant route.

Independent educational consultant

If you’re interested in becoming a freelance education consultant, you will definitely need to spend time educating yourself on a variety of topics including…

Education policy and initiatives
Research-based practices
Student-centered learning

You also need to know how to run a consulting business in order to have the proper legal safeguards in place. Now I know this may sound overwhelming, but the truth is this is a very influential and potentially stressful job.

That’s why it’s important to know what you will need to do to pursue this career BEFORE you start down the path!

2| Become certified

If you are interested in becoming an educational consultant, you need to research certification programs as well as courses designed to help you set up your educational consultancy program the right way.

As a member of an education consultant firm, the firm may pay for continuing education or certification, but if you are freelance, you will have to pay for this yourself. However, certification could be the difference between getting the job or not.

So here are a few certification programs and courses to get you started.

3| Join relevant education consultant associations

As with any career, there are some fantastic associations related to education consulting. So here are a few that you might consider looking into joining.

The key to finding success as an education consultant is experience in the classroom that allows you to relate to teachers, knowledge of research-based practices that allows you to provide solutions, and effective communication skills that allow you to connect with all levels of school personnel.

Definitely take some time to dig into the specific resources below related to education consultant jobs. You may discover that this is the perfect option for you to pursue outside of the classroom.