How to Become an Online Tutor

Are you interested in sharing your knowledge and skills with others while earning some extra income? If yes, then becoming an online tutor might be the perfect move for you - whether you're looking for a long-term, fulfilling career change, a side hustle, or a temporary way to earn some extra income. Online tutoring has a consistent demand, and when you combine that with the perks of working from anywhere, setting your own hours, and making a meaningful impact on students' lives, it is a powerful career option. If you're interested in a career that offers flexibility, scalability, and rewarding experiences, this article will guide you step-by-step on how to become an online tutor.

Why Become an Online Tutor?

When we surveyed our tutors in 2024, we found that over 40% of them identified the key benefit of tutoring online as “Flexibility and Convenience”. Online tutoring allows you to set your own hours, offering freedom to balance work with personal commitments, and it’s clear that this was the number one reason most of our tutors enjoy their work. Tied in second place were “Saved Time” and “Work Life Balance”. Tutoring is also an extremely rewarding career. It often attracts people who are passionate about education and helping people learn. A good tutor can significantly improve the learning outcomes of their students, leaving a lasting impact on students’ confidence and future prospects.

There are other benefits of online tutoring too:

Work from Anywhere: All you need is a stable internet connection, giving you the ability to tutor from home or while traveling.
Work with a Diverse Range of People: You can work with students from different parts of the world, offering a wider range of experiences and teaching opportunities.
Low Startup Costs: Compared to traditional tutoring, online tutoring requires minimal equipment and no physical office, making it easy and affordable to get started.
Scalability: You can expand your services over time, offering group classes, creating pre-recorded lessons, or building an online tutoring business.
Personal and Professional Growth: Tutoring enhances your own subject knowledge while also developing communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
Potential for Supplemental or Full-Time Income: Whether you’re looking for extra income or a full-time career, online tutoring offers flexible earning potential..

What Skills Should a Tutor Have?

A tutor, first and foremost, needs subject matter expertise. You need a deep understanding of the subjects or topics you want to teach. You also need skills in lesson planning and curriculum development, depending on the subject.

Some of the so-called “soft skills” a tutor needs include:

Patience
Active listening
Great communication skills
Empathy
Adaptability
Creativity and problem-solving skills
Good time management

What Qualifications do Tutors Need?

Formal qualifications may or may not be necessary, depending on what you’re tutoring and where. The industry is not particularly highly regulated in most places in the world, so in many cases, you can teach without many - or any - qualifications. However, it's worth getting some certifications or qualifications to back up your skills, even if it's a quick free online teaching certification like the one Lessonspace offers.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, there are no formal qualification requirements, although around 67% of tutors hold at least a bachelor's degree according to Superprof. It’s worth considering that relevant qualifications and certifications will give you a massive advantage over unqualified tutors, and increase your credibility with prospective clients and tutoring companies.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) tutoring is a growing market in the online tutoring sector, ideal for those without specific subject expertise who want flexible teaching opportunities. It’s a great fit for native English speakers looking to switch careers. A 120-hour TEFL certificate is often recommended and sometimes required by online tutoring platforms. While formal qualifications aren’t always needed, having a TEFL certification boosts credibility and job prospects, making it an accessible option for teaching English without a traditional teaching degree.

If you intend to find students and work through tutoring companies, each one will have its own requirements. Some have very few requirements, while others may require college/university-level degrees as well as specific teaching qualifications.

The qualification requirements also vary by country, and even by region or state, so it’s very important that you do your own research.

Free Online Teaching Course

Legal Requirements for Tutors

The legal requirements vary widely between countries, regions, cities, and states, so it’s very important that you do detailed research in your particular location.

There are also usually different legal requirements depending on whether you intend to do private one-on-one tutoring, work with a tutoring company, or start your own tutoring business. As a rough guide, you’ll usually be required to:

Declare your earnings for tax purposes (remember to document your expenses and equipment, as this may qualify for rebates or write-offs)
Register your business, especially if you intend to expand beyond private one-on-one tutoring
Obtain licenses for teaching certain groups, especially if working with children (check your local laws carefully)
Comply with local privacy laws such as GDPR in Europe, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the US, or POPIA in South Africa, to name a few.

Some tutoring companies will also require you to complete a background check, such as DBS checks in the UK.

Please remember that the laws are different in every place, so it is imperative that you find out your local laws before you start tutoring.

Benefits of Tutoring Online

There are many benefits of online tutoring for tutors, but some of the key perks are listed below:

Online tutors can work from home
Remote tutoring has improved flexibility and work-life balance
Online teaching platforms like Lessonspace come with built-in support and resources
Both students and tutors who have accessibility issues with in-person tutoring have increased access through remote and virtual tutoring

How to Become a Virtual Tutor in 6 Steps

Once you have decided that online tutoring is right for you, and you’ve decided on the subjects and topics you are going to teach, there are some steps to take to get started.

Step 1: Gather the Necessary Online Tutoring Equipment

There are a few things you will need as a very baseline:

A laptop or desktop computer
A quiet workspace where you have privacy and won’t be disrupted
A fast and reliable internet connection
Good audio and camera (most laptops have these built in, but you may need external ones if the quality isn’t good enough)

Other things that may be useful, but aren’t essential, might include:

A second screen, so that you can have resources and files open and still see your teaching platform screen
A backup internet connection
Subject-specific tools and equipment

Step 2: Pick the Best Online Teaching Platform

A great online tutoring platform can be the difference between a good online tutor and a great one. While your skills, knowledge, and passion for education will get you far, the right teaching platform results in a smoother teaching and learning experience, which is a massive factor in helping you build a reputation as a professional.

A lot of tutors start out using basic video-calling software such as Zoom, Teams, or Skype. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but most tutors later realize that these kinds of tools are limited in functionality since they are not built specifically for teaching online. Tools like Lessonspace are much better suited for tutoring, with features like an interactive online whiteboard, collaborative documents, breakout rooms, games, resource libraries, and more.

Using the right virtual classroom platform from the start can save you time, and avoid having to move everything to a new tool later. Tools like Lessonspace also allow you to upload your resources to the library, so that you can save and reuse them in one click.

Tip: Sign up for a free 14-day trial with Lessonspace to explore the tool and see if it’s a good fit.

Step 3: Find Your First Students

Finding your first students may be the most challenging part of getting started as an online tutor, but there are several strategies you can use. Many of our Lessonspace tutors start by reaching out to their personal network – friends, family, and colleagues might know someone in need of tutoring. Building relationships with local schools or community centers might also help you get referrals. You might even try reaching out to your former teachers, if you’re still in touch, to find out if they’ll refer students to you.

Remember that a strong reputation is key to gaining new students. Word of mouth is going to be your biggest strength - students usually know other students! Try to encourage reviews too, by sending follow-up emails to students, especially when sessions go well.

Step 4: Lesson Planning and Curriculum Development

You should have a loose outline of what you want to teach before booking lessons, but you’ll need to plan your lessons around the skill level, age, and interests of your students, so it’s worth booking some sessions before you complete your lesson plans.

Make sure your lessons are interactive and engaging. You’ll also want to incorporate different learning styles into your teaching methods to keep students motivated. Keep materials organized in a way that allows you to easily reference them during class.

Step 5: Scheduling and admin

Managing your schedule is crucial as an online tutor. Use scheduling tools like Google Calendar or built-in tools from your tutoring platform to ensure you don’t overbook yourself. Have a clear cancellation policy in place and ensure your students are aware of it: you are going to have no-shows, and a clear policy on these can prevent them and also mitigate your time wasted.

You’ll also need to manage admin tasks, including payment processing, invoicing, and keeping track of student progress. You may find value in using a tool that can help you, such as Classcard, Tutor Doctor, Workee, Tutorbird, Teachworks, Oases Online, or Tutorcruncher. All of these tools also integrate seamlessly with Lessonspace.

Step 6: Marketing Your Tutoring Services

Marketing is key to growing your tutoring business. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to start is by building a professional online presence. This might include creating a website, setting up social media profiles, and creating content online. Focus on one thing at a time and do it well - you don’t need to be on every platform from the start. Pick one you enjoy, and execute it well, before moving onto more platforms. Share testimonials from satisfied students and ask them to refer you to others.

You can also join online tutoring directories. The benefit to these resources is that you have access to their members/market. The downside is that they own the market and platform. Plus, you’re competing with other course providers, which can mean the need to reduce the price of your course to compete.

Setting Online Tutoring Rates / Pricing Your Tutoring Services

Deciding on your tutoring rates is one of the most important—and most tricky—parts of becoming an online tutor. There are so many factors involved, including your location, your level of experience, your depth of subject knowledge, and more.

However, we have some general guidelines to help you with pricing.

Steps to Pricing Your Tutoring Services

1. Cover All Your Costs

Ensure your tutoring rate covers all your overheads, including tools and technology, time spent preparing lessons, and any additional resources you may use in your sessions.

Take into account the cost of any specialized software, learning management systems, or other tools you’ll use, as well as the cost of maintaining reliable internet and technology.

2. Factor in Your Time

Don't forget to factor in the time you spend preparing lessons, marking homework, and communicating with students outside of lessons. These hours should be included when calculating your rate.

3. Understanding Market Rates

Research local and online market rates. The rates can vary widely depending on where you are and what subject you’re teaching. Look at online tutoring directories, check competitor pricing, and consider your own expertise level.

A good starting point is to look at what reputable local tutoring companies are charging, which is usually public on their websites, and then use that number as a benchmark.

You can also look at discussions in local Quora and Reddit threads, where other tutors are often very transparent and helpful.

4. Don’t Price Yourself too Low

New tutors often think that they need to set their prices much lower than the benchmark to complete, especially when they are just starting out. While you should make sure your pricing is competitive, remember that in education, low cost is often seen as low quality. Remember that even if you don't have much online tutoring experience, you have expertise and skills - don’t undervalue yourself.

How to Find Online Tutoring Jobs

Best Tutoring Websites to Work For

You can create profiles on tutoring directories like Superprof or Wyzant, or become a tutor with a tutoring company like Learner Tutoring, MyTutor, Tutorax, Tutorful, or TutorMe Education, all of whom are always looking for new tutors. This is a great way to find students as you have access to their market.

Freelance Tutoring

Freelancing is a great option for online tutors. Whether you freelance full time, or have some freelance clients while working for a company, it’s a great way to teach.

Freelancing has all the benefits of working for yourself: you set your hours and prices; you choose when, where, and how you work; you’re in charge of your schedule and get to be more picky with the subjects and people you tutor. However, it comes with some challenges too: there’s less protection and job security, and education is highly seasonal: you have to plan for periods with no tutoring income.

It’s a personal choice: some people swear by freelancing and would never do it any other way; some insist that working for a company is a much safer, less stressful way to teach; and others still prefer to mix it up. It’s up to you.

Setting Up a Tutoring Business

It is not strictly necessary to set up a tutoring business in the beginning, and if you want to start teaching private one-on-one classes right away, you can just get started.

However, if this is something you hope to grow into a full-time profession, it might be worth setting up a business. If you choose to do so, here are some steps you should take:

Do your research: Make sure you understand your target market, how big it is, how much of a demand there is, etc.
Create a business plan: Even if you’re starting something small, a clear plan is a good idea. Outline the results of your market research, do projections of realistic earnings, list your costs, and start to consider a growth plan.
Select the right business structure or model: This has an impact on taxes, day-to-day running of the business, your level of personal liability, and your ability to raise capital, so it’s an important step.
Funding or capital: You’re going to need some initial capital to get up and running. Thankfully with online tutoring the startup cost is relatively small, but your costs will grow as you grow and it’s important to make sure you have enough capital to start making a profit.
Registering and licensing: The process of registering the business and getting a business license is going to be different in each country, and sometimes even varies city to city. You will need to contact your local government to find out the process.
Finances and bookkeeping: It’s important to separate your personal finances and business finances. Get a business card that you only use for business expenses and an account where you get paid. There are often very affordable bookkeeping services that can help you keep this in order.

Troubleshooting: Common Online Tutoring Challenges

One of the most common challenges, especially for new remote tutors, is technical issues. Using the right tools can help you mitigate these kinds of issues. For example, Lessonspace has built-in troubleshooting, taking the guesswork out of technical issues. It shows you if someone’s connection is slow, or if they are having audio or video issues. Lessonspace prides ourselves on our uptime and customer support.

It’s also worth having plans in place in case things go wrong. While you can’t control what happens in your students’ space, you can make sure you have things like a backup internet connection such as mobile data, in case you lose WiFi at a bad time, or a portable power bank for your router in case of electrical failures, if those are common where you live.

Other common challenges include

Student engagement
Accessibility
Time zone differences
Communication barriers

Tips for Working as a Tutor (From Experienced Tutors)

Have a cancellation policy in place.It’s important to clearly communicate your cancellation policy to students from the start. This could be anything from 24-hour notice for cancellations, to offering a partial refund for late cancellations, or even charging the full amount for no-shows. A cancellation policy ensures you’re not left out of pocket for missed sessions and encourages students to commit to their scheduled times.
Set clear boundaries. Tutors recommend setting clear boundaries for communication, such as defining when and how students can contact you. This helps avoid burnout and ensures you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Be flexible but structured.While it’s important to cater lessons to the individual needs of each student, having a structured plan for each session keeps things on track and ensures progress. Being flexible allows you to adapt to how the student is feeling that day while keeping the bigger learning objectives in mind.
Keep lessons engaging.Interactive tools, games, and quizzes are great ways to keep students engaged, particularly younger ones. Using features like the whiteboard, breakout rooms, or collaborative documents can break up the lesson and make learning more dynamic.

Start Tutoring Online Today with Lessonspace

Also - If you're just starting out, we have a special offer to help you cut costs while you build your business: use the code 'basic' to access our $9 per month pricing, which includes your first 10 hours of teaching every month.

FAQ About Becoming a Virtual Tutor

Is Becoming an Online Tutor Worth it?

Becoming an online tutor is a worthwhile and rewarding experience. It offers a flexible schedule, the ability to work from home, and the opportunity to share your skills with others. It's a fulfilling job that not only provides extra income, but can also lead to a transition into a full-time online tutoring position.

By following the steps outlined in this guide and choosing the right platform, you can start your online tutoring journey and make a difference in the lives of your students.

Can I Tutor Online Without a Degree?

You don't need a teaching degree to become an online tutor. However, having a degree or certification in your area of expertise can improve your chances of getting hired. What's more important, though, is having expertise in a subject or skill that you can teach, a reliable internet connection, a computer or laptop, a webcam, and a microphone to conduct online sessions.

Furthermore, if you want to improve your knowledge in a particular subject or upskill, there are many free online courses available that you can take advantage of.

How Much Money Can You Make as an Online Tutor?

The amount of money you can earn as an online tutor varies greatly depending on your level of experience, the subject you teach, the demand for your services, and the platform you choose. While some tutors with extensive experience may charge hundreds of dollars per hour, others may charge less than $10 per hour.

On average, online tutors can earn anywhere from $10 to $60 per hour. It's important to note that the amount you earn may also depend on the amount of time you're willing to dedicate to tutoring and how much effort you put into promoting your services.

How To Become An Online Tutor: A Step-By-Step Guide