If you’ve decided to go to school to earn a teaching certificate or license, you’re on the right track to establishing a satisfying, meaningful career for yourself. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle school and secondary teaching jobs are expected to grow at an average level nationally, and even faster in specific regions in country. And earning a degree in education will put you on the path to finding solid work in a variety of teaching environments.

Deciding to get a degree in education is only the first step, however, and many students find that paying for school is a challenge. These students can turn to scholarships, loans and grants to attend school, alleviating some or even all of the burden of paying for college. Teacher scholarships can be found through many different resources, including government programs, individual schools and private institutions or businesses. Many state-sponsored programs, for example, offer teacher scholarship opportunities, loan repayment options, and grants. These financial aid programs may be awarded to students interested in teaching an in-demand subject, to minority students, or to any student seeking — and qualifying for — tuition assistance. You can contact your state board of education or look over this list of scholarships to find more information about state-funded financial aid for teachers.

In addition to government assistance, you can search for teacher scholarships through teacher associations and education institutions. Opportunities like these include scholarships and fellowships from science teaching foundations, the American Federation of Teachers, and others. To qualify for these programs, you may have to declare your intent to teach a specific subject or work in a certain field for a set amount of time.

Individual colleges and universities are also worthwhile resources to contact when looking for teacher scholarships. Education programs sometimes offer their own financial assistance or grants, and during your college search, remember to consider financial aid and scholarship availability along with other factors like program quality, student-to-faculty-ratio, and location.

Besides government programs, teacher associations and nonprofits, and individual college programs, you may also want to research teacher scholarships that are offered through private companies, like the Horace Mann insurance group. Horace Mann is an insurance company for educators and awards scholarships to K-12 teachers who want to go back to school full- or part-time.

Deciding to get a teaching certificate or license will make a significant difference your career potential, especially if you are able to find the right teaching scholarship to help you pay for school. Research the opportunities that these organizations can offer, and don’t forget to look for scholarships and financial aid from the teachers’ program in which you plan to enroll.